Final answer:
Berlin was a focal point of Cold War tensions due to its divided status, which represented the broader ideological conflict between democracy and communism. Truman saw its defense as crucial to standing up to communist expansion, leading to the Berlin Airlift as a show of Western commitment and resolve.
Step-by-step explanation:
Berlin was a significant source of conflict between the West and the Soviets after World War II due to its strategic location and political symbolism. It lay within the Soviet-controlled East Germany but was divided into four sectors controlled by the U.S., British, French, and Soviet forces. This division mirrored the broader ideological divide in Europe, with Western powers promoting democracy and capitalism while the Soviet Union sought to expand communism.
The division of Germany, and particularly Berlin, demonstrated this stark ideological opposition. When Stalin initiated the Berlin Blockade in 1948, it was an attempt to push the Western Allies out of Berlin, but President Harry Truman viewed Berlin as a vital outpost of democracy and freedom in a communist-dominated Eastern Europe. His decision to launch the Berlin Airlift was a clear message that the U.S. was committed to defending these values and maintaining its influence in Europe. The successful airlift was a powerful symbol of Western resolve and a key early victory in the Cold War.