4.Conflict over Germany

Germany: Capitalism v Communism

October 1947: a poll found that while 63% of Germans trusted the America to treat Germany well, 0% trusted the Soviets (45% trusted the British and 4% the French).

Germany zones

Each zone in Germany could be administer differently, but the aim was for them to at least coordinate actions through the Allied Control Council which meant economic and political unity in Germany to be maintained.

The Soviet zone

-Stalin was willing to accept four political parties within the Soviet Zone: Communists (KPD), German Social Democrats (SPD), Liberals (LDPD) and Christians Democrats (CDU).
-His intention was that Communists would emerge as dominant to create a German-wide Communist movement.
-But Soviet expectations weren’t met so SPD and KPD were merged creating the German Socialist Unity Party (SED) in Feb 1946.
-Stalin’s intentions of extending influence starting becoming increasingly clear, and the Soviet Zone became seen as a place of tyranny and repression by the Western zones.
-He could dominate politics within his zone, but not nationally.
-Despite agreeing to joint occupation policies, the USSR creating many unilateral policies, such as land reform, nationalisation of large industrial production and compulsory tuition of Russian in German schools.

The British zone

-The responsibility that came with having the industrial Ruhr, the major port of Hamburg and a 22.5mil population brought significant problems to the British Zone, it was costly and increased Britain’s dependency upon the USA.
-Also, there was worries about the French and Soviet efforts to gain control of the Ruhr.
-This zone was at the heart of German economic recovery due to the industry.
-Soviet influence would mean Germany would have to provide more reparations – weakening them increasing the chances of a shift toward Communist support for them.
-A revived Germany would then cooperate with the USSR, or be dominated by it, threatening Britain.
-So, on 23rd August 1946 Britain committed itself to merging US and British zones.

The American zone

-In summer of 1945 Kennan was clear that the US needs to develop independence and economic security in its zone to ensure safety from Eastern European states.
-Initially there was a desire to make joint occupation work by Eisenhower and Clay, but by spring 1947 Clay was less compliant.
-He disliked Soviet’s desire for joint control of the Ruhr, the Soviet’s desire for centralised Germany and the continued deprivation of US and British zones.

The French zone

-Until 1947 French had wanted a complete dismemberment of Germany, and for an internationalisation of the Ruhr so they could develop significant influence over it.
-They wanted Germany to become a number of small independent states, and have the Western part closely allied to Western powers.
-This ensured France’s long-term security against a resurgent German state.

Creation of Bizonia

By 1946 USA and Britain wanted some degree of economic recovery within their deprived zones. The USSR wanted more reparations from Western zones than they could accept so in May Clay announced they’d give no more until there was a plan put in place for Germany’s economic recovery. In January 1947 US and British Zones merged into ‘Bizonia’ – a clear indication that the four-power control of Germany had failed. Soviets opposed Bizonia and in the Moscow conference (March and April 1947) they demanded that a new central administration should be created, but failed and nothing was decided. A later conference in London also failed, but the powers began to recognise that four-power control wouldn’t work which catalysed a move toward a creation of a West German state allied by Western powers.

Introduction of the Deutsch Mark

Later (Feb-June 1948) meetings in London decided on the introduction of the Deutsch Mark into Western zones. This would strengthen economic stability meanwhile moving swiftly toward a clear formation of a distinct West German state.

The Berlin Blockade

On 24th June 1948, a day after the new currency was introduced, the USSR blocked all road and rail links to Western zones and West Berlin that went through the Soviet zone. British Foreign Secretary Bevin believed the USSR’s aim was to spread Communism throughout Germany, the first step being to drive out Western powers from West Berlin. He was adamant on not using military force but instead just supplying West Berlin with essentials via an airlift. A withdrawal from Berlin would threaten the future of democracy in Germany.

General Clay was the US man on the ground.

In May 1949 Stalin ended the blockade, failing his aim of preventing a West German state – by this year Europe was divided into two clear blocks.

East and West Germany

These were the two blocks of Germany.
Western allies drew up a constitution that was finally approved in early 1949, the first leader became Adenauer.
Despite supposed independence, the new state was subjected to an Occupation Statute that set up a High Commission giving Britain, France and the USA authority to determine any final decisions on foreign policy and security.
The USSR were obviously reluctant to accept this, they wanted a pro-Soviet united Germany but were faced with an anti-Soviet divided one. But by March 1949 a constitution for the new East Germany had been assembled and in October the state was officially formed. The SED were the party for voter choice.

The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO)

4th April 1949

NATO members

UK, Belgium, Portugal, Luxembourg, Norway, The Netherlands, Italy, Canada, USA, France, Iceland, Denmark

What was NATO?

European states were seen to be signalling to the USA that Western Germany, and Europe as a whole, was under threat from a communist advance – urging them to take a more provocative role in assisting Europe with defence.
USA thought that an Atlantic alliance would be better than European.
NATO was a means of reassuring Western European states in the face of possible Soviet military aggression.
It also gave the USA a regional defence organisation that’d complement containment – for the USA it was more of a political defence system rather than a military organisation.
Article 1: ‘to settle any international disputes… by peaceful means’
Article 5: ‘The Parties agree that an armed attack against 1 or more of them in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all.’

Worries around NATO

USA shift from isolationism to globalism was shaky, there was uncertainty in whether they’d commit to the long-term defence of West Europe and people believed that Europe should make a significant contribution toward its own defence.

However, it can be argued that this was already being done with the Western European Union (WEU) which included Britain, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands) which aimed to prevent any German revival that’d threaten West Europe’s security.

The Soviet response - The Warsaw Pact

May 1955

The Warsaw Pact members

Poland, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria, Romania, USSR, East Germany, Albania, Hungary.

Soviets viewed NATO as an aggressive organisation designed to pressurise states into complying with the interests of Britain, the USA, and their allies.
But, NATO remained a strong alliance but had not provoked a serious retaliation from the USSR until 1955 when West Germany was allowed to rearm and join NATO.

The USSR felt the need to consolidate its relations with the satellite communist states of Eastern Europe, leading to the creation of the Warsaw Pact.
This was seen by the USSR as a means of legitimising its influence in Eastern Europe.
Although presented as a non-threatening alliance, the terms of the pact suggested something less kind.