The significance of the Berlin Blockade in the early Cold War period was its first major confrontation between the Western allies and the Soviet Union. Implemented in 1948, the blockade aimed to cut off supply routes to West Berlin, prompting the Allies to respond with the Berlin Airlift, providing essential goods to the encircled city. This event underscored the ideological divide between communism and capitalism, solidifying the division of Germany and demonstrating the West's commitment to containing Soviet influence, setting the stage for future Cold War tensions.