Defeat of Germany 1945-1949 Flashcards
How serious were the problems Germany faced at ‘zero hour’?
Population distribution- refugees, broken families, soldiers
Destruction and shortages- lack of accommodation,cities destroyed, low calories intake, potential for productivity
Economic- industrial capital declined, infrastructure broke down, debts = inflation and black market, still and established banking system
Social- still civil service, local govt, survival of Christianity
Outline the events leading up to Postdam
Teheran, 1943- disagreements and mistrust. USSR wanted to keep territories from Pact of 1939. Division suggested but no agreement.
Yalta Conference, 1945- ambiguous agreements caused issues. USSR keep its Polish territory, Poland receive Polish territory. Divided into 4 with Allied Control Council and so would Berlin, commission to investigate reparations.
outline the events of Potsdam 1945
Truman- mistrustful, wants to maintain world trade role
Churchill- didn’t trust Stalin’s ‘democracy’ but waning power
Stalin- reparations and against division
Agreement:
Occupation- independent zones but whole country decisions taken unanimously
German-Polish border- the shift of Poland West was not
accepted but happened anyway through ‘resettling’ of Germans out of Poland
Reparations- each take reparations from own section and USSR receive 1/4 of Western zones for goods
Armed forces- military disabled
Effects: more questions about division. Disagreements over ideology, security and economy.
What were the policies of denazifaction in the 4 zones?
US- dismissed party members before 1937, Nazi questionnaire, forced visits to concentration camps.
Britain- let ex Nazi members return to post, less enforced questionnaire, let banned US uni students got to uni in their section
USSR- execute some war criminals, redistribute Nazi property, dismissal of members from offices. Many later re-appointed, was an excuse to get rid of opposition
Why were there problems with denazification?
Justice- testimonies on the black market and double standard of Nuremberg trials
Task- questionnaire meant lots of paper work and many trials
Conflict of zonal policies
German opposition and resistance
Distraction of the Cold War 1947
How was Germany decentralized in the 4 zones?
Soviet zone: 1945 create 5 lander as well as centralized government. Lander dissolved in 1952.
US zone: 3 lander and 1946 held free state elections
British Zone: keep control and central government. 1947 held free elections though.
French Zone: very centralized to keep control and security. Didn’t allow democratic parties only 1947 allowed lander elections.
Outline the reemergence of political parties in Germany
SPD- fell back to loyal electorate pre-war. Merged in Soviet zone to make SED. Was anti capitalist, wanted better conditions for working class, opposed communism.
CDU- unify all Christians and appeal middle classes. Bavarian CSU. Ashelen program 1947 = greater influence for trade unions
Liberal Parties- FDP in Western zone. Rights to ow private property and free market. Conceded to superiority of SPD.
KPD- unify working class. Full backing in Soviet zone but limited in Western zone
Political changes in the Soviet Zone
Ulbricht group backed by Soviets via SMAD aimed:
to destroy Nazism, unified KPD, occupy key positions.
Allowed re-establishment of non-fascist parties but unified under ‘Block of Anti-fascist parties’ with forced co-operation.
SED- forced merger of KPD and SPD by SMAD but they still couldn’t get a majority. In 1949 it adopted a Stalinist style government due to pressures of Cold War
Socio-economic changes in the Soviet Zone
Had inherited agricultural land but not many raw materials. Less war damaged but lost areas to Poland and suffering from influx of refugees, no currency, damaged transportation structure. Made worse by focus on reparations and changing economy.
Nationalisation- dismantled industry = fall in capacity. Workers sent to USSR. SAGs and VEBs took over private business and banks.
Land Reform- 1945-7 land redistributed to private small holders, refugees and expellees. Collectivization implemented in 1950s.
How were problems in the Western zone solved?
Housing- 1/4 destroyed, had to accommodate refuges etc. Families with homes to in refuges and made Nissen-huts.
Fuel- coal production collapsed 1945. Made efforts to bring it- went up 3 fold by 1946.
Food- malnourishment and cold meant famine in 1947. used every area as vegetable garden and limited calories intake. Aid via German Red Cross and Church built trust.
Why was it clear in 1946 that co-operation would benefit the Western economy?
Refuges and expellees and general humanitarian crisis.
No sense dismantling industry
Britain deeply indebted so wanted help
Threat of Soviets.
How was the Bi-zone created and what was the influence of the Marshall Plan in unifying the western Powers?
1946- USA stops reparations to USSR. 1947 Bizone created and agreed to pass more power to Germans eg German Economic Council.
Marshal Plan 1947 and Truman Doctrine 1947- offer aid to stabilize Europe’s economy too halt spread of communism. Offer rejected by Germany and integration of Western Zones into OEEC took power from occupying countries. Marshall Plan gave means for economic recovery.
What were the reasons for and successes of currency reform in the Wester Zones?
Reasons: inflation and too much money, state-regulated economy, drop in value of RM and black market
Introduced 1948 in secret backed by America
Successes: black market collapsed, hard work encouraged, stimulated business to increase production and selling, resurrected trade, general morale boost
Drawbacks: small savers lost out, crisis over Berlin and divided Germany
Outline the events and effects of the Berlin Blockade in 1948
Soviet Germany cut of land and river access to West Berlin hoping for the surrender of the Western zones.
Western powers used air corridors to drop 2.3 million tonnes of food and supplies.
Ended on May 1949.
Blockade boosted morale and solidified trust between Western Germans and their occupying powers. Lost East Germany much support.
What events ultimately led to the split in Germany?
Berlin Blockade Stopping reparations Bizone Marshall Plan New Currency
Nationalizing industry and land reform
German economic conference
Ostmark currency in 1948
