HI 224 Raffael Scheck Colby College (5)

Family Recollections

My Grandparents and Parents n Gustav Scheck ( )Scheck n Ernestine Nitschke-Scheck ( ) n Florian Scheck (born 1936)Scheck n August Wache ( ) n Klara Plessow-Wache ( ) n Dora Zander-Wache (born 1912) n Monika Scheck-Wache (born 1935)

The Hour Zero

Living in the RuinsRuins n Famines n 12 million refugees from the East n Denazification; Nürnberg Trials DenazificationNürnberg n Allied considerations Allied

The Partition of Germany

Against Partition: The Potsdam Conference (July-August 1945) Conference n The 5 D‘s: – Democratization – Demilitarization – Denazification – Decartelization Decartelization – Decentralization n Problems and Results: – Stalin decides on German east before the conference – Deportation of 12 million Germans sanctioned – No peace treaty; no German government – Tenuous agreement for common administration

The Beginning of the Cold War n Western suspicions of Soviet designs (Greek Civil War, 1947) n Growing cooperation between the western zones („Bizonia,“ 1947; „Trizonia,“ 1948)cooperation Bizonia n Introduction of the D-mark in the western zones, 1948 n The Berlin Blockade, Berlin Blockade,

The Federal Republic of Germany n Democratic constitution (Grundgesetz), October 1949constitution n Weak president but strong chancellor n Capital: Bonn n Rapid economic recovery with the help of the Marshall PlanMarshall

The German Democratic Republic n Forced unification of SPD and KPD (SED)SED n Sham elections 1949elections n SED as Soviet style „Unity Party“ SED n Capital: East Berlin n Slow economic recovery n Uprising in June 1953 Uprising n Mass flight to the West until

Reflections on Divided Germany,

West Germany n Success and stability of democracy; rule of law n Prosperity, social welfare state; partnership of trade unions and employers‘ federations n Openness to the world n Downsides: large unemployment since the 1970s; environmental problems; terrorism; drugs; crime; malaise of wealth?

East Germany n Another repressive system, based not on the popularity of a dictator but on Soviet power; massive spying by secret police (Stasi); propaganda; careers monitored by the state propaganda n Scarcity; communist „welfare“ state Scarcitycommunistwelfarestate n Increasingly enclosed and parochial society n Environmental crisis - but unacknowledged n Bright sides? Almost no crime; no unemployment; progressive policies toward women (employment; daycare; abortion)

Dealing with the Nazi Past: East Germany n Initial openness to discussing the Holocaust; later: anti-Israel stance n Focus on communist resistance; guilt hidden behind „antifascist“ ideology, which works as an integration factor („as communists, we were all victims of Nazism“) n Official Communist brotherhood with the Soviet Union and its allies n Accusation against West Germany and the U.S. as capitalist (equals fascist) states and successors of Nazism

Dealing With the Nazi Past: West Germany n Distancing during the economic miracle (legends of „clean“ army; generalization of the military resistance; anti-communism) - except for historians n Payments to surviving German Jews; support for Israel (since 1950s) n Totalitarian theory: communism as Nazism‘s relative n Since 1970s: open and accusatory public discussion of the Nazi past. Widespread acceptance of guilt. Mandatory Holocaust education; civil service in countries that suffered from German aggression

The End It was a pleasure working with you!