The Berlin Blockade, which lasted from June 1948 to May 1949, was a significant event in the Cold War that showcased the ideological conflict between the Soviet Union and the Western powers. In response to the introduction of a new currency in West Germany, the Soviets blocked all ground access to West Berlin, attempting to force the Allies out of the city. The Western powers countered by organizing the Berlin Airlift, supplying West Berlin with food and resources via air transport for nearly a year. This confrontation not only solidified the division of Berlin into East and West but also heightened tensions that characterized the Cold War era.