Post War Flashcards
What happened in Germany at the end of WW2
one half of Germans were on the move, often to the east.
10 million people were in camps, and another million were prisoners of war.
What were the initial problems at the end of WW2?
20% of housing destroyed
Cologne, Hamburg and Berlin reduced to rubble.
Fuel shortage.
Industrial capacity declined
A black market formed
It became known as the Stunde Nulle - the Zero Hour to Germans.
Positives at the end of ww2
Efficient civil service Local government still existed Well established banking system Industrial base set up Law and order easily restored Churches began practicing again
What was the Tehran conference
December 1943: Summit of Stalin, Churchill and Roosevelt to determine military strategy and territory.
USSR wanted territory from Nazi Soviet Pact, which Churchill and Roosevelt allowed him in hopes this would appease him.
Roosevelt wished to divide Germany up into states in order to limit them.
Henry Morgenthau proposed that Germany should be made into an entirely agrarian system - it is industrialisation that caused all these problems.
What was the context of the Yalta conference
February 1945: meet in Crimea.
Britain had little influence, whilst the Red Army was charging into Germany, whilst the Allies did not reach the Rhineland until February.
Roosevelt and Stalin were criticsed for allowing Stalin to establish himself a sphere of influence in the Baltics.
What did they agree on at Yalta?
USSR kept eastern Poland and northern eastern Prussia.
Poland kept some of West Germany.
Germany split into 4 zones
Decisions made by 4 high commanders in the Allied Central Council
Berlin into the 4 zones also ruled by ACC
What happened to leadership in the USA?
In April 1945, Roosevelt died so Truman took over him.
His views on democracy were stronger than Roosevelt’s, so he was less trusting of Stalin.
He saw the Red Army’s occupation of the east as undemocratic.
What happened to leadership in Britain
Churchill was becoming increasingly antagonistic towards Stalin.
Churchill knew that despite promises, there would not be fair elections in the East of Europe.
However, Britain was no longer a world leader.
What happened to leadership in USSR?
Had lost at least 20m, so Stalin (as strong as ever!) wanted vengeance.
What was the reparation agreement
Russia wanted $20m in reperations. decided that Russia would take what it needed from its own sector, and also 25% of that of the others.
How many executed in the Nuremberg trials
10, although further followed later on.
Problems with denazification
6m members threw away their membership cards
Needed experts
Evidence of US’ desire for denazification
Half of total internments (250,000) were in US zone.
Party members dismissed
When were first US elections held
may 1946
when were first British election
May 1947
When was the SED formed
Merger of KPD and SPD
April 1946
Evidence of USSR nationalisation
over 200 firms put under the control of the central soviet government
60% of industry nationalised.
initial housing problems
25% of Western zone housing destroyed
when was dfamine
By 1947, real famine and disease spread after years of rationing. the government had to limit calorie intake to 700 to insure that people each got food.
evidence of iron curtain
Churcghill speech in March 1946.
USA stopped delivering industrial goods to USSR in May 1946.
When was Bizonia formed
January 1947
What was Marshall aid
$12b in aid given by USA, USSR received none of it. $1.5b to Germany (mostly Western zones!)
When was the new currency to the West
Deutschmark in June 1948. the same month, Russia introduced the Ostmark.
When was the Berlin blockade.
June 1948: blocked access to West Berlin by rail, road and canal. the Berlin airlift mitigated this, with 7000 tonnes of food being provided daily and the Soviets surrendering in a year.
