The University of West Georgia’s John Ferling Distinguished Lecture in History will welcome 20th-century expert Dr. Petra Goedde, professor of history at Temple University, on Tuesday, Oct. 22, at 7 p.m. in the Campus Center. Her lecture, entitled “The Things They Carried,” will focus on importance of the Berlin Airlift and Germany’s postwar reinvention. 

After the Second World War, tensions erupted between the Western Allies and the Soviet Union. The United States, United Kingdom and France still maintained control western Berlin, but the city was located deep in Soviet-occupied eastern Germany. In 1948, the Soviets blockaded the western sectors of Berlin in an attempted power-grab. In response, the Americans orchestrated an airlift of food, fuel and essential goods to the West.  

The operation proved extremely successful with an endless amount of air support, and U.S. troops demonstrated that they could continue such life-saving airdrops in perpetuity. Their efforts contributed to Moscow lifting the blockade on western Berlin and the official establishment of East and West Germany. 

The airlift served as both symbol and culmination of a fundamental change in the U.S.-West German relationship. Such a transformation had been years in the making and ordinary GIs played an active role in driving it. The things they carried into Germany—material and immaterial—helped pave the way for Germany’s identity. 

“Since the 75th anniversary of the Berlin Airlift just passed, we thought it would be an appropriate topic for the Ferling Lecture,” explained Dr. Keith Pacholl, UWG professor of history. “Dr. Goedde’s research on the topic is well known.” 

Goedde has been invited to present on C-SPAN and has received the Roosevelt Visiting Professorship at the Roosevelt Institute for American Studies. She has authored and co-edited six books, including her influential “The Politics of Peace: A Global Cold War History” (Oxford University Press, 2019). 

“The John Ferling Distinguished Lecture in History, was established to bring distinguished historians in the fields of American and European history to the UWG,” Pacholl informed. “Dr. Ferling wanted to invite top scholars in their respective fields to share their research with UWG students, faculty, staff and the Carrollton community. While an undergraduate student, Dr. Ferling was inspired by the talks provided by distinguished historians, and he would like to afford that same opportunity to those on our campus and in the community.” 

All are invited to attend the lecture at 7 p.m., which will be preceded by a reception at 6 p.m. and followed by a Q&A.