Many nations in Post-World War II Europe experienced a large loss of life, damaged infrastructure, ruined cities, and a decline in industry and agriculture. The US established plans for recovery efforts of war-torn Europe and to spread the influence of democracy and capitalism. The Soviet Union saw these efforts as a challenge to them and an attempt to damage Soviet influence in the world. The Cold War was the result of these tensions. The Cold War was a political conflict between the U.S. and the Soviet Union. The Cold War began in Berlin, Germany. Before the end of World War II, the Allies and the Soviets agreed to divide up Germany. East Germany and East Berlin would belong to the Soviet Union while West Germany and West Berlin would be occupied by France, the U.S., and Great Britain. The Marshall Plan was made to oversee the European Recovery Program. The Marshall Plan delivered billions of dollars of food, fuel, and other supplies to European allies. The U.S. did attempt to help some eastern European nations but was often blocked by the Soviets. The Marshall Plan was overall a huge success. Western Europe was able to rebuild itself and remain strong against communist threats from the Soviet Union. We reviewed the Berlin Airlift - flying food & supplies into West Berlin, Operation Vittles, the code name for the Berlin Airlift, began in June, 1948. The airlift was a huge success in proving that the Allies could continue to resupply West Berlin indefinitely. The Berlin Airlift lasted almost a year until the Soviets lifted the blockade in May, 1949. The outcome of the airlift was the creation of East and West Germany as nations, the formation of NATO and the Warsaw Pact, and the ongoing struggle between communism and capitalism.