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
