Chapter 4: Conflict over Germany

Question 1

USSR zone
- What was the political system like?
- How was the zone viewed from the outside?
- What new policies did they bring in?

Answer 1

• 4 parties –> communists, social democrats, liberals, Christian democrats –> intention communists would win and trigger a movement across Germany –> socialists and communists forced to move and aim for communist Germany failed
• Zone seen as tyrannical and repressed
• New policies = land reform, nationalised industry, Russian taught in schools

Question 2

USA zone
- What did they want in their zone?
- How did they feel about joint occupation?
- What did Clay say no to and when?

Answer 2

• Wanted independence and economic security against east
• Wanted joint occupation to work
• 1947 - say no to Soviet demand for occupation of Ruhr, no to depriving the German population and no to the USSR’s want for a centralised Germany

Question 3

British zone
- How many people were in their zone and why was that a problem?
- What did their zone have that others wanted?
- What did they fear - how did they deal with this (with US)?

Answer 3

• 22.5 million people (had Hamburg - port) –> lots of people = costly to feed - rely on US aid
• Had Ruhr zone (industry) –> others want the resources for economic recovery
• Feared a revived Germany that could cooperate with east –> US + GB zones merge

Question 4

French zone
- What did they want for Germany?
- Why were they scared about Germany?

Answer 4

• Wanted complete dismemberment of Germany (up to 1947) + the Ruhr under French influence
• Wanted Germany to become a series of independent states
• Supported the creation of 2 German states
• Scared of a resurgence

Question 5

What was put in place to help govern Germany?

Answer 5

Allied Control Council (ACC) –> ineffective

Question 6

What events led to Bizonia?
(dates)

Answer 6

• 1946 - US + Gb need economic recovery –> Britain absorbing German refugees from Poland + Czechoslovakia
• USSR demanding more reparations than could be given –> May 1946 Clay denies reparations to USSR until a plan for German economic recovery is set up

Question 7

When did the zones merge?

Answer 7

• January 1947

Question 8

What was the Soviet response to Bizonia?

Answer 8

• Moscow Conference (Mar-Apr 1947) USSR wants new central administration - denied
• London Conference (Nov-Dec 1947) - also fails
• USSR accuse west of unfairly denying reparations –> west feared a central administration would = Soviet control
• Now saw 4 power control wouldn’t work

Question 9

Why did the currency reform?

Answer 9

• Current currency = worthless
• Germans relied on black market

Question 10

How was the new currency implemented?

Answer 10

• Feb-Jun 1948 –> GB, US, France, Benelux meet in London –> decide on new currency for economic stability
• Wiped out old currency - new one had a proper value
• Deutschemark introduced

Question 11

What did the new currency cause for West Germany?

Answer 11

• Tied to the west now
• 7 June 1948 –> decided west Germany should have a formal constitution –> May 1949 head of state = Konrad Adenauer

Question 12

Why did the Berlin blockade begin?

Answer 12

• Response to new currency in West Germany
• Wanted to force out the West from Berlin

Question 13

When and how did the Berlin Blockade begin?

Answer 13

• June 1948
• Closed all links between West Germany and West Berlin –> road, rail, canal

Question 14

What was the US response to the blockade?

Answer 14

• Needed to stop Stalin but avoid war
• Berlin airlift –> to drop supplied from planes
• Sent B-29 bombers to GB to station over channel as a power play

Question 15

How and when did the blockade end?

Answer 15

• Easter Sunday 1949 - 13,000 tonnes dropped showing Stalin he had lost
• Calls it off 12 May 1949

Question 16

What were the consequences of the blockade?

Answer 16

• Clear division of East + West Germany –> 2 states created with their own leaders
• NATO set up

Question 17

What was NATO and when was it created?

Answer 17

• April 1949
• Made for collective security
• Included GB, France, Benelux, Canada, US etc - 12 in total
• Would be peaceful and protect each other –> an attack on one = an attack on all

Question 18

How did the USSR respond to NATO?

Answer 18

• Saw it as an act of aggression
• Saw it as US military force being used to support their dominance