Germany lay divided not because the occupiers feared Germany itself, but because they feared each other in combination with Germany (W.R.Smyser)

Potsdam conference, July 1945 German surrender by the authority of the German high command not the government GB and US change in leadership German dismemberment and allied sovereignty; military governors (Berlin declaration) Issues: Reparation, Polish border (Oder- Neisse) US-Soviet tradeoff on this issue

Decisions reached 1.Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) 2.Single economic unit with “equitable distribution” of essential goods, administration under respective allied control (Reparations would come from each zone, not the whole) 3.Abandon Morgenthau plan, promotion of peaceful industrial activity 4.Dismemberment not a permanent solution 5.Deportation of ethnic Germans from CEE 6.Long-term goal of the formation of a German government to conclude a peace treaty with

Issues left open No decision on German borders No permanent form of government Language was vague France did not attend

Division 4 occupational zones -GB north-west (97000 sq km, 22 mil. Pop) -US south (ca sq km, 17 mil. Pop) -France south west (40000 sq km, 5 mil pop), zone taken from GB and US -USSR north-east ( sq km, 17 mil Pop) -Berlin divided into 4 sectors

Great Britain –Exhausted from the war –Change of government during Potsdam conference –Aims: lighten occupational responsibilities, keeps the US in Europe, keep Germany politically and militarily weak, but Bevin recognized European recovery needed German recovery

United States of America Change in leadership Open markets, avoid US isolationism United German, strong economic recovery Not concerned with reparations Aims: de-militarization, de-nazification, de- cartelization, dismemberment a US initiative Counter the “red tide” Dealing from a liberal-democratic position, with a strong commitment to humanitarian causes

Soviet Union Reparations Access to the Ruhrvalley Security of boarder (Poland, not Germany key to territorial security) Expansion of sphere of influence Acceptance as a world power Weak, but unified Germany that would be friendly to the Soviet Union

France Not an equal deciding factor due to its weak performance during the war Aims: divided and weak Germany Would have liked reparations, esp. access to the Saarland and the Ruhr Security

Rhetoric posturing, 1946 February 9 – Stalin’s election speech, revokes Leninist view’s of capitalist encirclement March 5 – Churchill, replies in Fulton, Missouri, - “Iron Curtain -“fraternal association of the English-speaking people” September 6 – Willam F. Byrnes, Secretary of State (US) speech in Stuttgart, Germany –Restatement of US policy on Germany –Economic foccus –US is here to stay Truman Doctrine 1947

Humanitarian crisis Refugees Winter of 1946/47 diets at starvation level Soviet zone – medieval rape and plunder

Economic aims Western allies Bizonia( economic merger of US + GB zone) January 1, 1947 Clay stops reparation from western zones Marshall Plan, June July 21, France willing to join integration of Western zones Currency reform, June – Deutsch Mark Soviet Union Four-power control over the Ruhrvalley Fulfillment of reparations Soviets had stopped all food deliveries into western zones Separate currency reform – East Mark (Value 7:1) Rejection of the Marshall Plan Crisis in Czechoslovakia

Political aims By late 1947 western allies are looking at a West- German integrated political structure with a federal government (London conference) Stalin still trying for a unified Germany, with four power control. He does not like a federal structure, but prefers centralized government Municipal government tries to function in Berlin, but ideological differences between east and west become more apparent In 1948 Soviets start tightening access to Berlin

1948 Berlin Blockade Showdown June 17 - General Sokolovsky demands info re. London conference, subsequently walks out of the Kommandature (ACC) June 18 -western allies announce currency reform for the western zones, including W. Berlin Soviet currency reform June 24 –all surface traffic to Berlin stopped, a blockade is in effect counter blockade June 26 –western powers start airlifts in W. Berlin

Operation Vittles, Plainfare 2.5 mil People in W. Berlin are supplied with all essentials (food and coal) Airlift commence with 2000 tons a day, increased to 3100 tons by end of August Disruptions of municipal election in Berlin, result a separate city government for western and eastern sector, Ernst Reuter (SPD) major of W. Berlin Dec tons, Berlin can be supported indefinitely January 1949 counter blockade felt by Soviets May 12, 1949 blockade lifted, Stalin’s dipl. defeat

Military cooperation March 1947 Dunkirk Treaty (GB and France) Brussels Treaty, inclusive of the Benelux counties, those two treaties formed under the guise of German treat, but meant to contain communist (soviet) expansion April 4, 1949 North Atlantic Treaty Org. (NAT0) –Connect the US with Europe –Ensure Germany to remain politically, militarily weak –Contain the Soviet Union