Topic 2: The partition of Europe

Question 1

New world Order and 3 conferences: Tehran

Answer 1

1943
first allies meeting
agreement of german dismemberment

Question 2

New world Order and 3 conferences: Yalta

Answer 2

1945
demilitarisation of Germany
Poland borders displaced
future creation of UN
declaration of liberated Europe

Question 3

New world Order and 3 conferences: Potsdam

Answer 3

1945
the last of the World War II meetings held by the “Big Three” heads of state - US President Harry S. Truman, UK Prime Minister Winston Churchill (+ his successor, Clement Attlee) and Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin

the talks established a Council of Foreign Ministers + a central Allied Control Council for administration of Germany.

Question 4

Post-WWII Europe - Crises

Answer 4

Several crises:
Economic
* WWII economic loses: $1.5 trillion
* In 1946 Europe needs to import 80% oil, 60% wheat, 40% coal. The situation in 1947 (in comparison with 1939): industrial production (88%), agricultural production(83%), exports (59%)

Political: from subject to object of the international system.

Social: nearly 30 million Europeans leave their home country

Question 5

Marshall Plan (1947)

Answer 5

• officially the European Recovery Program, ERP
• an American initiative passed in 1948 to aid Western Europe, in which the US gave over $12 billion in economic assistance to help rebuild Western European economies after the end of WWII.
• USA foreign policy turning point: from isolationism to interventionism

Question 6

Triple objective of European Recovery Plan (Marshall Plan):

Answer 6

Ensure European demand of US goods.

* Containment of Communism in Europe.
* Force Europeans to accept the economic and politic reconstruction of Germany

Question 7

The Marshall Plan was a success because:

Answer 7

(1) it associated considerable financial aid with a modernization plan of the whole European economic system, and it made the union of Europe possible.
(2) It permitted to overcome the terrific nationalisms of the 20th century.
(3) It worked because the danger of war was not urgent anymore in 1947, and it fell in 1950 due to the threat of hot war.
(4) It represented an unstable equilibrium between a fixed aid (take or leave) + a negotiated aid, between political imperialism + respect for participant countries. It meant important technological + financial transfers, opening markets + minds.”

Question 8

OEEC (1948)

Answer 8

The Organisation for European Economic Cooperation

• European integration of 18 participants
• The first proposal of European integration is the product of US pressure (outcome of Marshall Plan)
• Governing principles:
  (1) promoting cooperation among its members ;
  (2) Intra-European trade development;
  (3) possibility of a Customs Union/FTA .

Question 9

German Reconstruction (1949)

Answer 9

Proposals regarding German future:

* US + UK: the growth of Germany is considered indispensable for European stability.
* France + BENELUX: prevent re-emergence of German threat.
* Final proposal: economic recovery of Germany within Marshall Plan and division in several areas

Two Germanies are created :

* Western Allied powers authorize the 11 länders to federate themselves: German Basic Law of the GFR. GFR is born 1949 (Capital: Bonn)
* GDR is created 1949 (Capital: East Berlin) * Different role of both Germanies in their blocks

Question 10

Berlin blockade (June 48 - May 49)

Answer 10

Official beginning of Cold War

• Trigger: 1948 Western Allies announce a monetary reform in the Western part of Germany
• USSR decides to block land access to West Berlin (1948).
• Given ineffectiveness of the blockade, USSR finishes in 1949
• Outcome: two German states are created :
  
  • Agency granted to West Germany by Allies.
  • GDR: a People’s Council in charge of drafting a Constitution

Question 11

GFR creation (1949)

Answer 11

German Federal Republic

• territorial ambiguity
• people’s council in charge of drafting constitution
• federal state
• apart of the western bloc