4) Conflict over Germany, 1947- 49 Flashcards
what was the allied control centre?
- it was how each power coordinated their actions
- it would enable economic and political unity in. Germany to be maintained
- all decisions were made unanimous, this was how each state remained independent from each other
the soviet zone
they allowed four political parties in the zone hoping that the communist party would emerge as the strongest however this didn’t happen: as a result, the SPD (social democrat party) and the KPD (communist party of Germany) forcibly merged into the soviet military administration of Germany (SMAD)
soviets aim to influence and control German politics had failed as there was opposition from the SPD
soviet zone was being perceived as a place of tyranny and repression by the germans in the western zones
when was SMAD created?
Feb 1946
soviet military administration of Germany
the British zone
- the large population was costly to feed and increased Britains reliance upon the USA
- britain was concerned with the soviet and French efforts to influence the control of the Ruhr
- soviet influence over it would provide further reparations from Germany which might weaken its economic recovery and strengthen the possibility of a shift towards support for the communists
- primary fear from Britain from 1946 was that Germany would cooperate with the USSR or become dominated by it
- in August 1946, Britains military governor created a new state ( north Rhine- Westphalia ); it was at this point that Britain committed itself to the merger of the British and American zones
how many people were in the British zone?
22.5 million
the American zone
- originally, us administration was committed to making joint occupation work. however by spring of 1947, Clay was less compliant.
- clay had a ‘no’ attitude towards; soviet demand that the Ruhr should be placed under joint allied control, soviet desire to create a centralised Germany
- usa allowed free elections and regarded the German lander as the basis of future national structure based on federalism
the French zone
- wanted Germany to become a number of small autonomous states
- france was a major factor towards the ACC( allied control council) not functioning effectively
- france wanted to support the creation of two German states with the western part closely allied and influenced by the western powers
- had determination to see the dismemberment if Germany to ensurer Frances long term security against a resurgent German state
what did clay announce in may 1946?
no further reparations to the USSR would be allowed until there was an overall plan agreed for germanys economic recovery
the USSR viewed this as an American strategy to create a German economy based on the western capitalist system
when were the British and American zones merged?
January 1947
clear indicator that the four power Germany had failed
which coutnries were involved in the council of ministers?
Britain France China USA USSR
when was it agreed that Germany should have e s formal constitution?
June 1948
when did the Berlin blockade occur and what was it
June 1948-may 1949
where the soviets blocked off the western allies’ railway road and canal access to the sectors of Berlin under western control
when was the constitution for an East German state officially formed?
October 1949
when was NATO formed?
April 1949
North Atlantic Treaty Organization
which countries were included in the WEU and what was its aim?
Western European Union
Britain
France
Bneleux countries ( Belgium Netherlands and Luxembourg)
to prevent any form of German resurgence that might threaten the security of post-war Western Europe
signalling to the use that western Germany and europe as a whole was under the threat from a communist advance and that the USA must take a more proactive role in the development of a stronger European defence system
