The City Becomes a Symbol: the U. S. Army in the Occupation of Berlin, 1945-1948

Book excerpt: The City Becomes a Symbol: The U.S. Army in the Occupation of Berlin, 1945-1948, by William Stivers and Donald A. Carter, is the latest publication in the Center of Military History's The U.S. Army in the Cold War series. The volume begins in July 1945 during the opening days of the occupation of Berlin by the Allied powers. The four powers, the United States, Great Britain, France, and the Soviet Union, negotiated on all aspects of the city from troop placements and headquarters locations to food distribution and which Berliners could serve in governing the city. During the initial years of the occupation differences emerged over policies and goals that lead to the Soviets cutting off road and rail access to the city. With no other options, U.S. and British forces had to supply their sectors of the city by air. In addition to meeting the basic needs of the residents in their sectors, the Western allies worked to win the loyalties of the citizens and political leaders to resist the spread of Soviet communism. These first four years of occupation set the stage for a decades-long face-off with the Soviets in Germany.