Cold War Germany and Europe 1948-1952
47 Questions
0 Views

Choose a study mode

Play Quiz
Study Flashcards
Spaced Repetition
Chat to Lesson

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

What was one reason the USSR opposed the creation of a West German state?

  • They wanted control over the entire German territory. (correct)
  • The industrialized areas were primarily in the eastern zone.
  • The West had already established a communist government.
  • They were concerned about a potential revival of German militarism. (correct)

How did the Western powers respond to the Soviet blockade of Berlin?

  • They initiated an airlift to supply West Berlin. (correct)
  • They launched a ground invasion into East Berlin.
  • They agreed to negotiate and remove troops.
  • They surrendered and allowed East Germany to take over.

What event marked the beginning of West Germany's establishment?

  • The signing of the Potsdam Agreement.
  • The approval of the Democratic Federal Constitution. (correct)
  • The introduction of the Deutschmark.
  • The failure of the first London Conference.

What was the key outcome of the second London Conference in June 1948?

<p>Creation of a West German Democratic Federal Constitution. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why did the Soviets initiate the blockade of Berlin in 1948?

<p>To cut off supplies and force the West to abandon their control. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the currency introduced in West Germany in June 1948?

<p>Deutschmark (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What strategy did the Western allies initially consider in response to the Berlin Blockade?

<p>Diplomatic negotiations with the Soviets. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What role did Walter Ulbricht play during the Berlin Blockade?

<p>Leader of the SED trying to gain support for East Germany. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the main reason Western Allies rejected the suggestion of the Ostmark as the sole currency in Berlin?

<p>The Soviets would have disproportionate representation in the new bank. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which event signaled the beginning of the split between the Federal Republic of Germany and the German Democratic Republic?

<p>The formation of the GDR in October 1949. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What outcome did the Security Council representatives achieve on May 4th?

<p>A resolution to lift the Berlin blockade. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the occupation statute's purpose in the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG)?

<p>To establish a body for Western Allies' interests. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following was a key feature of the German Democratic Republic (GDR) after its formation?

<p>It was governed by a single party without real competition. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was Konrad Adenauer's role in the Federal Republic of Germany?

<p>First Chancellor of the FRG. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was one of Stalin's concerns regarding the establishment of a separate East German state?

<p>It would solidify the division of Germany permanently. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What significant event occurred in 1961 relating to Berlin?

<p>The establishment of the Berlin Wall. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was one major reason for the split between the USSR and Yugoslavia in 1948?

<p>Stalin's disapproval of Tito's independent role (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which pact was signed in 1954 between Yugoslavia, Turkey, and Greece?

<p>Balcan Mutual Defense Pact (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was Stalin's reaction to Tito's Balkan Federation proposal in 1947-1948?

<p>Vetoed the idea fearing loss of power (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How did Yugoslavia's economy differ from the USSR during the 1950s?

<p>Workers managed factories and controlled exports. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was one method used by the USSR to isolate Yugoslavia after their split?

<p>Called for trade embargos and assassination attempts (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was one of the aims of NATO regarding Yugoslavia after the split?

<p>To weaken the USSR's control over the Eastern Bloc (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary reason for Stalin to label Yugoslavia as 'political/ideological criminals'?

<p>They took steps towards political independence (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which form of foreign support did Tito seek after breaking away from the USSR?

<p>Financial and military assistance from the West (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was one of the main goals of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC)?

<p>To regulate coal and steel industries in Europe (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was Britain’s primary concern regarding European integration during the early 1950s?

<p>Desire to maintain strong ties with the US and Commonwealth (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which organization was formed to promote ideological unity among communist parties in Europe?

<p>COMINFORM (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was a main task of COMECON when it was created?

<p>To integrate the economies of the satellite states (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How did the Western powers perceive the Soviet-led peace movement initiated by COMINFORM?

<p>It was a strategy to undermine NATO support (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What significant economic policy was implemented in Eastern Bloc countries after the establishment of COMECON?

<p>Implementation of five-year plans (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary role of the bilateral treaties established between the USSR and Eastern Bloc states?

<p>To create mutual defense agreements and ban NATO membership (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was one of the concerns of France regarding the integration of Western Europe?

<p>An increase in German economic power (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why was Britain resistant to the Schuman Plan for the ECSC?

<p>It wanted to maintain control over its economic policies (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was a notable aspect of the Eastern Bloc's stance on cultural policies?

<p>Adoption of identical policies as directed by the USSR (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary reason for signing the Brussels Pact?

<p>To establish a military alliance against the USSR (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What event prompted the US to support the formation of NATO?

<p>The Prague Coup (A), The Berlin Blockade (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How did the Korean War impact perceptions of Soviet intentions in Western Europe?

<p>It reinforced fears of Soviet expansionism. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was a key feature of the proposed European Defense Community (EDC)?

<p>It proposed a European army under supranational control. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary concern of Western European nations regarding West Germany's rearmament?

<p>They feared it would lead to another world war. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What compromise was reached regarding the European Army proposed in the Pleven Plan?

<p>The army would be controlled by NATO, with German units supervised. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What led to increased military spending among NATO states from 1949 to 1951?

<p>The pressure from the Soviet Union's atomic capabilities. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was a major consequence of high military spending during the rearmament period?

<p>Inflation and balance of payment issues. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was Stalin's response to the Western European rearmament efforts?

<p>He proposed a neutral, unified Germany. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What limit did the US Congress impose on President Truman's authority regarding NATO?

<p>He could only declare war with Congress's consent. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What significant military development by the USSR took place in August 1949?

<p>The testing of their first atomic bomb. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why was the Social Democratic Party critical of Adenauer's intentions regarding the EDC?

<p>They felt it would further divide Germany. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was one of the goals of the Organization for European Economic Cooperation (OEEC) during the rearmament period?

<p>To prevent an economic crisis while supporting rearmament. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Berlin Blockade

The Soviet Union's attempt to isolate West Berlin from the Western Allies by blocking land and water access.

Ostmark

The currency used in the Soviet-controlled or East German zone.

Deutschmark

The currency introduced in West Germany and West Berlin.

Federal Republic of Germany (FRG)

The West German state formed in response to the Cold War division.

Signup and view all the flashcards

German Democratic Republic (GDR)

The East German state under Soviet influence.

Signup and view all the flashcards

End of Berlin Blockade

The Soviet Union lifted the blockade in 1949, due to its failed strategy and the winter conditions.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Division of Germany

The separation of Germany after World War II into East and West, based on differing political ideologies.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Berlin Wall

A wall constructed in 1961 to separate West and East Berlin.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Creation of FRG and GDR

The formation of West Germany (FRG) and East Germany (GDR) emerged from Cold War tensions and the failure of the London Conference.

Signup and view all the flashcards

London Conference (1947)

A failed attempt by the Allied powers to resolve Germany's post-war division, ultimately leading to deeper division and the creation of a Western German state.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Currency reform (West Germany)

Implementation of the Deutschmark in West Germany in 1948 to support a functioning economy.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Western response to the blockade

The Allied response to the Soviet blockade of West Berlin, notably the Berlin Airlift, to maintain supplies.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Moscow Talks (1948)

Negotiations between the Western Allies and the Soviet Union aimed at resolving the Berlin Blockade, but ultimately unsuccessful.

Signup and view all the flashcards

UN's Role

The UN failed to effectively resolve the Berlin Blockade conflict during the period of 1948.

Signup and view all the flashcards

International Ruhr Authority

Created by the Western Allies to control industrial production and trade in the Ruhr region of Germany after World War II.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Western European Rearmament 1948-1952

The strengthening of Western European military power in response to perceived Soviet threats.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Brussels Pact

A defensive alliance formed in 1948 by Belgium, Britain, France, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands, preceding NATO.

Signup and view all the flashcards

NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization)

A military alliance formed in 1949 between the US and several Western European countries.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Soviet Atomic Bomb Test (1949)

USSR's detonation of an atomic bomb, heightening Western anxieties.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Korean War

Conflict that heightened concerns about Soviet expansion and Soviet influence on North Korea.

Signup and view all the flashcards

European Defense Community (EDC)

Proposed European army under supranational control, primarily to bolster West Germany's defenses.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Spofford Compromise

A compromise to control German rearmament within a NATO integrated force.

Signup and view all the flashcards

West German Rearmament

The process of rebuilding West Germany's military force.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Guns and Butter

Simultaneously pursuing economic development alongside military advancement.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Stalin's Response

USSR's initiatives to counter the threat of NATO and West German rearmament – offering neutral unified Germany.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Marshall Plan Funds

Diversion of funds for military preparedness.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Limited Western European Integration

Slow development of integration out of fear of West Germany's dominance.

Signup and view all the flashcards

FRG

Formal name for West Germany.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Occupation Statute

Set of rules governing the status of West Germany.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Adenauer

West German Chancellor who pushed for West Germany's rearmament and independence.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Economic and Political Costs

Consequences of increased military spending, including inflation and political instability.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Schuman Plan

A proposal by French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman in 1950 to create the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), aimed at unifying European economies and preventing future wars.

Signup and view all the flashcards

ECSC (European Coal and Steel Community)

A supranational organization created in 1952 that pooled the production of coal and steel under a single authority, aiming to prevent future wars and boost Western European economies.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Why did France support the ECSC?

France saw the ECSC as a way to limit Germany's power by integrating its industrial resources into a broader European framework, while also strengthening defenses against the Soviet Union.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Why did Britain refuse to join the ECSC?

Britain prioritized maintaining its independent industrial control and its strong ties to the United States and British Commonwealth over full integration into a European community.

Signup and view all the flashcards

COMINFORM (Communist Information Bureau)

An organization formed in 1947 by the Soviet Union to promote ideological unity among communist parties in Europe, especially in the Eastern Bloc.

Signup and view all the flashcards

What was the main task of COMINFORM?

COMINFORM enforced Soviet-controlled policies, aimed at solidifying control over the Eastern Bloc and combating political dissent like 'Titoism'.

Signup and view all the flashcards

World Committee for the Partisans for Peace

A Soviet-backed organization formed in 1949 to mobilize a peace movement, aiming to undermine NATO by spreading fears of WWIII among Western citizens.

Signup and view all the flashcards

COMECON (Council for Mutual Economic Assistance)

An economic organization established by the Soviet Union in 1949 as a response to the Marshall Plan, aiming to integrate the economies of the Eastern Bloc.

Signup and view all the flashcards

How did the USSR control Eastern Europe?

The USSR relied on bilateral treaties and agreements with Eastern Bloc countries, demanding mutual defense, ban on joining NATO, and recognizing Soviet influence in internal affairs.

Signup and view all the flashcards

What kind of agreements did the USSR make with satellite states?

The USSR secured agreements on mutual defense, banning satellite states from joining NATO, and recognizing Soviet influence on their internal affairs, ensuring its control over the Eastern Bloc.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Stalin's Cult of Personality

An ideology promoting Stalin as a great leader, savior of the USSR, and liberator of the Eastern Bloc. This ideology played a key role in unifying the Eastern Bloc under Soviet control, particularly after World War II.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Yugoslav-Soviet Split

A break between Yugoslavia and the USSR in 1949 due to Stalin's disapproval of Tito's independent policies and his attempt to form a Balkan Federation, fearing it would weaken Soviet control.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Why did Stalin fear Tito's Balkan Federation?

Stalin saw Tito's attempt to form a Balkan Federation as a threat to his power and control over the region. He feared it would undermine Soviet influence and potentially provoke the US intervention.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Tito's Independence from the USSR

After Stalin's veto on Yugoslav troops in Albania and his insistence on a smaller federation, Tito declared Yugoslavia's independence from the USSR, despite facing pressure and threats from Stalin.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Stalin's Response to Yugoslav Independence

Stalin accused Yugoslavia of being 'political/ideological criminals' and pressured the Eastern Bloc to isolate Yugoslavia. The USSR attempted to assassinate Tito and implement trade embargos to punish his defiance.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Tito's Alliance with the West

Facing isolation and threats from the USSR, Tito sought assistance from the West. Yugoslavia stopped supporting Greek communist rebels and received aid from Britain and the US.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Yugoslavia's Distancing from the USSR

Yugoslavia distanced itself ideologically from the USSR by adopting a less rigid form of communism, allowing workers to manage factories, free prices, and limited governmental control on exports.

Signup and view all the flashcards

NATO's Strategy to Weaken Soviet Control

After Yugoslavia's break from the USSR, NATO sought to weaken Soviet control in Eastern Europe. This included providing aid to Yugoslavia, attempting to remove pro-Soviet leaders in Albania, raising human rights violations at the UN, and supporting Eastern European refugees.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Study Notes

Chapter 3: The Impact of Cold War Tensions of Germany and Europe 1948-1952

  • Division of Germany – London Conference (Nov. 1947): The Big 4 (US, USSR, UK, and others) met to solve the German problem. The US supported European integration, while the USSR wanted to avoid a split and rallied support with a socialist party. The conference ended with accusations against the US/UK for violating Potsdam agreement and refusing fair reparations. Western powers aimed to create a West German state.

The Decision to Create a West German State

  • The London Conference failure (1947) solidified the idea of a West German state. France was wary of Germany's potential to invade, leading to US troop positioning in Europe. International control was maintained through the Ruhr Authority and an occupation statute, which gave the West control over trade, foreign relations, and the economy. A Western German state was permitted its own democratic constitution in June, 1948. A new currency/mark (Deutschmark) was introduced June 20th, 1948.

The Soviet Response – The Berlin Blockade

  • The Soviets aimed to force Western allies out of West Berlin by cutting off rail and road access. This was done in March 1948, due to the perceived devaluation of the German mark in relation to the Reichsmark. This move was an attempt to influence or undermine West German establishment.

Western Response

  • The West responded by initially unsure how to deal with the blockade. A massive airlift of supplies to West Berlin followed (July 1948) to counteract the Soviet blockade. Supplies were delivered in winter at the rate of 5,000 tons daily.

Security Council's Role

  • The Security Council proposed a committee of members to end the blockade. The Soviets rejected simultaneous implementation with the Ostmark- the West also rejected. A financial committee suggested the Ostmark as sole currency, but the West rejected the Soviet proposal. The Deutschmark became the sole currency of West Germany in March 1949.

End of the Blockade

  • Stalin's plan to force the blockade failed as the Soviets began to lose ground. In January 1949, a concession was reached and the blockade was lift on May 4th, 1949. A subsequent meeting of foreign ministers took place but led to no agreement.

The Emergence of the 2 German States

  • Following the Berlin blockade, the Western Allies championed the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG). Meanwhile, the East formed the German Democratic Republic (GDR), with Berlin remaining under four-power control.

Studying That Suits You

Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

Quiz Team

Related Documents

The Impact of Cold War Tensions on Germany and Europe (1948-1952) PDF

Description

Explore the significant events surrounding the division of Germany during the Cold War, particularly the impact of the London Conference of 1947 and the establishment of West Germany. Understand the geopolitical tensions between the US and USSR and how this shaped post-war Europe. This quiz covers the critical decisions and events that influenced European integration and stability during this era.

More Like This

Use Quizgecko on...
Browser
Open
Browser
Browser