 But they got trained and equipped and turned the war into an Allied victory. And on 24 June 1948, one of the most dramatic standoffs in the Cold War began, as the Soviet Union blocked all road and rail traffic to and from West Berlin. This became a terrible diplomatic move by the Soviets, while we emerged with renewed purpose and confidence. We were furious. For a few tense days, the world waited to see if this would become a war.