These revision notes for the German Democratic Republic topic of the Edexcel course are perfect for making cue cards following the structure. They are well completed summaries from the "Communist States in the 20th Century" textbook.
Topic 1: Establishing and consolidating communist rule in the GDR, c1949–61
- GDR based on communist ideology and linked to USSR/ East Europe
- FRG based on capitalist ideology and allied with the West
- Berlin was equally divided between the superpowers
- Many believed that Germany’s division was temporary/ anticipated reunification
- GDR’s constitution drawn up to be similar to the FRG in case of reunification
- Emigration was a key threat to the GDR- loss of skilled workers (economic and political
issue)
- 1950s- period when GDR was devoted to establishing socialism- implementing measures
in accordance with Stalin’s beliefs: expansion of heavy industry and a class struggle
- By 1950s living standards were the highest in the Eastern bloc
- Consolidation of communist rule depended on the Stasi- led to revolt in 1953 and then
more hardline policies
- The Berlin Wall (1961-89) was important to the development of the GDR- could undertake
economic planning with a labour supply and less influence from the West
WHY DID EVENTS IN THE YEARS 1945 TO 1949 LEAD TO THE DIVISION OF
GERMANY?
- Germany had the potential to become economically strong and was in a strategic position
- FRG and GDR formed in 1949.
- Explanations of post-war division: belief that the FRG was set up to prevent Stalin’s
aim of establishing Communist control over the whole of Germany, Stalin only planned for a
communist East Germany so the FRG was a necessary response to counter Stalin’s aims for
a separate communist German state.
- Debate whether Stalin had any clear policy towards Germany’s future at all and looking
at the Western Allies’ role in pursuing the rapid creation of an Allied West Germany
(economic motives)
- Germany itself can also be seen as responsible for its division. Some Germans in the
Western zones supported rapid integration with the West. In the GDR, communists wanted
to cooperate with the USSR to build a very different society from the Nazi state.
The Soviet zone
- February 1945, the Western powers (USA, Britain and USSR) met at Yalta
- Decided that at the end of WW2, USA, Britain and USSR would each be allocated an
occupation zone of Germany and a sector of Berlin.
- East - USSR zone - Berlin was also in their sector, this made it surrounded by the Soviet
Occupation Zone + Western allies would only have access by passing through the Sov zone-
air corridors / railway
- The three powers met after Germany’s surrender at Potsdam in July 1945 - decided that
each power would be able to take reparations from its zone of occupation as compensation
for war damage
-Ruthless extraction from Stalin - regarded as justified for Soviet losses - 25 mil lives +
destruction of Sov territory
- These decisions were a source of tension between West + USSR (Access to Western
Sector + USSR reparations - West viewed this as detrimental to the zone’s economic and
political development.)
, The creation of the Socialist Unity Party (SED)
- 1945, group of German communists led by Walter Ulbricht arrived in Berlin
- They needed to ensure the KPD controlled as many key local administrative positions as
possible and to encourage popular support for the party
- However, it was clear the SPD had far more popular support than the KPD- unlikely that a
political party regarded by Germans as a tool of the Soviets would be appealing
- Due to the intense anti-Soviet propaganda of the Nazi government, and the Soviet Army’s
looting and raping of German women during the end of WW2
- 1946, KPD members and SPD members merged to form the Socialist Unity Party of
Germany (SED)- a result of Soviet pressure on the SPD to disband and a general desire to
avoid having two left-wing parties competing for votes
- There was a purge of SED members who had been former politicians and supporters of the
pre-Second World War SPD
- 1948, the SED officially stated its commitment to Marxist-Leninist principles
Growing divisions among the victor powers
- 1945 Potsdam Conference- marked the beginning of tensions: Truman as the new
president, the USSR’s demand for reparations (hamper Germany’s recovery and lead to
communism), location of Germany’s borders with Poland
- The zones had contrasting economic policies from 1947- inevitable that the zones would
grow further apart as relations deteriorated (Cold War )
● Bizonia and the Truman Doctrine
- Jan 1947, US and Britain merged their zones (bizonia)
- Stalin regarded this as the first deliberate step towards the creation of an independent,
capitalist West German state. He argued that the measures to develop economic unity
between zones should have been discussed beforehand with both the USSR and France.
- March 1947- Truman’s policy of containment (the Truman Doctrine) against communism
- USA announced significant amounts of financial aid for war-damaged Europe (Marshall
Plan) to prevent spread of communism.
- 1948- introduction of a new currency (Deutschmark)- seen as essential to successfully
boost trade, increase industrial production and eradicate the extensive black market
- Political consequences- USSR saw currency as an act of aggression/ deliberate
undermining of the Soviet zone
● The Berlin Airlift
- Berlin Blockade (1948) as a response to currency reform- pressure on Western presence in
Berlin
- Stalin intended to impose a total blockade of West Berlin to coerce the West into
surrendering their sectors, creating a united Berlin in the Soviet zone.
- USSR severed all rail, road and canal links from West Berlin to the Western zones.
- The Western allies were faced with the problem of how to maintain access to West
Berlin and supply food, fuel and medical supplies to its population of two million.
- Berlin Airlift began in June- international relations became more strained
- Stalin eventually called off the blockade after 11 months
● Impact of the airlift and the formation of the Federal Republic of Germany
(FRG) - Anas
- Displayed the West’s commitment to protecting the population and maintaining their military
presence in West Berlin
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