West and East Germany between 1949 and 1991 Flashcards
1
Q
when was the Yalta conference held + people involved
A
- February 1945
- USA = Franklin Roosevelt
- USSR = Joseph Stalin
- Britain = Winston Churchill
2
Q
what was agreed at the Yalta conference
A
- Germany would be divided into 4 zones of occupation
> north = Britain, east = USSR, south = USA, west = France - Berlin would be divides into 4 zones with allies
- new borders created for Poland
- denazified
- all countries freed from Nazi control were to have free elections + choose their own gov
- Eastern Europe would have a Soviet ‘sphere of influence’
- Germany to join United National Organisations to maintain peace once war ended
3
Q
what changed in the time between the Yalta + Potsdam conference
A
- soviet troops liberated countries in E. Europe but didn’t remove their military presence
- Stalin set up communist gov in Poland, ignoring agreement at Yalta
- Red Army biggest in world but Stalin refused to cut down his armed force after war
- April 1945 Roosevelt dies + replaced by Harry Truman
- July 1945 USA successfully tested atomic bomb, but Stalin angry that he hadn’t been consulted beforehand
- Churchill defeated in general election so Clement Atlee took over
4
Q
When was the Potsdam conference held + people involved
A
- July 1945
- USA = Harry Truman
- USSR = Joseph Stalin
- Britain = Clement Atlee
5
Q
what was agreed at the Potsdam conference
A
- occupation could end when it was clear that Germany could govern themselves
> then final peace treaty between Allies + Germany - Germans living in Poland, Czechoslovakia and Hungary had to transport back to Germany
6
Q
what was the cold war
A
- a war waged against an enemy by every means short of actually fighting
- 2 sides - East vs West
> USA + supporters vs Soviet Union + supporters - 2 rival armed camps
> NATO vs Warsaw Pact - 2 sides competed for influence all over the world
7
Q
what were the two Germanies called + when were they created
A
- 1949
- Federal Republic of Germany (WEST GERMANY)
- The German Democratic Republic (EAST GERMANY)
8
Q
what was the capital cities of both west + east Germany
A
- west = Bonn
- east = east berlin
9
Q
what were the main political parties in West Germany
A
- Christian democratic
- Social democratic
DEMOCRACY
10
Q
what were the main parties in East Germany
A
- Socialist Unity Party (SED)
COMMUNIST
ONE PARTY STATE
11
Q
describe the government of the Federal Republic of Germany
A
- federal structure to prevent dangers dictatorship
> country divided into 11 provinces ‘Lander’ which would each be represented in new federal parliament in Bonn - 2 sections of parliament:
> lower house = Bundestag = directly elected by people
> upper house = Bundesrat = representatives of 11 Lander - main political leader = Chancellor = elected by Bundestag
> chancellor given more right than Weimar republic such as choosing ministers - President elected for 5 years + only allowed to stand one for the position
> not allowed to control armed forces
> has no power to declare state of emergency or appoint / dismiss chancellors
12
Q
describe the government of The German Democratic Republic
A
- Parliament called Volkskammer
> regular elections but everytime Socialist Unity Party (SED) candidates won 99% of votes - all gov decisions made by Sed’s central committee - Politburo
> local gov was brought under direct control of central government
> got rid of 5 Lander + replaced with 14 districts known as Bezirke - leader of SED = Walter Ulbricht- any opponents arrested + imprisoned
- old Nazi con camps brought back to use for political prisoners
13
Q
what is the territory Bizonia + when was it fromed
A
- January 1947
- Britain + USA merged their sectors to form Bizonia
> this meant they could support the German economy more effectively by working together
13
Q
what was the Marshall Plan
A
- US Secretary of State, George Marshall, announced that wealthy USA would make funds available for all European states to rebuild their economies
- between 1948-52, $13 billion was spent on this aid in W. Europe
14
Q
how much Marshall Aid was given to W Germany
A
- $1.4 billion given to West Germany
> massively boosted Germany’s economy
14
Q
when was the German currency replaced with the Deutschmark + why + by whom
A
- June 1948
- Western Allies suspended German currency + replaced it with Deutschmark to bring an end to inflation
> the revival of the German economy in western zones began
15
Q
who was the first Chancellor of West Germany + from when to when
A
- Konrad Adenauer
> chancellor from 1949 - 1963
16
Q
what did Adenauer intend to do:
A
- restore the W German economy + repair damage done by war
- work for increased independence for W Germany + end occupation by Allied military forces
- restore democracy + denazify W Germany
16
Q
when had Allied occupation ended
A
- 1955
> although British, American and French forces remained on German soil
16
Q
when was Germany part of NATO
A
- 1955
17
Q
what was the new German army formed
A
- Bundeswehr
17
Q
how did a parliamentary democracy work well in W Germany
A
- provided stable governments throughout 1950s + 1960s
18
Q
when was Law 131 passed + what was it about
A
- 1951
- effectively ended denazification in W Germany by:
> allowing former Nazis to be employed in army + intelligence services
> even some posts in civil service + judiciary
18
Q
why was Soviet Union critical of Law 131
A
- they were still angry about what Hitler + Nazis had done to USSR during war
> however, the success of W German economy + its democratic system overshadowed those criticisms
19
why was the industrial expansion of W Germany in 1950s described as an economic miracle
- because the country experienced:
> highest annual growth rate in W Europe
> full employment
> high productivity
> very low inflation
20
how did the Economic Minister, Dr Ludwig Erhard help W Germany's economy
- pursued policies that encouraged:
> investment
> research and development
> strong central bank and currency stability
21
how did the Korean War (1950-53) boost W Germany's economy
- there was a demand for industrial equipment + weapons
22
what was the Trade Union Movement + how did it help W Germany's economy
- British authorities insisted on co-determination
> union officials representing workers should be included in board of directors who run companies
> meant that workers + bosses could work together more productively to solve problems without resorting to damaging strikes
23
why were migrant workers a reason for W Germany's economic recovery
- these guest workers didn't have right to permanent residence + were only employed on short-term contracts
> they were cheap to employ + worked hard to be able to keep their contracts
24
when was there recession in W Germany + how did growth resume
- 1967 recession
- 1968 growth resumed
> with help of gov loans + agreement with unions to keep wages under control
25
when did the W German economy began to actually struggle
- 1980s
- became necessary to reduce amount of welfare payments the gov made ad it could no longer afford them
26
who was Adenauer's Economic Minister who was much of credit for success of W Germany's economic recovery
Dr Ludwig Erhard
27
why was the W German economy a mixed economy
- because private capital + state capital were used to create wealth + aid recovery
28
why were there relatively high rates of taxation in W Germany
- to ensure there was enough gov income to afford social reforms + welfare provision of a high standard
> benefits for unemployed, sick and young people, pensions for old
29
when did W Germany become one of the leading economies of the world
- by 1960s
30
W Germany's car production was
- the worlds second to largest
> produced Volkswagen cars
> luxury Mercedes-Benz
31
W Germans enjoying unprecedented rate of economic growth + very high standard of living + welfare provision resulted in:
- huge increase in consumer spending on items like
> cars
> radios + TVs
> luxury foreign foods + drinks e.g. French wines and cheeses
32
why was The Ministry of Housing set up
- to rebuild W Germany's ruined towns + cities
32
how were the houses funded that needed to be built by Ministry of Housing
- gov paid to build some of the houses
- private companies were given tax cuts to build as well
> meant workers had nice places to live
+ the building programmes also provided work
33
how many East Germans moved to West + when + why
- between 1949 - 1961
- 3.5 million moved
> to seek a better lifestyle
34
why was the migration of East Germans to W Germany a serious political problem
- it was a serious political problem for the East German government and its Soviet allies
35
what was the Truman Doctrine
- proposed by P Harry Truman
> will resist all attempts to create a communist state
> communism will be contained to the USSR
> USA will defend democracy against communism
36
how much was the population of E Germany compared to W G
1/3 that of W Germany
37
how much was industrial output of E Germany compared to W G
- barely 20% of W Germany
38
what was Republikflucht
- escaping the Republic
> poor living conditions encouraged thousands of E G to move to W G
39
how many houses built in W Germany after war
- 2 million new houses
40
by 1960, what was the rate of unemployment in W Germany
0.4%
41
why did the migration of E Germans to W G affect the economy
- shortage of skilled workers
- USSR still demanded to pay reparations but economy failed to prosper
42
although the E German border was closed in 1952, how did people still escape to W + how many
- through the free city of berlin
> 182,390 escaped this way
43
what happened at the 1953 uprising
- uprising in Berlin
> thousands of workers went on strike
> attacked communist party buildings
> demanded free elections
> wanted better standards of living
> chanted ' we don't want a national army, we want butter'
- after gov failed to put down the uprising, Soviet army (red army) was called to restore order
> arrived with 600 tanks + 20,000 soldiers
> 6,000 ppl arrested + 20 executed + 500 prisoned for life
44
who were the stasi
- E German secret police
45
who was Walter Ulbricht
- first E German leader, communist
46
what was COMECON
- the communist countries of E Europe
47
what happened after 1953 uprising
- gov doubled size of Stasi to ensure similar protest wouldn't occur
48
who were IMs + why were they employed by Stasi
- unofficial collaborators who would spy on E German people
> people became IMs because it gave them access to consumer goods e.g. TVs
49
by late 1960s how many Stasi + IMs were there
- 50,000 Stasi
- 100,000 IMs
50
by 1980s what percentage of people living in E Germany were informants for Stasi
25%
51
describe life for ordinary people in E Germany 1949 - 61
- positive:
> cheap affordable housing (concrete) providing warmth + water + electricity all for 20-40 marks when avg salary was 400-600 marks
> one car - Trabant - uncomfortable but tolerable
> access to free health care + education
> 1978 - religious tolerance declared by law
- negative:
> less consumer goods as economy payed reparations, failing to prosper
>farmers unhappy due to rapid industrialisation - 15,000 moved to W G
> Secret police Stasi + informants
> one party state which controlled media + gave lack of democracy unlike W G
52
what were conditions like on W + E Berlin
- West Berlin:
> centre of communism
> modern, well sticked shops, thriving cafes + restaurants, packed theatres + nightclubs
- East Berlin:
> consumer goods e.g. washing machines + cars weren't readily available
> G gov prioritised heavy machinery over consumer goods
> many of those who migrated form E Germany were young + highly skilled
> war damage remained unrepaired
