The Creation of the Federal Republic of Germany

Question 1

Who were the occupied forces and which parts did they each occupy?

Answer 1

• France - West
• British - North-West
• USSR - East
• USA in the South

Question 2

What happened to Berlin?

Answer 2

• It was divided between the four powers also

Question 3

What was the Yalta Conference?

Answer 3

• Held between 4th and 11th February 1945 at Yalta in Crimea
• Josef Stalin, Franklin .D. Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill
• Meeting to discuss the postwar reorganisation of Germany and Europe

Question 4

What was the Potsdam Conference?

Answer 4

• 17th July - 2nd August 1945
• After the Nazis defeated
• Reaffirmed the decision to divide Germany

Question 5

What events that followed describe the beginnings of the cold war?

Answer 5

• The Soviet Union was trying to increase its influence in Eastern Europe but the USA was trying to limit the spread of communism
• The two superpowers were keen to ensure their power and security but were divided by their conflicting ideologies
• In the eastern Soviet zone, a pro-Soviet communist government was established
• The Soviets increasingly disrupted travel to and from Berlin
• In June 1948 the British, French and American zones unified their zones into Trizonia
• New currency the Deutschmark was introduced in the Trizone, despite Soviet opposition

Question 6

When was the Deutschmark introduced?

Answer 6

• June 20th 1948

Question 7

What was the Berlin Blockade and why was it significant?

Answer 7

• Soviets felt that the reunification of Germany would pose a threat to their power
• In response to the Deutschmark, Stalin launched the blockade
• Cutting off land and water connections in non-Soviet west Berlin
• Water suspended and (on 25th June) food supplies also ended
• Stalin aimed to force the allies out of Berlin
• Western Allies launched a massive airlift operation to keep West Berlin supplied
• Berlin saw, at its height, a plane full of supplies reaching Berlin every 30 seconds!
• Not wishing to provoke a war, the Soviets did not obstruct the airlift and 12th May 1949 ended the blockade
• It is significant as this is the first open conflict of the Cold War.

Question 8

How was the Federal Republic of Germany established?

Answer 8

• 12th May 1949 when the blockade ended, the Trizone became the FRG
• The country was no longer officially occupied
• Although a substantial Allied military presence remained
• In October 1949 the GDR was announced
• Germany was to be divided this way for 41 years