Die Luftbrücke - Nur der Himmel war frei

The film on SAT-1 was followed by a discussion and newsreel. In the newsreel Ernst Reuter calls upon the people of "America, England, Italy, France" - in the film "England" is omitted from Reuter's Address outside the burned-out Reichstag building. Why is the contribution of the RAF and the fact that a British passenger aircraft was shot down by the Russians ignored ? Further, I thought the character played by Heino Ferch was called Lieut-Gen William H. Tunner not Turner as in the film.

I did not understand why no RAF planes were shown, no Canadian or Australian or South African pilots. I had not realised that the Airlift was simply a US effort and the French took part but the British had nothing to do with it - considering 50% British GDP in 1947 was Marshall Aid it was a sacrifice for British people to have bread rationed to feed Berlin. Short Sunderland flying boats carried salt since they did not corrode.

Just watched Part 2 and I wonder how a German doctor returning after years in a Soviet Gulag was so aware of the latest US drug Streptomycin first mentioned in a scientific paper 1944. It was also strange that distribution of the drug was handled by his schoolboy son - seemingly Berlin was a family business in 1948.

What is clear is that in trying to seize Germany Stalin precipitated The Cold War - cold in Berlin, hot in Korea.

There was a non-fraternisation policy - would a General really have breached it ?

If you are interested what happened after the Second World War in Berlin these two episodes movie is for you. At least for me it opened my eyes.

I didn't know many details about Berlins population with their surviving problem created by the Russians. The cooperation between the Americans and Germans was very significant at that crucial point to save West Berlin. Unbelievable how explosive rhe danger of a third world war was.

Thanks God there was an important weapon in the hands of Washington to change the political motivation of Stalin. The live affaire between the US General and the German wife was very interesting and was never boring. 6 out 10 that matches exactly the actual rating on IMDb.

When you keep in mind that this was not documentary you can give this film a chance. The second part was much better than the first part of it. Heino Ferch has been much better in other films, maybe in all his other films. But the second part was saved by Ulrich Noehten and his really great acting. And whatever was allowed or not allowed during the air-lift, who was involved and who was not involved, if the kitchen in Dr. Kielbergs home was much too huge or not: It was a wonderful love story shown in part 2 and that was the love story between Luise and Alexander Kielberg. The conflict of the man coming back trying to find his way in his job, his family, his country where nothing is like before was really very good. Many other parts of the film where not. I think Bettina Zimmermann was not very convincing in her part but compared to her Katharina Wackernagel was. Even after a while you remember Ulrich Tukur in his part which is still very present. I do not know anything about the "real" Clay but as I already said I do not see this film as documentary.