Watson, Ian Smith The RAF in Cold War Germany

With the Second World War in Europe at an end, Britain was faced with the immediate responsibility to play her part in the occupation of a defeated Germany. As a near bankrupt country, the UK was hard pressed to maintain such a significant military presence on the continent and manage other commitments in the Mediterranean and Far East.
As the immediate post-war years came to pass, Britain and other western powers found themselves reviewing their relationship with the key victor in the east: the USSR. A defining moment developed in 1948 when the Soviet Union attempted to starve the civilians of West Berlin.
Consequently, the Allies delivered aid every minute in the Berlin Airlift or "Berliner Luftbrücke". Following a sterling and stubborn effort to keep the city supplied with the minimum materials and food, the Soviet exercise ended in 1949; however, the parameters were now set.
The Iron Curtain had descended across the continent and the RAF were to maintain a constant vigil with nuclear-armed aircraft on station ready to respond to Soviet aggression for four decades.

In the immediate post-war years, Britain and other Western powers felt compelled to review their relations with the most important victor in the East: the USSR. A decisive moment occurred in 1948 when the Soviet Union attempted to starve out the civilian population in West Berlin.
In response, the Allies delivered the urgently needed relief supplies as part of the Berlin Airlift. The Soviet starvation campaign ended in 1949, but the parameters were now set.
The "Iron Curtain" had descended across the continent and the RAF was to remain on standby with nuclear-armed aircraft for four decades to respond to potential Soviet attacks.