The Cold War The Early Years:
Defeat of the Third Reich – May 1945
Parading Nazi insignia in Moscow – May 1945
Potsdam Conference July-August 1945
The Big Three at Potsdam - Attlee, Truman and Stalin
A New Beginning BerlinGermany UA USSRFrceAs a result of the war, Berlin and Germany were occupied and divided by the Allies – UK, USA, USSR and France. Germany was divided into four occupation zones. BerlinSovietzone sectorsBerlin within the Soviet zone was divided into four occupation sectors. The city was governed by a four power Kommandatura to deal with administrative issues. reunification after denazification and demilitarization.One of the main issues was reunification of Germany after denazification and demilitarization.
Germany under Four Power Occupation
Allied Command of Germany Western AlliesSovietsAlmost from the start differences emerged between the Western Allies and the Soviets in terms of how to administer Germany and how to shape its future political structure Western Powers economically strong GermanyThe Western Powers realized that only an economically strong Germany could guarantee European recovery SovietsThe Soviets wanted to continue with dismantling German factories and keeping German POWs as slave labor
Berlin under Four Power Occupation
Red flag over damaged Brandenburg Gate
Ruins of the residential borough of Tiergarten
Germans in a single heated room using one gas lamp
Tension between occupier and occupied Soviet soldier confiscating bike from German civilian
“Moscow wants the Ruhr for Soviet armaments. Therefore Germany should be isolated from the West. Never!”
George Kennan’s “Long Telegram” warning of Stalin’s postwar intensions and how the US should respond - February 1946
March 1946 Churchill gives his “Iron Curtain” speech in Fulton, Missouri, USA
Truman signing Truman Doctrine March 1947
Communist takeover takeover of Hungary Hungary Statue of Stalin
George C Marshall and his Plan for European Economic Recovery
Soviet threat to Western Europe
Truman signing the Economic Assistance Act April 1948
Marshall Plan posters showing Europe moving forward
Marshall Plan calling for Inter European cooperation
First CARE packages within the ruins
CARE packages being distributed to civilians
Communist CoupFebruary 1948 Communist Coup in Czechoslovakia February 1948
Bi- and Trizonia in the Western Zones AngloAmericans zonesThe Anglo-Americans stopped dismantling German firms in order to halt the continual economic deterioration of their separate administrative zones UKUSAzones BizoniaIn order to encourage domestic German trade and economic reconstruction, the UK and USA merged their two zones into one economic unit in 1947 known as Bizonia. SovietsThe Soviets protested vehemently – They wanted an economically weak Germany The successful economic results were almost immediate Frenchzone AngloAmericansTrizoniaIn 1948, the French merged their occupation zone with that of the Anglo-Americans creating Trizonia SovietsWestern AlliesThe Soviets protested stating the Western Allies went against the spirit of Allied Decision-making consent for Germany
“Can He Block It?” –Stalin’s attempt to block recovery
Barter trade with US GIs in lieu of currency
A new currency – Deutsche Mark While economic productivity increased in the Western sectors, the “Black market” was still a major problemWhile economic productivity increased in the Western sectors, the “Black market” was still a major problem The Old Reichsmark was worthlessThe Old Reichsmark was worthless Civilians bartered goods on the streetCivilians bartered goods on the street In order to crush the “Black market”, the Western Allies secretly agreed to introduce a new stable currency known as the Deutsche MarkIn order to crush the “Black market”, the Western Allies secretly agreed to introduce a new stable currency known as the Deutsche Mark The Soviets were kept out of the planning since they had previously stalled all economic endeavors to reconstruct Germany after the warThe Soviets were kept out of the planning since they had previously stalled all economic endeavors to reconstruct Germany after the war The introduction of the new currency fell like a bombThe introduction of the new currency fell like a bomb
The Deutsche Mark 1948
Introduction of new German currency – the Deutsche Mark or DM May 1948
Last inter Allied meeting prior to Blockade 1948
Soviets block all Western Allied passage ways to Berlin June 1948
Brits react by separating Soviets from their sector
Allied Air routes during Airlift:
Berlin Airlift
Marshall Plan deliveries: Imports of US coal at a Danish port/ US jeeps undocked in Hamburg
C hildren play on a street in Marseilles, France, as new housing rises in the background
Fiat motors works in Italy began producing cars with machines and steel donated through the Marshall Plan
Viennese girl advertising for the Marshall Plan
Products made in blockaded Berlin with Marshall Plan Aid
Marshall Plan flour guaranteed 2/3 of daily bread in the Western zones of Germany
Brandenburg Gate: East-West East-West Divide Berliners attending different political ideological rallies in the respective Allied sectors
WAR of WORDS WORDS and IDEAS IDEAS: Radio in the the American American Sector Sector RIAS (RIAS)
WAR of WORDS and IDEAS - Sender Freies Berlin (SFB) Confiscated radio station from Soviets Soviets in British sector The British stopped Soviet propaganda propaganda in Western sector
Truman, Bevin and Bideau signing NATO agreement – April 1949
Blockade ends ends – Western Allies win: win: May 1949
Declaration of the Federal Republic of Germany – May 1949 Konrad Adenauer as Chancellor
Declaration of the German Democratic Republic – Oct 1949 Walter Ulbricht as Communist Party Chief
Divided Post-War Continent Continent – NATOWarsaw NATO-Warsaw Pact