The emergence of two germanies Flashcards
Why were the occupation zones in defeated Germany not united in thought?
- United against nazism, but all had different ideas about how Germany should develop politically
- Zones developed separately as political/economic decisions made in each zone with respect to ideology of the occupier
- USSR wanted Marxist society, but Western powers favored democracy
- USSR advantage, had occupied Berlin in April/July 1945. SMAD (Soviet Milirary Administration in Germany) set up Communist government in East
Initial developments in the Soviet zone
- 30th April 1945, Three groups of Communists from Soviet Union flown into key areas/cities to set up Communist government when fighting ceased.Berlin group led by Walter Ulbricht
- Communist mayors for workers boroughs and anti fascist mayors elsewhere. Communists heads of education and police
- Communist radio established
Initial political developments in Soviet zone
- Wilhelm Pieck arrives from Moscow in June to form political parties in “Anti Fascist democratic block”.
- Parties legalised. KPD/SPD and other Communist puppet marties appear. Also Xn Democratic union (CDU), German Liberal party (LDPD), National Democratic Party of German (NDPD), Democratic Peasants party (DBD)
- KPD could not win local elections, Soviet Union persuade SPD unity=SED (Socialist Unity Party) Apr 1946
- Left wing parties forced to support SED in anti fascist block
- November 1946, plans for independent Eastern State but Russians reluctant whilst chance of unified state friendly to USSR. Changed in 1947 with US/UK capitalism support
Initial developments in the Western zones
- Slower in starting political activity, suppressed anti-nazi groups for fear of political re-organisation
- Education of Germans at lower level, power in hands of occupiers. Licences to form parties from September 1945, conditional on democratic aims: SPD/KPD/CDU and LDP (liberal democrats)
- SPD and CDU/CSU led by Konrad Adenaur
Emergence of Konrad Adenaur
- Foundation of CSU in January 1946
- Informally elected as leader
- Christianity and Socialism combined
- Rejects right wing nazism and left wing socialism
- Support of Catholic churc saw him advance to head of party for British zone. Elected President of the Parliamentary council in 1948 to draw up political foundations of new German Republic
Success of Democratisation in the Western zones
- Democracy associated with failures of the WR system, hard to get everyone on board
- Problematic for occupiers when ‘ex’ Nazis wanted to stand for key positions
- French longstanding feud with Germany, very restrictive of political development and for longer
- British faced problems replacing Proportional Representation system with First-Past-The-Post system
- Gradual improvement, leaders elected by German people- DEMOCRACY
Economic developments in the Soviet Zone
-loss of productive capacity in soviet zone 15% compared to western average of 21%, but wanted maximum reparations
- Take occupation costs and dismantle production capacity. Industrial capacity reduced to 15% of 1939 -evidence Soviets believed division wouldn’t last and wanted to take what they could, whilst they could
- September 1935 Centralised state banking introduced, private insurers merged into 5 public corporations
- Nazi enterprises became VEBs and Soviet-owned joint-stock companies (SAGs) took over heavy industry - 60% of industry by 1948
- Sought to remove junker landowners, September 1945, 7000 estates seized and turned into state farms
- June 1947, German economic commission to control policy/produce development plan for the Soviet zone
Economic developments in the Western zones
- Aim to eliminate war potential, allow for reparations/well being of people
- Level of industry plan March 1946 agreed on plan for Germany’s future
- Russians unhappy with the proposal that Germany should pay reparations once Germany was economically self sufficient/Russian plant seizures to be deducted from total reparations due to that country
- –> American governor: American zone would not provide for Russian zone. Soviet zone ceases to provide agricultural product/disrupts administration of all 4 zones
- –> Americans took this + spread of communism in east = any weakness in Western economy would mean communist takeover
- Paris conference 1946: America proposes western zone, British accept as cheaper/helps western European economic recovery. Soviets reject proposal on ideological grounds, French also as they don’t want united Germany
The Level of Industry plan March 1964 (6)
Germany’s living standard kept at 1932 level, shouldn’t exceed that of other European countries
Industrial capacity 50-55% of 1938 level ***altered 1947 to 70/75% to strengthen Bizone
1500 plants dismantled in Western zones
limit on industry output
armaments/war industries banned
coal output expanded for reparation/expansion
Bizonia
- Bizone from January 1947
- 6 boards
(i) Economics
(ii) Food/Agriculture
(iii) Transport
(iv) Communications
(v) Civil Service
(vi) Finance - -> worked in different cities avoiding french/ussr accusations of political unification but reps from Western parties/elected, seems like new political unit
- Union activity restricted to wages/conditions to limit spread of communism
- Some decartelisation: banks split up/IG farben broken down
Truman doctrine
March 1947
Allusion to USSR attempted domination in Eastern Europe
Policy of United States to ‘support free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures
Marshall Aid
April 1947 meeting in Moscow offers no hopes of reunification so US policy is to strengthen Bizone
June 1947 US Secretary of State offers ‘Marshal Aid’ on American terms
Rejected by USSR as would benefit US exports and encourage free marked economy. Eastern states forbidden to accept
$13 Billion in Western Europe in 4 years
Escalating tension between Bizonia and East Germany 1947-8
- Council of Foreign Ministers met in London in November 1947, no better than Moscow conference in April, causes West to further plans for West Germany
- London conference March 1948 with US/UK/France, aimed for Federal Government. French accept, but refrain from combining with Bizone yet
- –>USSR protest, attacked on Communist radio. ‘People’s Congresses’ called by Ulbrich in Dec 1947 and March 1948, latter elected Volksrat of 400 to create referendum on German unity, but in reality to ensure East Germany had government structure prepared for the division
Currency reforms in Western Germany, and Eastern reaction
- Bank Deutscher Lander formed 1948 so new Western German Government could become reality - to enact currency reform to replace devalued mark with Deutchmark (DM)
- French moved by this as USSR refused to discuss currency reform/US refusing them marshal aid. Now TRIZONIA
- Effective June 1948
- Soviets: Currecy reforms of June 1948 violate Potsdam which stipulates Germany must be treated as single economic unit
- Currency devalued in East/Berlin, possession criminalized
- East introduce Eastmark in June 48
The Berlin Blockade
Cause:
-Show of Soviet anger at currency reforms of June 1948
Action:
-Road/Railway traffic restricted both ways from Berlin, officially to protect East from influx of devalued currency
Consequence:
- Loss of jobs due to closed factories, rationing
- Tight restrictions on travel compromised control of West Berlin and welfare of West Berliners (2 million of them).
Solution:
Solution is to use the air
-Begins June 26th, moving 7,845 tons daily by April 1949, 11 months later
-Raises tensions, seen as aggressive, B25 bombers placed in England July 48, Soviet threatens Berliners supporting Allied policy
-Efficient by January 1949, stockpiling. counter blockade of steel/chemicals to East from West effects East from mid 1948
-Ended may 1949 when clear blockade was broken
