Staff of the Gillett & Johnston company at the docks in London Foto by: Barry Bennett
			The idea of the Freedom Bell grew out of the activities of the "National Committee for a Free Europe", founded in New York in 1949. This committee entrusted its implementation to the father of the Airlift, Lucius D. Clay. The Bell was manufactured under great pressure of time. The work was carried out by the English firm of Gillett & Johnston from 25 June to the end of August 1950. The bell was shipped from London and was taken through 26 cities in the USA, where 16 million Americans donated money and signed the declaration of freedom. After crossing the Atlantic again, the Freedom Bell finally arrived at Rathaus Schöneberg in Berlin.