divided places

Question 1

1. Western Sahara

Answer 1

Declared Spanish protectorate at the Berlin conference, but claimed by both Morocco (C) and Mauritania (D) soon after their independence.

The Polisario Front (Sahrawis) launched an independence war in the 1970s with support of Algeria (E).

Spain withdrew in 1975, Mauritania renounced claims in 1979.

Currently divided into a Moroccan occupied region (A) and a Polisario held region (B) supported by Algeria.

Question 2

Palestine

Answer 2

The British Mandate for Palestine established under Sykes-Picot was subdivided into Mandate Palestine (A, B, and C), which allowed Jewish settlement, and Transjordan (D), which did not.

Transjordan became independent Jordan in 1946.

In 1947, the U.N. proposed dividing Mandate Palestine into Jewish and Arab states
with Jerusalem (E) an ‘international city.’

The Arab League rejected the plan, and war broke out in 1948 when Israel declared independence.

The war resulted in an expansion of Israeli territory beyond the U.N. plan and the creation of a Jordanian controlled West Bank (B), an Egyptian controlled Gaza (C), and an Israeli West and Jordanian East Jerusalem.

Israel captured the Golan Heights (F) from Syria in 1967.

Gaza, the West Bank and West Jerusalem are now nominally under Palestinian
control.

Question 3

Germany

Answer 3

The core of Germany was divided after WWII into 4 zones, each controlled by a victorious power: The U.S., France, Britain or the U.S.S.R.

The capital, Berlin, was similarly divided.

Zones controlled by the three western powers were combined in 1949 to form the Federal Republic of Germany (A) along with West Berlin (C). The capital was moved to Bonn. The Soviet zone became the German Democratic Republic (B) the same year with East Berlin (D) its capital.

The wall dividing West Berlin from GDR was breached in 1989, the two Germanies were reunited in 1990 and Berlin again became the reunited capital.

Question 4

4. China

Answer 4

The Republic of China (ROC) is established in
1911.

Civil war between Communists and
Nationalists.

Communists establish control of mainland China (A) and found the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in 1949 .

Nationalists retreat to Taiwan (B), where Taiwanese already lived, and continue as the ROC.

No conclusion, but both officially maintain there is ONE China and that Taiwan is its province.

“Median Line” (C) is the unofficial buffer.

Hong Kong (D) leased to the U.K. in 189 for 100 years as part of the Unequal Treaties. Returned to PRC control in 199 but in theory under a “One Country, Two Systems” until 2047.

Question 5

Korea

Answer 5

After Japan’s defeat in WWII, its colony of Korea was divided at the 38th Parallel
(D).

The northern part was under Soviet influence and the southern part under U.S.

The two halves were to be reunited after an election, but war broke out in 1950. After 3 years of fighting, a truce was called and a Demilitarized Zone (C) was established.

The northern half is now the Democratic
People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). The southern half is the Republic of Korea (ROK).

Question 6

India

Answer 6

In 1947 British India is divided into Hindu majority India [A] and Muslim majority Pakistan (East and West) [B and C].

Confusion and massive, deadly migration in both directions.

Kashmir had a Hindu leader but Muslim majority, indecision/confusion and parts are now administered by India [D], Pakistan [E] and China [F] (Aksai Chin).

East Pakistan [C] seceded from Pakistan after a civil war and became Bangladesh in 1971.