Chapter 4 - Conflict over Germany (1947-1949)

Question 1

Which 4 parties were allowed in the Soviet zone of Germany?

Answer 1

• Communists (KPD)
• German Social Democrats (SPD)
• Liberals (LDPD)
• Christian Democrats (CDU)

Question 2

What happened to the SPD and KPD?

Answer 2

• Forcibly merged by Soviet Military Administration of Germany
• A new party emerged February 1946 = SED

Question 3

How did the Soviets fail in regards to administering the Soviet zone?

Answer 3

• Soviet aim to influence and control German politics in a future, united Germany had failed
• Soviet zone increasingly perceived as place of tyranny and repression by Germans in W zones
• Stalin could dominate politics in Soviet zone, but not on national scale

Question 4

Why were Eisenhower and Clay less compliant to make joint occupation work?

Answer 4

• Didn’t agree with Soviet demand that the Ruhr should be placed under joint allied control
• Didn’t want continued social and economic deprivation of Germans in UK and US zones
• Didn’t agree with Soviet desire to create centralised Germany

Question 5

Why were US-USSR tensions growing before Bizonia?

Answer 5

• USSR wanted more reparations from Western zones than other allies could accept
• May 1946, General Clay announced no further reparations to USSR allowed unless an overall plan for Germany’s economic recovery agreed
• USSR saw this as American strategy to create German economy based on Western capitalist system

Question 6

What was the impact of the Moscow Conference?

Answer 6

• Council of Ministers met in Moscow in March-April 1947
• USSR demanded a new central administration should be created = failed
• No firm decisions on future of Germany reached

Question 7

What was the impact of the London Conference?

Answer 7

• USSR accused West of unjustly denying it due reparations
• West feared centralised administration would lead to Soviet-controlled Germany
• Allied powers realised 4-power control over Germany wouldn’t work
• Now urgency to strengthen economy of W zones and move towards creation of W German state, aligned to W alliance

Question 8

What did the Soviets do in response to new currency in Bizonia?

Answer 8

• Berlin Blockade (began June 1948)
• Blocked all road and rail links to W zones and W Berlin through Soviet zone
• May 1949 = Stalin ended Blockade

Question 9

What was the impact of the Berlin Blockade?

Answer 9

• Stalin failed to prevent the creation of a separate West German state
• Containment a success
• 1949 = Europe divided into 2 blocs

Question 10

Why was NATO created?

Answer 10

• A means of reassuring W European states in face of possible Soviet military aggression
• Gave USA regional defence organisation that would aid containment
• USA was a key player = much influence
• For USA, primarily a political defence system rather than a military organisation that could undermine long-term objectives for Europe

Question 11

How did the Soviets respond to NATO?

Answer 11

• Believed NATO was an aggressive organisation designed to pressurise states into complying with interests of UK, US and allies
• US emphasises lack of content to attack any state in Europe