Cold War c. 1945 - 1991: The Division of Germany

What did Stalin want for Post-War Germany?

Germany be dismembered and divided so that it could not rise to its former strength to threaten European peace and security again

What did UK & US want for Post-War Germany?

Strong German recovery

Keep Germany decentrilised to stop it aligning with the USSR and growing too strong

What was agreed at Yalta regarding Germany?

Germany would be divided into 4 zones

British, French, US, USSR Zone

What was agreed at Potsdam regarding Germany?

The demilitarising, disarming, de-Nazification and decentralization of Germany.

The restoration of freedom of speech

The treatment of Germany as a single economic unit.

The USSR was to receive reparations from its own zone within Germany with an additional 25% coming from the Western-controlled zones of Germany

What was created to ensure politcal and economic unity in Germany?

Allied Control Council (ACC)

Who was the military governor of USA zone before Eizenhower?

Lucius D. Clay

What developments took place in the French Zone?

- Wanted to dismember Germany into smaller autonomous states

- Extreme demands caused issues in ACC

- Supported of two seperate Germanys (East & West)

- French security was a priority (Ruhr)

What developments took place in the British Zone?

- Helped their sector recover economically

- Protected Ruhr valley from French or USSR control

- Contained 22.5 million poeple - pressure on food supplies

- Stopped a revived Germany from aligning with USSR created the North-Rhine Westphalia

What developments took place in the USA Zone?

- Organised free elections

- May 1946 Stopped reperations to USSR

- 1947 reject soviet demand for joint Ruhr & Reperations

- Focus on developing Germanys independace and stablility

What developments took place in the USSR Zone?

- Stalin accepted 4 politcal parties - Communist (KPD), German Social Democrats (SPD), Liberals (LDPD), Christan democrats (LDPD

- Nationalised industry

- Land Reform

- Made learning Russian compulsory

What speech was said in Stuttgart and when?

The Speech of Hope - September 1946

What happend in the USSR Zone in Febuary 1946?

- SPD and KPD merged to form the SED which had a majority in parliament

- Very corrupt political system

What did Stalin think of Berlin?

Stalin believed Berlin was a seperate city under soviet control and didnt see this ever changing

When was Bizonia created?

January 1947

What was Bizonia?

Unification of the British and American zones

What was the consequence of Bizonia?

- Soviets rejected Bizonia and suggested Germany be unified under one economic administration

- Shows 4 power control had failed

Where and when was centrilised administration discussed?

The Moscow Conference in March 1947

When was the London Conference?

November - December 1947

What happened at the London Conference?

- The USSR accused the West of unjustly denying reparations

- Shows the 4 power control was not working

When was the second London Conference?

February-June 1948

What happened at the 2nd London Conference June 1948?

- New currency discussed (Deutschemark)

- Strengthen economic stability

- West Germany should have a formal constitution

What was created in June 1948?

A new currency the Deutschemark was introduced and was to be used throughout West Germany

What was the Berlin Blockade?

A Soviet attempt to force the Western Powers to allow all of Berlin to be controlled by USSR

When did the Blockade begin and what happened?

24th June 1948 - USSR blocked all road and rail links from Western controlled areas to Berlin

What did Bevin conclude Stalin wanted to do with Berlin?

Seen as a highly agressive act by the West.

Bevin concluded that Stalin wanted to turn Germany communist by taking control of its capital

What did Stalin know the West wouldn't do?

Stalin knew the West wouldn't use military force as they didn't want to risk war

How did USA and Britain respond to this takeover?

Berlin Airlift - They dropped supplies from planes into Berlin and made it clear they would continue to do this until Stalin stopped the blockade

How many flights were made per month to Berlin?

15000

How did Stalin respond to the Airlift?

He let it happen and didnt shoot the planes down to prevent a war

When did Stalin end the Blockade?

May 1949

What were the main consequences of the Blockade?

- Stalin backed down

- The powers went to Paris to discuss Berlins future

- The Blockade was a properganda victory for the West

- The Blockade showed evidence that Stalin wanted to expand his SOI

When was the West German constitution created?

May 1949

Who was the first leader of West Germany?

Konrad Adenauer

When was the East German constitiution created?

October 1949

What was the East German constitution based on?

- Aim to create a pro-Soviet united Germany

- One-party state system with the SED as the party for voter choice

What was created to prevent any form of German resergance?

Western European Union (WEU)

What was NATO?

North Atlantic Treaty Organization; a defensive pact made to defend one another if they were attacked by any other country

When was NATO created?

April 1949

What was NATO for the US?

Political defense system rather than a military organisation

What did Article 1 define?

Defined military parameters 'to settle any international disputes... by peaceful means'

What did Article 2 define?

'The parties will contribute towards the further development of peaceful and friendly international relations... They will seek to eliminate conflict'

What did Article 5 define?

Stated a much more direct commitment to military action 'The Parties agree that an armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all'

What was the Soviet response to NATO?

- Soviet ambassador to the USA argued NATO was an aggressive organization designed to pressure states into complying with the interests of Britain, the USA, and its allies

- USSR emphasized its lack of intent to attack any state in Europe

- Relations entered a new phase of hostility

- Stalin created the Warsaw Pact

What was the Warsaw Pact?

- A military alliance of communist nations in Eastern Europe.

- A way to legitimize USSR influence in Eastern Europe

- Presented as a collective security strategy

- Consolidated the political and economic relationship between the USSR and its satellites

When was the Warsaw Pact created?

1955