Relations with West Germany Flashcards
Who initiated Ostpolitik?
Willy Brandt (as foreign minister and then chancellor)
When was Ostpolitik initiated?
In the late 1960s
What was Ostpolitik?
The normalisation of relations between the FRG and the GDR
Ostpolitik brought a more…
stabilised relationship between the GDR and
the FRG
What did Ostpolitik allow the GDR to concentrate on?
developing an independent identity and a more stable political environment
Peter Grieder Ostpolitik quote
“Ostpolitik went hand in hand with détente during the 1970s. Both facilitated a partial thaw in the Cold War.”
What was the original aim of Ostpolitik?
To bring about small improvements in the daily lives of East and West Germans
What is détente?
The easing of hostility or strained relation
“…détente and Ostpolitik failed to…
liberalize the GDR” (Peter Grieder)
“Their ______ _____ aspects led to a rapid growth in the size of the Stasi after ____”
Trojan
horse
1971
What happened within two years of the Helsinki agreement?
The Stasi had augmented its staff by over 10,000
What were two unintended consequences of détente and Ostpolitik?
“the expansion of the secret police and a sharpening of the SED’s ideological offensive” (Peter Grieder)
The GDR was able to _____ with the FRG and use _____ from the FRG to
_______ and support its ______ thus allowing the GDR to remain the leading _______ in the eastern bloc
trade
loans
develop
economy
economy
When was the Basic Treaty initiated?
1972
What did The Basic Treaty do for the GDR?
It brought greater international recognition for the
GDR by reducing international tensions over West Berlin and
“normalising” relations between the GDR and the FRG
When did the GDR and the FRG formally recognise each other? How?
May 1974 - the two countries exchanged diplomats
What is an example of an agreement over travel and communications between the GDR and the FRG?
The Four-Power agreement
When was the Four-Power agreement initiated?
1971
What was the Four-Power agreement?
The agreement clarified practical issues concerning transit and cross-border traffic
It also brought an easing of travel restrictions for West German citizens
What is the Four-Power agreement also known as?
The Quadripartite Agreement
What did the Four-Power agreement do for the GDR?
It created greater social stability as East Germans were able to visit relatives in the west
