Question 178 · Federal question
From June 1948 to May 1949, the citizens of West Berlin were supplied via an airlift…
German original (as asked in the real test)
Vom Juni 1948 bis zum Mai 1949 wurden die Bürgerinnen und Bürger von West-Berlin durch eine Luftbrücke versorgt. Welcher Umstand war dafür verantwortlich?
- A Für Frankreich war eine Versorgung der West-Berliner Bevölkerung mit dem Flugzeug kostengünstiger.
- B Die amerikanischen Soldatinnen und Soldaten hatten beim Landtransport Angst vor Überfällen.
- C Für Großbritannien war die Versorgung über die Luftbrücke schneller.
- D Die Sowjetunion unterbrach den gesamten Verkehr auf dem Landwege. ✓ Correct answer
Translation
From June 1948 to May 1949, the citizens of West Berlin were supplied via an airlift. What circumstance was responsible for this?
- A For France, supplying the West Berlin population by plane was more cost-effective.
- B The American soldiers were afraid of attacks during land transport.
- C For Great Britain, supplying via the airlift was faster.
- D The Soviet Union interrupted all land traffic. ✓ Correct answer
Explanation
The Berlin Airlift (June 1948–May 1949) happened because the Soviet Union blockaded all land and water routes to West Berlin. To supply the city, the Western Allies organized continuous deliveries by air.
Tips
- Watch for keywords like Luftbrücke, Blockade, 1948/49, and Cold War context.
- Recall that Berlin’s land access was cut by the Soviet side, prompting an air solution.
- Eliminate answers suggesting convenience (cheaper, faster) or fear-based motives; the trigger was a political blockade, not logistics preference.
- Associate West Berlin supply crises with four-power occupation and access routes being blocked.
Practice in the app
