Between June 1945 and November 1946
Germany was occupied by 4 powers
 The western zones tried to organise
economic and political recovery while the
Soviet zone had resources taken to the
USSR
 For some time Stalin seemed willing to
create a new democratic Germany with
the Communists playing only a role
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Paris Conference April -July 1946
The USSR requested 10 billion dollars of
reparations from Germany
Byrnes argued for reparations to be paid
once there was a trade surplus to cover cost
of food and raw materials
The offer to unify the US zone with the other 3
zones was accepted only by the British
Anglo-US Bizonia was formed on 1 January
1947
What was the impact of this?
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US wanted western European integration
USSR wanted to avoid the partition of
Germany. They had tried to gather German
support against the western policies
The conference ended on 15 Dec with the
USSR accusing the USA and UK of breaking
the Potsdam agreements and denying them
their reparations
Hope of 4 power cooperation disappeared
A western alliance in Germany and trade with
western Europe seemed inevitable
 Early
in 1948 the three western zones
merged to form a single economic unit
which, thanks to Marshall Aid, recovered
more rapidly than the USSR's zone
 The west wanted all 4 zones to be
reunited and self-governing as soon as
possible
 Stalin kept his zone separate
 In June 1948 the West introduced a new
currency and ended price controls in
their zone and West Berlin
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A boost for western powers
NATO was formed in April 1949 – western
powers coordinated their defences
Germany remained divided
West Germany (the German Federal
Republic) was set up in August 1949 with
Konrad Adenauer as chancellor
East Germany became the German
Democratic Republic in October 1949
Berlin is the testicles of the west...every
time I want to make the west scream I
squeeze on Berlin
20 divisions of Soviet troops within frontiers
 West Germany was an economic miracle
 Autumn 1958 Khrushchev was confident of US
concessions for West Berlin
 He exaggerated Soviet nuclear power and put
pressure on West Berlin
 He wanted concessions without war
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 Began
on 10 Nov 1958 when Khrushchev
called for a peace treaty for the two German
states:
‘The time has obviously arrived for the
signatories of the Potsdam Agreement to
renounce the remnants of the occupation
regime in Berlin, and thereby make it possible
to create a normal situation in the capital of the
GDR. The USSR, for its part, would hand over to
the sovereign GDR the functions in Berlin that
are still exercised by Soviet agencies. This, I
think, would be the correct thing to do’.
 Proposals
for German unity but no
agreement
 West suggested free elections
 USSR suggested a confederation
 Khrushchev’s threats continued
 In
September 1959 Khrushchev visited Camp
David – the atmosphere was friendly but
there was no progress
 2 years of detente alternated with crisis!
 Threats led to discussions in London and
Washington:
Scheme for nuclear free zone in Central
Europe?
Recognition of Poland’s western frontiers?
Recognition of GDR?
 Western divisions
 This
was cancelled by Khrushchev when a US
U2 spy plane was shot down over the USSR
 At first, the Americans tried to claim that it
was a weather-plane that had gone off-course.
However, the Russians put the pilot Gary
Powers on trial for spying, and it was clear
that he was not a weather-man. The
Americans admitted it was a spy-plane.
 Confirmed their lack of ICBMs
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Khrushchev wanted to wait for a peace treaty but by
1960 many refugees were leaving the east for the west
Ulbricht pressed Khrushchev for a peace treaty with
the GDR using threat of GDR’s collapse
Khrushchev was reluctant as he feared the GDR might
provoke a crisis like the Berlin Blockade
When JFK came to power he did not make the
concessions Eisenhower had refused. His response
hinted to a solution to the Berlin problem. He built up
US forces in Europe and urged negotiations on the
German Question
25 July 1961 he made a TV broadcast stressing the
importance of free access to West Berlin for the USA
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Khrushchev had hoped to avoid closing off East
Berlin frontier
He had hoped to take West Berlin from the FRG
instead of cutting of East Germany
However, unrest caused by agricultural
collectivisation and an increasing number of
refugees meant he had to prevent the collapse of
the GDR
At the end of July/beginning of August 1961 he
decided to close the East German border in
Berlin
This was confirmed by Warsaw Pact members in
Moscow 3-5 August
 The
border was closed, sealed off first
with barbed wire and later a concrete
wall
http://www.learningcurve.gov.uk/focuson/
film/filmarchive/player.asp?catID=3&subCatID=3
&filmID=14
 Khrushchev
had failed to get western
troops out of the USSR or negotiate a
peace treaty
 The wall meant limited but important
success for Soviet Policies
 Western toleration meant recognising
East Germany
 Consolidated GDR and ensured that the
USSR was responsible for maintaining
international access to West Berlin
Sep 1969: Brandt Chancellor of FRG
Aug 12 1970: Moscow Treaty (USSR/FRG) – recognition
of post-war borders
Sep 3 1971: 4 Power Treaty on Berlin – signed by 4
occupying powers to allow unimpeded transport rights to
East Germany
Dec 21 1971: Basic Treaty (FRG/GDR) – FRG gives up
Hallstein Doctrine, GDR seen as equal. Beginning of
path to reunification.
A Reunited Germany
Honecker had been communist leader of East
Germany since 1971. He intended to keep
communism in place, standing firm with other
Eastern bloc countries and refusing all changes
or reforms. However, he was overtaken by
events:
In June 1989 Gorbachev needed financial help
from West Germany and visited Kohl in Bonn.
He promised an end to a divided Europe in
return for aid.
In August and September 1989 thousands of
East Germans were able to esacpe to the west
via Poland, Czechoslovakia and Hungary when
Hungary opened the border with Austria.
East Germany’s Protestant Church created an
opposition party called New Forum. They
campaigned against communism.
In October 1989 there were demonstrations all
over East Germany demanding freedom and an
end to communism.
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Honecker wanted the army to open fire on the demonstrators but he was
not supported. Honecker was dropped and succeeded by Krenz who
opened the Berlin Wall on 9 November 1989 and promised free elections.
With international support for a reunited Germany, West German political
parties moved into the East. Kohl staged an election tour and the East
German version of his party (CDU) won in March 1990. Maiziere
became Prime Minister. His hopes for gradual reunification were
abandoned with the overwhelming pressure from the people for
immediate reunification.
The USA and the USSR agreed that reunification should take place.
Gorbachev promised that all Russian troops would be withdrawn from
East Germany by 1994. Germany was reunited at midnight on 3 October
1990. The conservative CDU/CSU alliance won a majority in the
December 1990 elections. Kohl became the first German chancellor
since the Second World War.