Occupied Germany Flashcards
What happened on the 30th of April 1945?
Hitler commited suicide in his bunker in Berlin. Admiral Karl Donitz is named the new leader of Germany.
When did Germany surrender?
7th of May. It was an unconditional surrender.
What happened at Yalta in February 1945?
Agreements were made between the GB, USA and USSR that their approach to Germany should be the four Ds. This would be achieved by splitting Germany into 4 zones controlled by GB, France, USA and USSR. This was done in June 1945. The same was done in Berlin which was in the USSRs zone. At the same time the wehrmacht was disbanded and the Nazi party outlawed.
What were the 4 Ds?
Demilitarisasrion, decentralisation, denazificartion, democratisation.
What did the Western zones 1945-46 do about political parties?
They originally band political parties to prevent extremism and to allow time to re educate Germans responsible for administration and government. In September 1945 they allowed some political parties to run in lander elections. These included the SPD, KPD, CDU AND LDP which later became FDP. The SPD and CDU were the most popular parties in elections.
What happened in the Postdam conference July to August 1945?
The 4Ds were reaffirmed but there was little progress in deciding how this should be done. The allies decided to take their reparations from the areas they controlled so Germany wasn’t being run as one country anymore which made achieving the 4Ds harder. The USSR also expanded the boarder of Poland into German territory. 6.75 million Germans were deported as a result.
How did the allies approach the reparations?
Western allies were less demanding as they wanted to see a revival in the German economy.
How did the allies react to denazification?
All four allies cooperated in the Nuremburg trails from November 1945- October 1946. 22 Nazis were put on trail. Western allies set up tribunals to consider individual cases and most were cleared and regained positions because there was no alternative elite to replace them.
How did the allies approach democrasiastion?
The USA promoted democracy, the French were suspicious of the Germans and the British tried to impose first past the post. Democratically elected local governments were established in all Western parts of Germany. This meant that elected officials were able to take part in reconstructing Germany
What was bizonia?
It was created on the 1st of January 1947, it was the merging of the USA and British Zones. This was because the Americans and British were worried about a long term split would damage the German economy and lead to a communist take over. Bizonia was run by Germans with a central council that had different representatives from different councils.
How did the allies create economic reform?
The Bank Duestscher Lander was established in 1948. This helped develope a new currency used by all the countries in the western zones as well as helping with economic reform. This lead to the creation of Trizonia in 1948 which was when the French joined Bizonia. At the same time they introduced the Deutschmark.
What happened between June 1948 and May 1949?
The USSR in East Germany tried to blockade Berlin from the Western allies. The allies airlifted supplies into Berlin until an agreement was reached and the blockade was ended
How was the Republic set up?
In 1948 after it had become obvious that the country would be split into East and West, a council chaired by Adenauer drafted the basic law which allowed a provisional constitution to be established. This was approved by Western military governors and came into effect on 23rd May 1949. There was the first elections for the FRG in 1949 with a 78.5% turn out. Konrad Adenauer was elected as chancellor and Thedor Heuss was the first West German president.
When were political parties first set up in Germany?
From early June 1945
What was the first party to announce itself?
The KPD
What did the KPD express that its aims were?
Not the creation of a Soviet style system, but German socialism, not capitalism either. This was a system with land reform, a new education system and a democratic goverment. It accepted allies plans for reconstruction
When did the SPD reform?
15 June 1945
What had happened to many SPD members during the war and what did this mean?
They had been in concentration camps. This gave them the moral advantage and they used it to urge the allies ro allow Germans a greater say in the establishment of their own government
What were the aims of the SPD party?
They were even more radical then the KPD. They wanted nationalisation of banks, lands, key industries and significant social welfare systems were to be provided according to their proposals.
What happened to the centre party after the war?
It unsuccessfully tried to restablish itself.
What were 2 main Christian parties that were set up in 1945?
The Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the Christian Social Union of Bavaria (CSU)
What was the biggest liberal group called?
The Liberal Democratic party
What did parties realise during the weimar Republic that made them change their approach in the FRG?
That having alot of similar parties would divide their votes so they negotiated to create single parties. The Liberal groups formed the FDP, whilst most faith groups joined the CDU
What was the Marshall plan?
The West’s plan to give economic help to European countries that otherwise may take Soviet help such as Turkey and Greece. It provided both supplies and money.
What was set up on the 1st of September 1948?
The parliamentary Council which was set up to make a temporary Constitution
When did the FRG announce the basic law?
23 May 1949
