3 - the western zone, 1945-49

Question 1

Allied Control Centre (ACC)

Answer 1

• military governing body over the 4 Allied-occupied zones of Germany & Berlin
• had to have unanimous decisions
• when this failed, each military governor could implement decisions in their zone

Question 2

economic problems of the Western zone following WW2

Answer 2

• food & fuel shortages
• homelessness
• bereavement
• integration of soldiers into civilian society
• refugees
• dealing with the impact of genocide
• collapse of the currency

Question 3

1946 events in the Western zone

Answer 3

• USA drew up plans for German reconstruction
• Russia & France didn’t agree (didn’t want a strong Germany & wanted large reparations)
• France even annexed the Saar for a short period

Question 4

1946-47 events in the Western zone

Answer 4

• severe winter worsened conditions
• weak British economy (bread rationing at home)
• Britain unable to fund its zone

Question 5

1947 events in the Western zone

Answer 5

• economic recovery = essential to prevent economic crisis & social revolution
• food had to be imported (cost $700 mill per year)
• problem made worse -> some industry dismantled to pay reparations, & influx of refugees
• British & American zones merged into Bizonia
• aid poured into Western zone

Question 6

1948 events in the Western zone

Answer 6

• Marshall Plan applied to Western zone
• London Conference (Feb-June 1948) agreed on West German currency & state
• summer onwards -> Western representatives of ‘Parliamentary Council’ started to devise a constitution for a new state in the west

Question 7

1949 events in the Western zone

Answer 7

• France joined Bizonia to form Trizonia (after initial resistance)
• new constitution, the Basic Law, adopted (May 1949) -> established a West German state

Question 8

When did Britain & America form Bizonia?

Answer 8

1947

Question 9

When was the Marshall Plan applied to the Western zone?

Answer 9

1948

Question 10

When did France form Trizonia with America & Britain?

Answer 10

1949

Question 11

Why was Basic Law called ‘Basic Law’?

Answer 11

to imply that it was temporary, the ‘basis’

Question 12

Why were there divisions between the East & West zones?

Answer 12

• formation of Bizonia (1947) &, later, Trizonia (1949)
• disputes over Soviet reparations from Western zones
• growing divisions between Russia & the West over the Truman Doctrine & Marshall Aid
• black market grown in the West due to weakness of currency -> introduced Deutschmark
• Soviets refused to follow suit & began Berlin blockade (confirmed divisions of Germany)
• eventually brought in Soviet currency of the Ostmark

Question 13

When was the Truman Doctrine applied to West Germany?

Answer 13

1947

Question 14

Truman Doctrine (1947)

Answer 14

US foreign policy which aimed to support governments fighting for freedom against communism

Question 15

Marshall Aid (1948)

Answer 15

plan proposed by US General Marshall, to give financial aid to nations in Europe to help them rebuild their economies & to stop the spread of communism
(West Germany given $1.3 million)

Question 16

When was the Berlin Blockade?

Answer 16

June 1948

Question 17

What was the reason Russia gave for the Berlin blockade?

Answer 17

“technical difficulties”