Deighton presents the social and political interaction that took place in divided Berlin and Germany following the Allied victory of World War II in 1945 through the early 1960s. In 1945 Berlin was divided into four sectors, with Britain, France, the Soviet Union, and the United States each occupying a sector; at the same time they divided Germany into four zones.

Although Berlin was within the Soviet zone of occupation, the Western powers presumed that the Soviets would allow them free access to the city. To their chagrin, however, the Russians declared a blockade in June 1948 and closed all routes, water as well as land, through their zone, with the design of driving the Western powers out of Berlin altogether. But the West promptly replied by organizing a gigantic air lift to supply the West Berliners with the necessities of life.

The Soviets therefore lifted their blockade in...