Surviving Winter Shortages of Electricity and Heat (January 5, 1949) The "Blockade Winter" of 1948-49 was marked by power outages and a scarcity of heating fuel in West Berlin. Although the airlift made large deliveries, there were frequent bottlenecks in the supply line. In this photograph, the members of a Berlin family face the cold in their winter coats. They also employ a kerosene lamp in lieu of electricity. Photographer unknown.