1.1 - The Post-War Division of Germany

Tehran Conference

1943 - divide Germany into zones - undecided how.

Morgenthau Plan

1944 - destroy German industrial capacity.

Yalta Conference

1945 - divide Germany into 4 zones - Stalin wanted more land for Poland.

What 4 Ds were decided at the Potsdam Conference?

Denazification - Nazi leaders brought to justice.
Demilitarisation - military reductions for Germany.
Deindustrialisation - German industries to be dismantled.
Democratisation - Germany = to be prepared for democracy.

What reparations were called for?

Stalin wanted $20 billion in reparations.
USA refused a fixed sum.
Each country could take reparations from their zones.

Why was the population of the GDR at 19 million by 1947?

Because it had been swollen by 4 million refugees.

Why were claims of war damage exaggerated?

Because the GDR wanted to pay less in reparations.

What did Stalin say about communism in Germany?

'communism fits Germany like a saddle fits a cow'

What did the Soviets want for Germany?

For it to be a reunited and communist country.

What happened to former Nazis?

They were tried and excluded from public life, then arrested and sent to camps.

What were Stalin's priorities for Germany?

To keep it weak and suppress nationalism.

What was SMAD and what did it do?

The Soviet Military Administration.
It was run by top German Communists - Ulbricht and Pieck.
It ensured Germany developed how Stalin wanted.

What were the two socialist parties in the Soviet Zone?

The SPD and KPD.

What were the two other parties in the Soviet Zone?

The Christian Democrat Union (CDU) and the Liberal Democratic Party (LPD).

What happened with the merger of the KPD and SPD?

They thought it would give popularity so they merged in 1946, forming a membership of 2,000,000.

Outcome of elections for the SED after the merger.

They could not win elections as in October 1946 the SED won less than 20% of the vote.

What were the Land Reforms of 1945?

Landowners related with Nazism had their land stripped - then redistributed to poorer farmers.

What happened in the Confiscation of Property of 1945?

Property belonging to the former Nazi leaders was seized.

What happened to education to eradicate Nazism?

Schools were taught a communist promoting curriculum with more people being allowed into universities.

What were the details of the payment of reparations - industry?

Industrial plants were dismantled and shipped to the USSR.
It was resented.

What were the details of the payment of reparations - cost?

Cost = in excess of 54 billion Ost.

What were the details of the payment of reparations - railway?

East Germany lost 12,000 km of railway by 1948.

When was Bizonia formed?

Summer 1946

When was Trizonia formed?

April 1949

Why were the co-operations between Russia and the West breaking?

America suspended reparation payment to the USSR in 1946.
The USSR invasion of Czechoslovakia.
USA cancelled plans to reduce its military force and announced that they would remain in Germany.

What was Marshall Aid?

USA would provide finance that Europe needed to aid recovery.

Why was Marshall Aid rejected by the USSR?

Because they didn't want the satellite states influenced by the West.

When was the Deutschmark introduced?

June 1948

When was the FRG created?

May 1949

Why was the Ostmark introduced?

In retaliation of how well the FRG were doing from the Deutschmark.

What was the Berlin Crisis?

In June 1948, the Soviets blocked off all land, rail and water routes into West Berlin hoping to force the West to leave Berlin.

How did the West respond to the Berlin Crisis?

To counter this, the West organised an airlift - 2,500,000 tonnes of supplies were flown in.
Stalin gave in and restored supplies - showed that allies would not give in.

Why did Stalin form the GDR?

Because there was little alternative.

When was the GDR formed?

October 1949

How many approved the list of candidates for leaders of the GDR?

66%

Who was President and Minister-President?

Pieck and Grotewohl