Cold War 2- The Division of Germany
Why was Germany so significant in the development of the Cold War?
· Historical factors: German troops had occupied large swathes of Europe in both World War One
and World War Two. Many in Europe were determined that thiscould not be allowed to happen
again thus decisions about the future of Germany were seen as having global significance,
o In Britain and the US many blamed the too harsh treatment of Germany after World War I for
the rise of the Nazis and wanted to avoid making the mistake again.
o However, for Stalin and the USSR (which had lost 27 million people in the war) the only way to
prevent future German aggression was to ensure it was never again strong enough to threaten
them.
· Economic factors: Germany especially the Ruhr area was a key centre of industry and resources
such as coal. Germany’s economic future was thus key to the wider European economic recovery
· Geostrategic factors: Germany size location and historical significance meant that it was key to
the future of Europe.
What did the 3 Powers want ahead of the Potsdam conference?
USA- démocratisation, décentralisation (federalisation) , dénazification and démilitarisation
Britain- For the USA not to be isolationist, fear of USSR taking retribution
USSR- Security, reparations from Germany
What were the weaknesses of the agreements made at Yalta and Potsdam?
· Post-war Germany was occupied and divided into 4 zones. Within each of these zones there
would be a military governor who would manage and administer matters within their zone.
· In theory the 4 powers would coordinate their actions through the Allied Control Council (ACC)
with the aim of maintaining economic and political unity of Germany.
· However, tensions quickly emerged between zones. One area of tension lay in issue of local
government. Before the war Germany (like the USA) had been made up of states with their own
local government. From 1946 the western occupying powers had began+ to set up the state
government. This was De-Centralisation (one of the 4 'D's)
Potsdam Declaration
Germany’s military: Demilitarised
Germany’s Political System: Decentralised and democratised
Germany’s Society: Denazification
Germany’s Economy: Privatised
Germany’s reparations: USSR got reparations from its own German zone and 25% from all other
zones
, Changing American attitudes towards the division of Germany – the Speech of Hope, Stuttgart,
6th September 1946
The Western powers' feared that poverty and hunger would drive the Germans to Communism.
American Occupation General Lucius Clay stated, "There is no choice between being a communist
on 1,500 calories a day and a believer in democracy on a thousand".
Why was Germany so significant in the development of the Cold War?
· Historical factors: German troops had occupied large swathes of Europe in both World War One
and World War Two. Many in Europe were determined that thiscould not be allowed to happen
again thus decisions about the future of Germany were seen as having global significance,
o In Britain and the US many blamed the too harsh treatment of Germany after World War I for
the rise of the Nazis and wanted to avoid making the mistake again.
o However, for Stalin and the USSR (which had lost 27 million people in the war) the only way to
prevent future German aggression was to ensure it was never again strong enough to threaten
them.
· Economic factors: Germany especially the Ruhr area was a key centre of industry and resources
such as coal. Germany’s economic future was thus key to the wider European economic recovery
· Geostrategic factors: Germany size location and historical significance meant that it was key to
the future of Europe.
What did the 3 Powers want ahead of the Potsdam conference?
USA- démocratisation, décentralisation (federalisation) , dénazification and démilitarisation
Britain- For the USA not to be isolationist, fear of USSR taking retribution
USSR- Security, reparations from Germany
What were the weaknesses of the agreements made at Yalta and Potsdam?
· Post-war Germany was occupied and divided into 4 zones. Within each of these zones there
would be a military governor who would manage and administer matters within their zone.
· In theory the 4 powers would coordinate their actions through the Allied Control Council (ACC)
with the aim of maintaining economic and political unity of Germany.
· However, tensions quickly emerged between zones. One area of tension lay in issue of local
government. Before the war Germany (like the USA) had been made up of states with their own
local government. From 1946 the western occupying powers had began+ to set up the state
government. This was De-Centralisation (one of the 4 'D's)
Potsdam Declaration
Germany’s military: Demilitarised
Germany’s Political System: Decentralised and democratised
Germany’s Society: Denazification
Germany’s Economy: Privatised
Germany’s reparations: USSR got reparations from its own German zone and 25% from all other
zones
, Changing American attitudes towards the division of Germany – the Speech of Hope, Stuttgart,
6th September 1946
The Western powers' feared that poverty and hunger would drive the Germans to Communism.
American Occupation General Lucius Clay stated, "There is no choice between being a communist
on 1,500 calories a day and a believer in democracy on a thousand".
