4) Conflict over Germany Flashcards
Bizonia
January 1947
British and American zones in Germany economically merge
Moscow Conference
March/April 1947
discussed Bizonia, USSR calls the conference to reinstate 4 power occupation. Plan made by foreign minister Bevin that revised the Potsdam agreements, he knew the soviets couldn’t accept
British zone of Germany
occupied the Ruhr
as similar with Greece, Britain was struggling to support this extra nation
Soviet zone of Germany
wanted zone to be the centre of a communist Germany
feared an economic recovery would destabilise soviet control
nationalised industry
Russian was compulsory to learn
Physically moved factories from Germany to Russia to help with the USSRs recovery
French zone of Germany
wanted the Ruhr industry to be internationalised, so they could dominated the region
Supported the idea of a west Germany
American zone of Germany
recovered the economy and democracy
wanted joint occupation
free elections
Early problems in Germany
Stalin accused the west of trying to wreck the east Germany economy with the Deutsch
Soviets feared an economic revival would result in a capitalist Germany
West feared that a unified administration would result in a Soviet Germany
How much money was Molotov (secretary of state) arguing the USSR needed in reparations from Germany
$10 billion
When was currency reform introduced in Germany
Deutschmark was in June 1948 (western zones)
Reasons for the Berlin Blockade
-currency reform, excuse to stop the devalued Reichsmark from entering the east
-the Ruhr, USSR would loose any access to the Ruhr if a west Germany state was created
-Failure of the council of foreign ministers in November 1947
-Moscow accused Ernst Bevin refused to allow soviet reps into the London conference
-Stalin believed the creation of a west German state violated the Potsdam agreements
Introduction of the Deutschmark
introduced into Bizonia without Soviet knowledge
resulted in all the old reichsmark currency flooding into the eastern zone meaning the soviets had to introduce their own currency reform- the Ostmark
value was set at 1-1 but the ostmark was always traded for less
What was the blockade actually blocking
Railways, waterways and roads to the west
supply of electricity to the west from east Berlin
When did the berlin blockade start
June 1948
Soviet aims of the blockade
return to 4 power control, ultimately making Germany weaker
Same currency in Berlin
stop the creation of a western state
Soviet actions to counter American efforts to stop the blockade
-Introduced a counterblockade
-Did military drills in order to crowd the airspace
-Asked them to change their policy for forfeit Berlin
-vetoed Ernst Reuter as major of all Berlin
Talks in ending the blockade
originally broke down in August 1948 because Stalin thought it looked weak to end it
Impact of the blockade of Berliners
previously lived of the black market and used American cigarettes as the most reliable form of currency
2.5 million civilians affected
Demonstrations: the Berlin Socialist unionist party held one outside the eastern council house. Also a huge gathering against the USSR held outside the Reichstag
Kept alive by the airlifts, also found jobs off loading them
stop searched by soldiers
Demonstration outside the Reichstag
September 1948
nearly 3,000 people
Soviet flag ripped off Brandenburg gate
12 injured and 1 killed by east German police
Aims of the USA/Allies in Germany
create a democratic country
containment
a secret plan was made to create a west German state without the USSRs knowledge but they found out anyways
USA/Allies actions surrounding the Berlin Blockade
Airlift = operation vittles
counter blockade of coal and steel
Civilian pilots
B2 bombers were brought to England (had the capability to hold atomic weapons)
why could the US use the airways to fly over supplies
a deal made in 1945 gave all 4 powers control over airways
End of blockade
May 1949
Counter blockade began to harm Soviets
a mild winter
Us proved that Berlin could be supplied by airlifts indefinitely
West had the support of the Berliner as they saw them as liberators
USSR had a weaker economy than the US
What was the most amount of tonnes brought to Germany in the Berlin airlifts
13,000 tonnes in 24 hours on easter Sunday
Federal republic of Germany
-West Germany- FRG
-Bundesrepublik Deutschland (BRD)
-May 1949
-first elections took place in august
-New parliament
-Konrad Adenauer is Chancellor
-Occupied states replaced with a Government with an Allied High commission (France, US and UK still get a final say)
Germany Democratic republic
-East Germany (GDR)
-Deutsche Demokratische Repulik (DDR)
-October 1949
-Stalin wasn’t too keen to create it as it would make the split final
-claimed the east was working for unity and called the west “splitters”
-rigged votes
-A soviet control commission operated the same as the allied high commission
NATO
North Atlantic treaty organisation
when was NATO
April 1949
Terms NATO
Article 1: defined military perimeters
Article 2: work towards peaceful and friendly relations
Article 3: mutual defence
Purpose of NATO
America’s transition to globalism solidified
containment
primarily a political defence
stopped the resurgence of nationalism
reassurance for western Europe
Soviet Atomic bomb
August 1949
More powerful than the American one
Stalin issued no official statement and it was only discovered by the west when their pilots detected the nuclear fallout
Truman announced it and the Kremlin later confirmed
End of the Greek civil war
October 1949
indefinite ceasefire issued from the communists
Chinese civil war ends
October 1949
Mao’s victory and declare the People’s republic of China (PRC)
Communist
