4. conflict over Germany 1947-49 Flashcards
explain the composition of leadership within the 4 zones in Germany?
- 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
when was a new party in soviet zone made + name and what did this show?
- 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
what did stalin’s unification of left wing parties result in domestically?
- resulted in land reform
- compulsory schooling of Russian in German schools
what problems did the british face in their british zone of Germany?
- 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
what was the economic significance of the Rhur?
- soviet control of the Rhur would mean they would get more reparations from an already crippled Germany
- weaken german economic recovery
what did Kennan want for Germany’s american zone?
- to have a degree of independence
- economic security
- safe from communism
up to 1947 what did the French want for Germany?
- 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
what did the French ultimately support in regards to Germany?
- the creation of 2 german states with the western influenced by west powers
- confirming the French determination for a dismembered Germany
what did Bizonia show about US intentions?
-USA commitment to a defined west Germany
to be economically stable
what did the Berlin blockade represent for stalin?
- opposition of western power in Germany and consolidation of communist power
- to bizonia and currency reform
what did Americans believe about the importance of Germany?
- strong german economy was fundamental for recovery
- Germany was centre of US relations
- and they wanted long term military+political entanglement in Europe
what was the US policy to Europe in 1947?
- focused on economic recovery and promoting unity = independence+communism
- but only in west Europe= spheres of influence
what was the problem with USSR request for reparations and the result of this?
- 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
what did soviets think when Clay demanded no further reparations for USSR?
-saw it as an American strategy designed to create a Germany based on capitalist system
what did Bizonia show about 4 power control of Germany?
- showed 4 power control had failed
- marshall plan was fundamental in a divided Germany
how did the soviets first oppose bizonia?
- 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
when/what was the London Conference?
- 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
explain the first step of the Berlin blockade+date?
-June 1948, USSR blocked all rail links to western zones
when did stalin ended the blockade and why?
- may 1949
- failed to prevent separation of Germany
what were the effects of the Berlin blockade?
- blocked off electricity
- blocked ports providing 12,000 tones of food
- many starved and were clod during the long winters
explain how West tried to find a solution to the blockade?
-america began airlift, providing 2,000 tones of produce daily
when was the decision to create a west and east Germany made?
-approved in 1949
why was USSR reluctant about a divided eat and west Germany?
- they wanted a pro soviet UNITED Germany
- fractions would allow uprising
how did NATO show the USA’s transition to becoming a global presence?
- 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
what did the soviet ambassador think about NATO?
- he was hostile
- that it was an aggressive organisation to influence states to comply with western interests
when was the Deuthemark introduced?
-June, 1948
when was the German socialist unity party created?
February, 1946
explain the causes of the berlin blockade?
- new currency created in western Europe to stabilise the black market
- Germany being tied to the west
- Russia not being informed about this decision
