Post-WWII Agreements: The Division of Germany and Berlin’s Cold War Tensions

1. Eastern Europe and Germany Divided

2. Germany and Berlin: Agreements After WWII

3. Review: Germany Divided • Divided Amongst the Victorious Allies • (4 sections) • Berlin Divided Amongst Allies As well • 4 sections as well

5. Tensions Rise between Allies • By 1948, ideological division of Europe (Physically represented by ____ ______) • Great Britain and US wanted Germany Economy Revived (helping with Europe’s economy) through industrial production, monetary reform and new gov’t • France and Russia wanted massive reparations

6. Tensions con’t • It was accepted that reunification would be impossible, yet the West could influence its own sectors

7. Europe Divided • West Germany- Industrialized • East Germany – Agricultural • Iron Curtain (Churchill’s Speech)

9. Berlin

10. During and Immediately after WWII • Bombed day and night and attacked during the final battle in Europe • Entire blocks of the city were destroyed • Food perpetually in short supply • Inflation, Black Market (Cigarettes) Barter Economy

11. Allied Agreements • The four powers agreed that there would be access to Berlin through specific RR, roads, air ways and canals • West needs to supply West Berlin • Lasts for three years…

12. Gov’t? • Assembly created • Yet there were fear tactics (blackmail, intimidation, kidnapping) throughout all Berlin by Communist Agents

13. Tensions Increase – West Initiated • 1948, June – Constituent Assembly authorized in W Germany • US and GB have a new German currency formed (secretly)- Announced June 18th • Want to integrate West Germany into Western Europe (w/o USSR consent) • New currency would kill black market profits and help to end inflation

14. Berlin Currency? • Control of Money = Power • Soviets create their own currency in response • June 22nd – East only accepted Currency • Western currency forbidden in all of Berlin • West stamps their currency with a B

15. Berlin and Currency • While supplying West Berlin, the Western currency was also distributed.

16. Berlin • Immediate blockade around Berlin • Electricity to W Berlin (from E) was cut off to factories and offices

17. Berlin Cut Off From West • 2.3 Million Berlin Citizens (west) were cut off from supplies • Only 36 days of food left • Remember: Agreements between the 4 powers stated that the West would supply its sectors • Only enough electricity for 4 hours a day

18. Retaliation of West • If Russia would cut off Berlin, the West refused shipments to East Germany • Remember: • West Germany – Industrial • East Germany – Agricultural • No longer would the West ship Coal and Steel • Importance??

19. Now what? • Berlin NEEDED supplies or they would starve • Exercise Restraint • Air lift? • OR • Charge In • Fire if fired upon!

20. Air Lift? • It was proposed in Germany, but not on the mass scale that would be needed for the Survival of Berlin • It was authorized without Washington’s consent

21. Specifications? • Estimated only 500 tons per day • West Berlin was supplied 12,000 tons per day • June 26th • 80 Planes, 2X a day (3 tons/plane) • US added 50 more planes (carrying 9 tons each)

22. Air Lift • W Berlin built a new airport • Supplies: Coal, flour, Petrol, Potatoes and Med Supplies • By December 1948 – 4500 tons/day • By Spring 1949 – 8000 tons/day • Easter record 13000 tons (1398 flights)

23. Berlin – Internally • No restrictions within the city • Working on the other side • W went to E because the E had heat and electricity • People registered for food rations with Soviets • 1/10 got Coal and food from the East

24. Berlin Air Lift

25. Political Arena • To lose Berlin to the Russians would be a “loss of Western Europe” • Western Berlin is symbolic as the last democratic outpost inside of Communist Germany! • West had to confront communism at agreed political points in order to contain it, one being Berlin!

26. True Political Motives • It was a test to see how far the US could push the Soviets. • It was a moral battle • If the US launched an attack, the US would be the Aggressor • If the USSR attacked planes carrying supplies to Berlin, USSR would be the aggressor

27. POV • West seized upon propaganda opportunity • Western Technological superiority • “Us versus Them” polarization • Soviet are now the New Enemy! • West also in Diplomatic flurry • Prevent war! But not abandon Berlin! • Soviets were willing to starve over 2 million people!

28. Outcomes? • May 1949- Both the US and Soviets drop their blockades… • August 1949 – Russia detonates their first Atomic Bomb…

29. Berlin Wall

30. New Soviet Leadership • Stalin dies 1953 • Brain hemorrhage? • Nikita Khrushchev takes power 1955 • Humble origins, • Spontaneous, Shrewd, unpredictable • “Human face on socialism”

31. Khrushchev and Berlin • Nov 1958 – Berlin would be Free of the West • German Democratic Republic (GDR) formed (East Germany)

32. Russia & Germany • A unified Germany Scared Russia • Would potentially be backed by Nuclear US • Become aggressor again?! • Germany and Poland Uniting • Eliminating the buffer zone!

33. Fleeing East Germany • East Germans were fleeing to W in thousands • 900 mile boundary between E and W • With watchtowers, barbed wire, minefields and armed patrols

34. Berlin and Eastern Refugees • Free movement between the sectors in Berlin • Refugees • Could settle in Western Berlin • Or go to refugee points to be flown to W Germany • By 1961 – 2.8 Million refugees fled to West Germany

35. Refugee Profile • More than 50% were under 25 • 75% were under 45 • Skilled Laborers • Industrial Workers, farm Laborers, scientists, doctors, teachers • Problems?????

36. Russian POV • Socialist World Was failing! • Severe Labor shortage • Skilled laborers hard to replace • Asked remaining laborers for even more sacrifice! • Stricter Economic Discipline • 1957 – illegal to flee to West (prison sentence)

37. Kennedy meets Khrushchev June ‘60 • Khrushchev forceful with Kennedy • Proposed a peace treaty • East Germany recognized as country • Berlin would remain neutral • Only with approval of East Germany could West access Berlin • Any violation of the East German territory would mean an assault on Russia

38. Kennedy Shaken • “We seek peace, but we will not surrender.” • US will protect West Berlin

39. Berlin Wall formed… • August 1961 • Barbed wire barricades set up in the middle of the night • The border was closed. • Soviet tanks positioned to deter protesters • Became 5-6 feet high (12 feet at peak) • Concrete, topped with barbed wire and gun posts • Literally divided city in half—Impassable!

40. Western Relief • Held breath when Washington heard of the Wall… • BUT since the Russians were only walling off Berlin—and not attacking—Washington and the West did not have to respond aggressively….

45. The Wall • 7 access points • Germans could travel West and East with special permits • 1 Access point for Westerners • Checkpoint Charlie • Infamous “East Meets West” position

47. Crisis at the Wall • Passports were unnecessary for diplomats in Germany. • American stopped, refused to show passport (Checkpoint Charlie). • Armed US soldiers accompanied the American diplomat into East Berlin, 10 US tanks line up. • From then on, pointless US jeeps, with armed soldiers would drive across the border

48. Soviet Response • Soviet’s outraged by this • Oct 27th • 33 Soviet tanks at Checkpoint Charlie • 16 hour standoff • First time US and Soviet Tanks faced each other!