The Fate of Germany After The Second World War (1945-1949)

Question 1

What was agreed at the Potsdam Conference in July and August 1945?

Answer 1

Germany would be divided into 4 zones (British, French, American and Soviet). Berlin in the Soviet sector would also be divided into 4 zones.

Question 2

What was the Allied Control Council?

Answer 2

A governing body to oversee all 4 ‘zones of occupation’ in order to keep Germany intact for ‘re-unification’.

Question 3

Identify two economic problems Germany faced after the Second World War.

Answer 3

20% of housing destroyed, a further 30% badly damaged.

Lots of infrastructure and industries were damaged.

Question 4

What began to develop after the Second World War between the Allies, and how did this affect the development of Germany?

Answer 4

Tensions that developed into the Cold War. The Allies lacked the common enemy that had existed before, this lead to differences being emphasised.

Question 5

What was the situation in Eastern Europe by 1948?

Answer 5

All Eastern European countries other than Greece had become communist (Yugoslavia, Albania, Bulgaria, Hungary & Poland).

Question 6

Identify three actions the USA took against the USSR in the years 1945 to 1949.

Answer 6

• The US prevented reparation payments from West Germany being given to the Soviet Union. (May 1946)
• America and Britain merged their ‘zones of occupation’ creating Bizonia. (May 1947)
• America introduced the Marshall Plan. It offered aid to European countries, especially those under threat from communism along with West Germany. (From 1948)

Question 7

Identify three actions the USSR took against the USA in the years 1945 to 1949.

Answer 7

• Communists won the election in the Soviet zone. The KPD and SPD had merged to form one party. (October 1946)
• The USSR left the Allied Control Council. (March 20, 1947)
• Stalin blockaded Berlin, closing transport and communication links to the city. (24 June 1948 – 12 May 1949)

Question 8

When did the Federal Republic of Germany and the German Democratic Republic become independent states?

Answer 8

On May 22, 1949 the British French & American zones (West Germany) were formally merged and named the Federal Republic of Germany.

On October 7, 1949 East Germany was declared as a new nation named the German Democratic Republic.

Question 9

Identify two reasons that explain why Germany was not reunited after the Second World War.

Answer 9

• Communists won the Soviet zone in the 1946 Berlin election. This meant that if Germany was to be merged, communists would be in the German government.
• The USSR left the Allied Control Council on March 20, 1947.