Assess the importance of events in Germany in the development of the Cold War from 1945 to 1961.

Question 1

Overall view

Answer 1

The events in Germany were very important but not the most important as other things such as the arms race were responsible for a lot of the development

Question 2

1st paragraph- origins of Cold war

Answer 2

1. Conferences- Germany was a big talking point, division of Germany- failed to decide long term plan for government of Germany- lead to problems later
2. Berlin Blockade- First proper aggressive action by Soviets to West, by blocking of Berlin form West- first threat of atomic war- centered around Germany- important
3. Salami slicing- not just Germany- communist takeover in Czechoslovakia
4. Nato

Question 3

1st paragraph - Conferences

Answer 3

1. At Potsdam- 1945 Germany was split into four military occupation zones- France, Britain, USA and USSR.
2. The splitting of Germany caused a lot of debate.
3. In 1947 Britain joined the USA to make Bizonia- threatened USSR.
4. But they failed to decide long term plan for government of Germany- lead to problems later
5. Impotant- shows beginning of divide- results in formation of GDR and FRG in 1949

Question 4

1st paragraph- Berlin Blockade

Answer 4

1. Stalin blockaded east Germany and blocked western access to Berlin.
2. Lasted 11 months in June 1948- May 1949
3. Stalin stopped the blockade after realising that it could result in nuclear war and that the allies weren’t going to give Berlin up.
4. Berlin Airlift used to deliver supplies to West Berlin.
5. Important- closest to atomic war, aggressive action which heightened tensions.
6. Increased concerns about the vulnerability of Western Europe to an attack by Stalin’s forces- resulted in the formation of NATO

Question 5

1st paragraph- NATO formtion

Answer 5

1. In response to events in Germany and general worry of Soviet Union
2. 1949 NATO formed- France, USA, Britain Canada etc
3. Threatened USSR and showed definitive sides

Question 6

1st paragraph- Communist takeover of Czechoslovakia

Answer 6

1. Communists took control of the government and rigged elections
2. Not just Germany
3. 1948
4. However not as important as the West didn’t interfere so it didn’t impact the Cold war as significantly

Question 7

2nd paragraph- Middle 50s

Answer 7

1. Arms race- big factor led to big increase in tensions more than most things
2. Suez crisis- example of superpowers being distracted and using other countries
3. Hungarian uprising- threatening USSR- a distraction- meant Germany wasn’t as important
4. Polish uprising
5. Berlin workers uprising
6. Warsaw pact- Meant Europe was divided more clearly and armed, not directly linked to Germany - However this was a response to rearmament of West Germany and to West Germany joining NATO, so Germany was affecting and important

Question 8

2nd paragrpah- Arms Race

Answer 8

1. USA exploded the H-bomb in 1952, USSR followed in 1953.
2. Biggest cause of tensions- Without the arms race and the development of hydrogen and other atomic weapons.
3. Race to ensure you weren’t less prepared and had the best weapons- distracting

Question 9

2nd paragraph- Suez crisis

Answer 9

1. 1956

2. Distracted superpowers away from Germany

Question 10

2nd paragraph- Berlin uprising

Answer 10

1. Strike by East Berlin workers in 1953
2. Argued for lowering of work quotas
3. Important- shows instability in East and USA supported uprising by establishing a large scale food relief program for East Germans.- Raised tensions- as USA were attempting to destabilise East Germany.

Question 11

2nd paragraph- Hungarian uprising

Answer 11

1. By students and workers in 1956
2. Wanted withdrawal of soviet troops from Hungary and other reforms
3. Followed polish uprising in 1956
4. Western powers didn’t intervene when uprising was crushed by Soviets. Heightened tensions- west didn’t agree, but not a lot

Question 12

2nd paragraph- Warsaw Pact

Answer 12

1. In response to rearmament of West Germany in 1955 and to West Germany joining NATO in 1955
2. But not directly linked to Germany- resulted in Europe being more divided and heightened tensions as both sides had pacts which meant that they would help each other with fighting.

Question 13

3rd paragraph- 1960-1961

Answer 13

1. Bay of pigs invasion
2. U2 Spy plane- very important, decreased relations between America and Russia
3. Berlin wall- Built to stop people in the East form emigrating to the West- used as propaganda by the West, and represented the division between East and West- turning point

Question 14

3rd paragraph- Berlin Wall

Answer 14

1. In 1961
2. Wall dividing East and West Berlin
3. Important- massive effect West increased military presence in West Berlin and Europe- US sent 40,000 additional soldiers to Europe
4. Represented the divide and used as propaganda by the West, shows East have to build a wall to stop people leaving- Peter Fetcher.
5. Built to stop East Germans laving to go to the West- between 1949 and 1961 2.5 million people had left the GDR

Question 15

3rd paragraph- U2 Spy plane

Answer 15

1. 1960 American spy plane was shot down
2. Dramatically increased tensions- USA had to admit they had been spying and had a plane programme.
3. Not to do with Germany but very important