| August 5, 2009 | ||
| 12:00 pm | to | 2:00 pm |
the moment when we really became friends with the (West) Germans
When: Wednesday August 5 will be an opening reception. August 5-16 will be the exhibit.
Where: Indiana War Memorial, Indianapolis
Opening reception at 12:00 pm on 5th of August, an event that is free of charge. Please RSVP at: International@indygov.org, Phone: 317-327-3794
Why should you attend this event? It was the beginning of the Cold War, and the US started its drive to empire with a humanitarian act of generosity. The US had other motives as well, but this is worth keeping in mind as we sort through our empire today.
If you think this event sounds interesting, be sure to check out … some of the events devoted to German culture this fall, including the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall November 8.
So what’s going on at this event? The years 2008 and 2009 mark the 60th anniversary of the Berlin Airlift, one of the most important dates in the history of U.S.-German friendship. The German Embassy has made the commemoration of the Berlin Airlift a focus of its outreach activities. Their motto for the 60th Anniversary is Friends Always.
In 1948, the Soviets blocked the western portion of Berlin. In response, the U.S. and her Allies took to the skies flying in provisions for West Berlin’s over 2 million residents, an effort that grew into the Luftbrücke – an unending conveyor belt of planes landing at Tempelhof Airport. “The Airlift is considered one of the greatest humanitarian actions of all times. It is almost unbelievable that the United States and her Allies were able to sustain the city of Berlin for 322 days (…),” says Klaus Scharioth, German ambassador to the United States.
During the Airlift, the aircraft supplied the city with 700 tons a day in June 1948 to 12,940 tons daily by April 1949. On May 12, 1949 the Soviets finally gave in and reopened land and water routes into Berlin. Airlift missions finally ended in late September 1949.
The Friends Always traveling exhibit titled The Berlin Airlift – A Legacy of Friendship will be on display at the Indiana War Memorial in downtown Indianapolis.
[...] August 5 — “Friends Always — Commemorating the 60th Anniversary of the Berlin Airlift” … the moment when we really became friends with the (West) Germans [...]