Berlin had served as the capital of Germany from 1871 until 1945. In 1945, the United States and its allies defeated Germany to end World War II in Europe.

Representatives of these countries agreed that Berlin should be jointly administered by the United States, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics*, Great Britain, and France. The city was divided into four zones. The Soviet Zone became the city of East Berlin, and the rest of the zones became the city of West Berlin.

Germany became two countries, East Germany and West Germany. East Germany was part of the Communist Soviet Block of Eastern Europe. West Germany was part of free, democratic Western Europe. West Berlin found itself a small island of democracy surrounded by Communist East Germany. In order to travel from West Germany to West Berlin, you had to travel through East Germany. This meant that all supplies and food for the people of West Berlin had to travel through Communist territory.

* This country was often referred to as Russia, Soviet Union, or by its initials, U.S.S.R. The people of this country were called Russians or Soviets. The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics no longer exists. The union was dissolved, and the former Soviet Republics are now separate countries.

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