Consolidation of the Rival Blocs 1948-1955 Flashcards
What was the USA keen on in term of blocs?
- Western European integration
- A strong anti-Communist bloc
- Would accept German partition
What was the USSR’s opinion on blocs?
Wanted to avoid them so that a strong capitalist group wouldn’t form and so that Germany would move towards Communism
What happened after the London Conference of Foreign Ministers in 1947?
After the failure of agreement, Britain, France, the USA and Benelux countries agreed to a West German state
What was France persuaded to agree to a West German state with?
The Occupation Statute, which gave France, Britain and the USA powers over West Germany, and that there would be troops positioned to prevent a rise of power
When was the Deutschmark introduced?
20th June 1948
How was the Deutschmark introduced?
It was brought into the Western powers’ zones without consultation with the USSR
What did the USSR create in response to the Deutschmark?
They created the Ostmark
What did the USSR do in order to pressure the West to stop the creation of the new West German state?
They blockaded West Berlin
What was the response to the Berlin blockade?
The West started an airlift of supplies through three allowed corridors
When was the Berlin Blockade called off by Stalin?
May 1949
Why did Stalin have to call off the Berlin Blockade?
The Airlift had been so successful and a counter-blockade of supplies to the East was damaging the Soviet zone economy
When and where was the Federal Republic of Germany set up?
In the West in summer 1949
Who became the new chancellor of the FRG?
Adenauer
When did Stalin agree to set up an East German state?
12th October
Why did Stalin agree to set up an East German state?
There were poor showings in West German elections by the Communists
What was the East German state called?
The German Democratic Republic
Who was the leader of the (sham democracy) GDR?
Ulbricht
Was there a physical barrier between East and West Berlin?
No
When was the takeover of Communists in Czechoslovakia?
1948
What did the takeover of Communists in Czechoslovakia and Berlin Blockade in 1948 persuade the US to do?
Set up a military alliance