Conflict over Germany

developments within the sectors, including Bizonia and currency reform; the Berlin blockade; the creation of East and West Germany; formation of NATO

What was the significance of General Lucias Clay (US zone military governor and commander in chief) announcing that no reparations were to be allowed in the US zone in May 1946

USSR saw this as a strategy to create a capitalist system

Bizonia, Jan 1947

US and British zones merged economically

Moscow Conference, Mar-Apr 1947

wanted to discuss how to administer aid and deal with Germany

* Soviets demanded new centralised administration, but failed
* British foreign secretary Ernest Bevin argued political unity after economic unity

= successful failure for the West

London Conference, Nov-Dec 1947

USSR accused West of unjustly denying it reparations, West feared centralisation would lead to Soviet controlled Germany

**= led to urgency to strengthen economy of Western zones and towards creation of West German state**

When was creation of deutschemark and West German constitution?

Deutschemark - 23 June 1947

Constitution - 7 June 1947

= idea of strong west Germany threatened Stalin and was something to protect himself from, seen as going against Potsdam and Yalta

When was the Marshall Plan extended to Germany?

7 March 1948

When was Trizonia created?

1 June 1948

Berlin Blockade, June 1948-May 1949

* 24 June: Soviets blockaded all land and water routes to West Berlin
* 25 June: Soviets stopped supplying food an electricity to non-Soviet sectors of Berlin
* 12 May 1949: blockade lifted

Berlin Airlift, June 1948-Sept 1948

started 25 June 1948 and lasted 15 months until 30 Sept 1949

* USAF delivered 1m+ tons, RAF 500 000+ tons to Berlin
* 2/3 of coal

formation of NATO, Apr 1949

collective defence treaty whereby independent member states agreed to mutual defence in response to an attack

When was FRG formed?

23 May 1949

Konrad Adenauer was first Chancellor

When was GDR formed?

7 Oct 1949

significance of the formation of 2 separate German states

cooperation of former allies is now officially over

Significance of the Berlin crisis

* Stalin forced to concede the blockade had failed = embarrassing for him and the Soviet Union
* Germany formally divided
* formation of NATO
* demonstrated West as willing to stand up to pressure from the Soviet Union
* neither side wanted to escalate and risk nuclear war