1. Love in the Time of the Cold War
The Lives of Others
Love in the Time of the Cold War

2. Historical Context WWII – Germany = Third Reich Now what?
April 1945: Hitler dies
May 1945: Germany surrenders unconditionally
Now what?
Potsdam Conference/Agreement (July/Aug 1945)
USSR, UK & USA meet to discuss post-WWII world, including Germany’s punishment
Note: WWII was still active , as Japan was yet to surrender

3. Potsdam Agreement
Leaders: USA – Truman (FDR dead); UK – Churchill/Attlee (election); USSR – Stalin
Terms of surrender: demilitarization, deNazification, democratization, decentralization (this can’t happen again!)
All German-annexed lands returned to rightful “owners”
Germany divided into 4 occupied zones, each of which is controlled by one of the victors
Tidbit: at end of conference, Japan was ordered to surrender or meet “prompt and utter destruction” (nuclear bomb)

4. A Nation Divided GDR: German Democratic Republic (east)
Established by the Potsdam agreement post WWII
The victors of WWII divide Germany into occupied “zones”
Controlled by Soviet forces beginning in 1949; lasted until fall of Soviet Union in 1990 (communist)
West Berlin remained free
This zone would pay war reparations to Soviet Russia
FRG: Federal Republic of Germany (west)
Aligned with NATO

6. Life in the GDR (east) Secret police to monitor activities
Richest economy of the Eastern Bloc
1961: government builds Berlin Wall to stop emigration to the West (“brain drain”); they claim it’s to protect GDR from fascist elements of the West and call the wall “Anti-fascist Protection Rampart”
Border guards; watch towers; concrete wall
Part of the “Iron Curtain” that divides East and West during Cold War
Approx try to escape over wall; approx. 600 are killed
1989: peaceful revolution/crumbling USSR brings down Berlin Wall
German reunification occurs in October 1990

7. Berlin Wall circa 1986