Germany and the coming of the Cold War (45'-49')

Question 1

What were some areas of disagreement on Germany, between the West and the East?

Answer 1

• Denazification (how far, and how fast)
• Democratization (western-style liberal democracy or soviet-style land reform)
• Decentralization
• Borders
• Reparations

Question 2

How many died in Germany from WWII?

Answer 2

4 million dead killed in fighting/bombing

Question 3

How many German POWs were there?

Answer 3

Eight million

Question 4

What was the German population mostly made up of post-WWII?

Answer 4

Mainly composed of women, the elderly, the infirm and children

Question 5

How many foreign-born slave workers lived in Germany post-WWII?

Answer 5

Four million.

Question 6

What was the average calorific intake per day post-WWII in Germany?

Answer 6

1,080 calories.

Question 7

What percentage of all housing was destroyed or damaged beyond repair?

Answer 7

40%

Question 8

How many railway bridges over the Rhine and the Danube were destroyed?

Answer 8

• All 33 over the Rhine
• 22/34 over the Danube

Question 9

How many wrecked ships blocked the Rhine?

Answer 9

1,500

Question 10

What percentage of the railway network was impassable?

Answer 10

33%

Question 11

What were some Soviet actions in Germany, and how were they perceived?

Answer 11

• Foundation of the SED through the unification of the SPD and KPD (April 1946)
  > West saw this as proof the USSR were aiming at taking over Germany
• Dismantling and shopping out of industrial machinery
  > West thought that the USSR was endangering the economic recovery of Europe
• Quest for a united but weak Germany under Allied Control
  > Guided by Kennan, this was seen as a Soviet desire to eventually capture Germany by keeping it weak

Question 12

What were some Western actions in Germany, and how were they perceived?

Answer 12

• Hostility to the SED, and sponsorship of Christian Democrats (i.e. Adenauer)
  > Seen as evidence of anti-communist proclivities
• Stopping the Soviets take reparations from their zones in May 1946
  > Attempt to create a new anti-Soviet bloc
• Foundation of Bizonia (January 1947)
  > Strengthened these perceptions

Question 13

What happened at the Paris Conference of Foreign Ministers? (April-July 1946)

Answer 13

• USSR insisted that Germany provide it with $10 billion in reparations
• Byrnes (US Secretary) insisted this could occur, but only when Germany was ‘back on its feet’

Question 13

What happened at the London Conference? (Autumn 1947)

Answer 13

• All issues were aired, and bitter divisions were revealed

Question 13

What happened at the Moscow Conference of Foreign Ministers? (Spring 1947)

Answer 13

• Soviets attempted to destroy Bizonia by demanding a new central government
• Opposed by Bevin through ‘political unity to follow economic unity’
• Seen as a successful failure

Question 14

What happened in June 1948?

Answer 14

• French merged their zone with Bizonia, forming Trizonia
• Americans launched the Deustchmark, with the aim of fostering economic recovery in Western Germany

Question 15

What did Stalin argue in favor of the Berlin Blockade in June 1948?

Answer 15

• Stalin argued that they had no reason to stay in Berlin if they were against German reunification but for a West Germany
• On the 24th of June, 1948, Stalin launched a ‘blockade’, cutting off all ground and water traffic to Berlin from the West.

Question 16

When did the Berlin Blockade end?

Answer 16

It would last until the 12th of May 1949.

Question 17

What came from the Berlin Blockade?

Answer 17

• Deepened the East-West split in Europe, destroying hope for a settlement all sides would agree on

Question 18

What happened in September 1949?

Answer 18

• Western powers created the ‘Federal Republic of Germany’ (FDR), the West German state.

Question 19

What happened in October 1949?

Answer 19

• The USSR established the ‘German Democratic Republic’ (DDR), the East German state

Question 20

Who were the leaders of the two Germanies

Answer 20

• Adenauer, Chancellor of the FDR (1949-1965)
• Ulbricht, Secretary of the SED (1950-1971)

Question 21

What was formed in April 1949?

Answer 21

USA joined the nations of the Brussels Treaty, creating NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation)

Question 22

What was NATO?

Answer 22

• A military alliance involving the USA and Western European nations, allowing American military full access to bases in the states which had become NATO members

Question 23

What countries were in NATO?

Answer 23

• USA
• UK, France, Benelux (Brussels Treaty countries)
• Italy, Denmark, Portugal
• Canada

Question 24

What were the ideals of NATO?

Answer 24

• An armed attack on any NATO member was an attack on all of them; would assist if attacked
• Important in creating a united, dedicated Western bloc
• Abandonment of isolationism for America