https://tamaranth.blogspot.com/2024/03/2024037-checkmate-in-berlin-giles-milton.... ( )

Checkmate is eerily similar to the events in Eastern Europe in 2022. Ukraine's aspirations mirror those of The Federal Republic of Germany and West Berliners. As the Berlin blockade ended Manfred Knopf was quoted - "We belonged to the Western world". ( )

Flies, flies, and more flies and they were all fat. The city had no cats, dogs, or birds. They had all been eaten by the starving inhabitants. Such was the way one British observer described the city upon entering Berlin. It was a scene straight out of Hieronymous Bosch with destruction on a massive scale, dead bodies everywhere, and anything that had survived ripped off, literally, by Soviet troops who had arrived first to cart everything east. Fanatical Nazis, following Hitler's final orders to destroy everything, had done their work well, too.

The Soviets were a problem from the beginning, never willing to compromise, and dismantling everything they could lay their hands on to be shipped back to Russia. There was conflict between Lucius Clay, the brilliant logistician who had never experienced combat, but who kept the troops supplied with what they needed, and Frank Hawley, general in charge of the American sector of Berlin who didn't trust the Russians. Clay knew they had to figure out a way to get along with the Soviets. He also realized the importance of resurrecting German industry rather than destroying it. It was the only way to keep people fed, not to mention it was important for U.S. industry as a consumer of U.S. goods.

The Russians were, then as now, masters of misinformation and sowing mistrust among the allies, deviously spreading lies about each other and other falsities. Those who were surprised by Russian manipulation of American social media during recent elections should not have been. They have many decades of experience. They revealed their distaste for fair play in one anecdote. All the allied leaders were invited to a boar hunt, an invitation that was accepted by all with pleasure. They were surprised when the Russians arrived with submachine guns instead of rifles. When the boars came out of the woods, the Russians opened up with a fusillade that had all everyone else hitting the ground to avoid bullets that were flying everywhere. When the shooting stopped a mass of dead boar lay in front of them having been slaughtered by the massive firepower. That was emblematic of Russian tactics.

That first winter was the coldest on record, and the suffering of Germans and refugees was terrible. Meanwhile, the winners were living in splendor and unimaginable comfort. They requisitioned beautiful mansions, had access to the riches of the PX, and had plenty of servants. The Black Market made many rich, and virtually anything could be had for a few cigarettes which had become the de facto currency. The disparity between the conquerors and the people was a worry to some as they feared that unless the allies could get German industry and society back on its feet that Communism, which on its face lacked the same disparities, would become more appealing. The Allies won a stunning election victory in the first election as the allies merely posted signs reminding Germans of the vicious reprisals taken by the Russians. But people can be fickle and tend to follow food rather than politics, so providing sustenance became a priority.

Ironies abound. The Soviets themselves should have realized how people can come together to survive sieges; they had their own Leningrad and Stalingrad examples before them. Had Stalin not unleashed the fury of Russian troops to wreck havoc on Berliners by Russian troops, they might have been far less fearful of Soviet domination. Traffic between East and West Berlin remained open during the airlift, which was instituted in 1948 ( a magnificent logistical feat) , the catch being that Westerners crossing the checkpoints had to register with the Soviet authorities thus placing them under Soviet control. So even though they could get food on the Eastern side, few people crossed to risk Soviet control. Electricity was a huge problem. 80% of electricity generators were in the Eastern sector, so that was severely rationed in the West. Since water had to be pumped from deep wells, it had to be rationed as well.

One high placed U.S. official remarked of the crisis, "One wrong foot now, and it's World War III." I could write a lot more. Loved this book. ( )

Incredibly detailed research of the pivotal period after WW2, when the western allies found themselves confronted by the Russians in Berlin. The book tells how the Russians attempted to drive a wedge between the allies and seize control of all of Berlin, with puppet leaders in thrall to Moscow. This culminated in the Berlin blockade (and subsequent airlift), which the Russians believed would bring the allies to their knees and enable Russia to take control of all Berlin. Instead it spectacularly backfired and ultimately lead to German reunification many years later. The author manages to inject humour and down to earth vignettes of life in Berlin during these challenging times. ( )