4. conflict over Germany 1947-49

Question 1

explain the composition of leadership within the 4 zones in Germany?

Answer 1

• each zone was occupied by a different power and had a military governor
• allies had to coordinate their actions to enable economic and political unity in Germany

Question 2

when was a new party in soviet zone made + name and what did this show?

Answer 2

• February, 1946
• German socialist unity party
• showed stalin’s intentions for a communist group to emerge as the dominant group
• allowed for the soviet zone to be viewed as a place of tyranny
• where Stalin could dominate policies

Question 3

what did stalin’s unification of left wing parties result in domestically?

Answer 3

• resulted in land reform

- compulsory schooling of Russian in German schools

Question 4

what problems did the british face in their british zone of Germany?

Answer 4

• hard to feed the large german population they had 22.5 million living in their zone due to hamburg and Rhur being part of the zone
• increasing british dependance on America to take on the role of provider

Question 5

what was the economic significance of the Rhur?

Answer 5

• soviet control of the Rhur would mean they would get more reparations from an already crippled Germany
• weaken german economic recovery

Question 6

what did Kennan want for Germany’s american zone?

Answer 6

• to have a degree of independence
• economic security
• safe from communism

Question 7

up to 1947 what did the French want for Germany?

Answer 7

• dismemberment (to become small independent states) so a fractured Germany wouldn’t reunite and cause another war= long term French security and stop the reassurgence of Germany as a powerful state
• French to absorb the Rhur

Question 8

what did the French ultimately support in regards to Germany?

Answer 8

• the creation of 2 german states with the western influenced by west powers
• confirming the French determination for a dismembered Germany

Question 9

what did Bizonia show about US intentions?

Answer 9

-USA commitment to a defined west Germany

to be economically stable

Question 10

what did the Berlin blockade represent for stalin?

Answer 10

• opposition of western power in Germany and consolidation of communist power
• to bizonia and currency reform

Question 11

what did Americans believe about the importance of Germany?

Answer 11

• strong german economy was fundamental for recovery
• Germany was centre of US relations
• and they wanted long term military+political entanglement in Europe

Question 12

what was the US policy to Europe in 1947?

Answer 12

• focused on economic recovery and promoting unity = independence+communism
• but only in west Europe= spheres of influence

Question 13

what was the problem with USSR request for reparations and the result of this?

Answer 13

• wanted more reparations that other allies would accept
• clay then demanded no further reparations until there was a set plan for German economic recovery
• May, 1946

Question 14

what did soviets think when Clay demanded no further reparations for USSR?

Answer 14

-saw it as an American strategy designed to create a Germany based on capitalist system

Question 15

what did Bizonia show about 4 power control of Germany?

Answer 15

• showed 4 power control had failed

- marshall plan was fundamental in a divided Germany

Question 16

how did the soviets first oppose bizonia?

Answer 16

• the council of ministers March/April 1947 (Moscow conference)
• USSR demanded a new central administration
• this didn’t happen and no decisions were made for future of Germany

Question 17

when/what was the London Conference?

Answer 17

• Nov/Dec 1947
• USSR accused west of unjustly denying reparations
• agreed that west G should have a formal constitution
• failed just like the council of ministers

Question 18

explain the first step of the Berlin blockade+date?

Answer 18

-June 1948, USSR blocked all rail links to western zones

Question 19

when did stalin ended the blockade and why?

Answer 19

• may 1949

- failed to prevent separation of Germany

Question 20

what were the effects of the Berlin blockade?

Answer 20

• blocked off electricity
• blocked ports providing 12,000 tones of food
• many starved and were clod during the long winters

Question 21

explain how West tried to find a solution to the blockade?

Answer 21

-america began airlift, providing 2,000 tones of produce daily

Question 22

when was the decision to create a west and east Germany made?

Answer 22

-approved in 1949

Question 23

why was USSR reluctant about a divided eat and west Germany?

Answer 23

• they wanted a pro soviet UNITED Germany

- fractions would allow uprising

Question 24

how did NATO show the USA’s transition to becoming a global presence?

Answer 24

• 4th April, 1949
• transitioned from isolationism to globalism
• showed they were committed to long term defence go west E
• with the aim of preventing german resurgence and reduce communism
• primarily a political defence system rather than military

Question 25

what did the soviet ambassador think about NATO?

Answer 25

• he was hostile

- that it was an aggressive organisation to influence states to comply with western interests

Question 26

when was the Deuthemark introduced?

Answer 26

-June, 1948

Question 27

when was the German socialist unity party created?

Answer 27

February, 1946

Question 28

explain the causes of the berlin blockade?

Answer 28

• new currency created in western Europe to stabilise the black market
• Germany being tied to the west
• Russia not being informed about this decision