1.1a Why did events in the years 1945 to 1949 lead to the division of Germany? Flashcards
How often did a plane land in Berlin during the blockade?
Every 90 seconds
What did the Berlin wall cause the creation of?
NATO
Who became the Chancellor of the FRG in 1949 after the Berlin Blockade?
Konrad Adenauer (1949)
What did the Berlin Blockade symbolise for the West?
Their commitment not to give up on Berlin
What is a theory as to why the FRG was set up?
To stop Stalin from taking control of the whole of Germany
What 3 systems of transport connected the FRG to the GDR?
4 roads
3 air corridors
2 railways
Which 2 political parties merged to form the SED?
KPD & SPD
How many members of each political party joined together to form the SED?
KPD - 700,000
SPD - 600,000
SPD - 600,000
What was the perception of the KPD?
Seen as a tool of the Soviets due to a lot of anti-Soviet propaganda by the Nazis
Why did many people dislike the KPD and SED?
Many Germans regarded them as a reason for the rise of the Nazis
What ideology were the SED committed to?
Marxist-Leninist Principles
What happened as soon as the SED got into power?
Instant purge of former members
5,000 former SED members put in prison
Why were there tensions between the victor powers?
- Ideological Differences - Capitalism/Democracy VS. Communism/Authoritarian. Exacerbated by death of Roosevelt and the outlook of his more anti-communist successor, Truman.
- Post-War Reconstruction: Disagreements on how to rebuild Europe, e.g. U.S. offered Marshall Aid to European nations affected by the War, however Stalin prevented the Eastern Bloc from receiving this aid.
- Security Concerns: USSR wanted a buffer zone of Communist Government in Eastern Europe to prevent future invasions, whilst the West was concerned about Soviet Expansionism
4.
What was the Truman Doctrine
Giving financial aid to any country under threat from Communism
How did Stalin react to the creation of Bizonia? (1947)
He saw it as a personal attack on the Soviets and so he began the Berlin blockade (1948)
What was the currency introduced in Bizonia?
The Deutschmark (1948)
Which US leader replaced Franklin D. Roosevelt and why was this significant?
Harry S. Truman was made President in 1945, he was a staunch anti-communist who established the Truman Doctrine, the Marshall Plan, and NATO.
Why did the USSR take huge reparations out of the Soviet zone? (2)
USSR suffered immense losses from WW2, including 25 million soldiers and widespread damage to their economy
USSR also aimed to wekane Germany’s potential for future military aggression and strengthen its own industrial base.
Which 3 countries were the only countries willing to enter diplomatic negotiations with the GDR?
The USSR
Eastern Bloc States
North Korea
Who became first secretary of the GDR in 1950
Walter Ulbricht
What was important about the territory occupied by the Soviets?
It contained Berlin
What was ‘Stalin’s note’?
A note to the West suggesting a unified Germany that was rejected
What did the rejection of ‘Stalin’s note’ allow him to do?
Start forming a military in the Soviet zone
How did Adenauer have a significant impact on FRG/GDR Relations?
Hallstein Doctrine - Stated that FRG would not establish or maintain diplomatic relations with any country that recognised the GDR
Western Integration - Under his govt. FRG joined NATO and European Economic Community
When were the 3 Main WW2 Conferences?
Tehran Conference: Nov. 28th - Dec. 1st 1943
Yalta Conference: Feb.4th - 11th 1945
Potsdam Conference: Jul. 17th - Aug. 2nd 1945
