What was the state of Germany after 1945? Hunger Damage to buildings, businesses Refugees Treatment by Soviet soldiers

What did the Allies want to do with Germany? Potsdam agreement August 1945: Truman, Stalin, Attlee. It was agreed that Germany be administered under joint Allied control: spilt into four zones Germany should be demilitarised, denazified and democraticised

Why was Germany divided in 1949? Distrust between the Allies Britain and America: Bizonia Then Britain, America and France: Tizonia. Fear of communism: but questionable, Stalin unable to expand or start another conflict Churchill ‘Iron Curtain speech’ Truman Doctrine: US will help those who want freedom from communist influence Marshall Aid

Why was Germany divided in 1949? Need currency reform to introduce US aid. New deutschmark. Soviets refused and introduced their own currency: East German mark Berlin Blockade: hope to starve out West Berlin Berlin Airlift Two states formed 1949

How communist was the GDR? GDR: German Democratic Republic: East Germany Constitution 1949: had a parliament and a upper house to represent the regions or Lander, President, Prime Minister But: SED general secretary more important. Walter Ulbricht But: Lander abolished 1952 replaced by Bezirke But: Upper house abolished 1958 All parties increasingly under control of ruling SED Secret Police: Stasi Integration with the Soviet Bloc: Comecon: economic benefits: trade with Russia, Warsaw Pact: military alliance of East Europe: counterbalance of NATO

How did life in the GDR change? Collectivisation 1952 Uprising June 1953 More collectivisation Emphasis on heavy industry, focus on production targets Unrealistic five year plans VEBs Peoples Own factory: owned and managed by the state

How did life in the GDR change? Many workers fled to FRG: approx 3 million Women got more support Mass organisations Free German Trade Union League: old workers members, controlled by SED Free German Youth German-Soviet Friendship Society Democratic German Women’s League Communism and religion incompatible: RE removed from schools, Jugendweihe (coming of age ceremony) Youth: scholarships, schools link with industry

Interpretations of GDR Totalitarian: one party state? Stasi, Soviet tanks suppress 1953 uprising, Wall 1961 Success: industry/production does improve Society: women, youth organisations

How democratic was the FRG? FRG: Federal Republic of Germany: West Germany Constitution 1949: President, Chancellor, two tiered parliament President didn’t have emergency powers Proportional Representation, 5 % hurdle All parties and organisations have to be democratic Adenauer Chancellor: from CDU: Christian Democratic Union

What was life like in the FRG? Consumer society: availability of western products, new technologies Influx of workers from GDR ‘guest workers’ Western culture: music, fashion Women: more traditional role Army 1955

What was the economic miracle? Ludwig Erhard ‘prosperity for all’ Helped by Marshall Aid, Korean War, joining of European Steel and Coal community, European Economic Community (EEC) 1957, NATO 1955

How did the FRG view the GDR? Regarded the GDR as the zone Ignored them during 1953 uprising Didn’t do anything when the wall was put up Hallstein Doctrine: FRG would not have diplomatic relations with any powers that did recognise it as a state