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

**Chapter 3 -- The Impact of Cold War Tensions of Germany and Europe 1948-1952** 1. **Division of Germany -- Why and how were the FRG and GDR created?** **[Division of Germany -- London Conference (Nov. 1947):]** - (Nov 1947) Big 4 met in London to attempt a solution for Germany - US suppor...

**Chapter 3 -- The Impact of Cold War Tensions of Germany and Europe 1948-1952** 1. **Division of Germany -- Why and how were the FRG and GDR created?** **[Division of Germany -- London Conference (Nov. 1947):]** - (Nov 1947) Big 4 met in London to attempt a solution for Germany - US supported Western European integration - USSR wished to avoid the split -- industrialized area was in the west - Soviets tried to rally public opinion through Walter Ulbricht (SED -- socialist unity party) - Ulbricht was to organize a "German People's Congress for Unity and Just Peace" - 1/3 of the west were communists -- didn't really represent the people - Britain wouldn't allow them in to the country - London Conference ended with the USSR accusing Britain/US of violating the Potsdam Agreement and denying them a fair share of reparations - Western powers rejected USSR's proposal of a united government where Soviets could gain control - West looked to create a West German state **[The Decision to Create a West German State:]** - Failure of London Conference (1947) strengthened the idea of a West German State - 2^nd^ London Conference in June, 1948- Britain, France, USA, Belgium, Netherlands and Luxemburg met - France didn't love idea of a revival of Germany with potential to invade -- US responded by keeping troops stationed in Western Europe to maintain peace - Also, Britain and US would tightly control the government - International Ruhr Authority (production would be controlled by the West and Occupation Statute -- west had power over trade, foreign relations, economy) - (June 7^th^ 1948) Western Germany was allowed to create a Democratic Federal Constitution **Currency Reform:** - (June 20^th^) West Germany's currency -- Deutschmark or German Mark - 4 days later Soviet zone created Ostmark or East Mark **[The Soviet Response -- The Berlin Blockade:]** - Soviets believed that they could force the Western allies to abandon idea for West Germany by cutting off rail/road links to West Berlin - (March 1948) Soviets restricted movement between West Berlin and West Germany -- argued it was because the German Mark devalued the Reichsmark - All roads/railroads were blocked **Western Response:** - Initially confuse on how to deal with the Blockade -- didn't want to start a class between troops - Airlift would follow routes that USSR had granted them in 1945 - US placed 60 long-range bombers in Britain as intimidation - (July 1948) West aircraft were flying 2,000 tons of supplies into West Berlin daily (winter -- 5,000 tons) **The Moscow Talks:** - The 3 Western Allies met with the USSR on Aug. 2 - Tried to reach an agreement with road/rails to West Berlin - Stalin saw this as a way to get what he wanted and rejected **Failure of the UN:** - (June 28) UN Sec. General Trygve Lie, suggested Article 99 of the UN Charter might be applied to Berlin Crisis -- "Maintenance of international peace and security" Security Council made a mediating committee with S.C. members -- - Proposed the immediate end of blockade - Followed by a meeting of the 4 military governors to introduce the Ostmark into all of Berlin - Soviets rejected -- wanted it done at same time - Western Allies rejected -- didn't want Ostmark in West Berlin - December -- UN appointed a financial committee that suggested the Ostmark should be sole currency in Berlin and controlled by a new German Bank of Emission - Western Allies refused because Soviets would have 5 seats on an 8-man roster - (March 1949) Western Allies rejected Soviet and UN proposals and the Deutschmark became the sole currency of West Germany **End of the Blockade:** - (Jan 1949) Stalin realized his plan was failing - The winter (1948-1949) was mild and with effective deployment of supplies West Berlin was fin - Soviets weren't prepared to go to war over Berlin -- Stalin made a concession - He would make a lift on the blockade if another meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers - US Security Council representatives met and on May 4^th^ -- reached an agreement that would end blockade - (May 12^th^) Foreign Ministers met but didn't come to an agreement **[The Emergence of the 2 German States:]** - Western Allies -- Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) - Eastern - German Democratic Republic (GDR) - Berlin remained divided and under 4-power control **Federal Republic of Germany (FRG):** - Constitution was approved in the spring of 1949 and elections for the parliament (Bundestag) took place in August - Konrad Adenaur -- first FRG Chancellor - Occupation Statute: replaced military government zones with a High Commission (body charged with task of defending interests of Western Allies) **The German Democratic Republic (GDR):** - Soviets were reluctant to create a separate East German state (wanted a neutral or pro-soviet unified Germany) - Stalin feared an East German state would prevent unity and make the division final -- West Germany was industrial/East wasn't - (March 1949) Constitution was drafted by SED and approved by the People's Council - Looked like the West but was really a single party state where voters were given a preapproved list of candidates - Soviets delayed implementation hoping FRG would fall through - West Germans (only 5.7% voted for communist party) - (Oct.) GDR was formed -- Soviet Control Commission controlled politics **Berlin:** - Still divided - West Berliners weren't citizens - East Berlin was the capital of GDR - \(1961) Berlin Wall was created 2. **Western European Rearmament -- Why was Wester European military power strengthened 1948 -- 1952?** - Western/Eastern nations did not love the idea of West Germany becoming a state - Britain planed a defensive alliance to power anxiety The Brussels Pact: - Signed by Belgium, Britain, France, Luxemburg and the Netherlands (protect each other) - Treaty also contained clauses on cultural/social cooperation and a provision for creating a consultative council where pact states could discuss mutual issues of concerns - This pact with turn into NATO The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO): - Prague Coup and Berlin Blockade persuaded the US that a formal alliance was needed - (1948-1949) US gradually developed NATO (wanted to include West Germany) - Truman got Congress to agree because the treaty didn't oblige the US to go to war without the consent of Congress (Article 5) - France used (Article 3) to keep US close - NATO was signed on April 4, 1949 -- came into full force in August **[The Rearmament of the FRG:]** **Soviet Strength (1949-1950):** - Even with NATO Western nations felt threatened by the USSR and satellite states - (Aug 1949) USSR tested atomic bomb - Soviets were threatened by the formation of NATO and the FRG - USSR started to expand armed forces and military supplies - (Oct.) Chinese Communist Party (CCP) won and became ally of USSR **Limited Western European Integration:** - Western European integration developed slowly -- fear of FRG domination (USA limited their FRG) - US believed until FRG was fully integrated it was still possible for the USSR to persuade West Germany to unify and become a neutral state and eventually side with the USSR **Impact of the Korean War:** - North Korea invading South made the West question if Stalin pushed North Korea to attack - Worried Stalin would push west - Reinforced when East Germany's leader Ulbricht supported North Korea and recommended the same for Germany (Paramilitary police force of 60,000 gave substance to threats) **[The European Defense Community (EDC):]** - After Korean War and Ulbricht's statements -- rearmament of West Germany was essential in protecting borders of the West (France still eh about situation) - (Oct. 1950) French Prime Minister Rene Pleven proposed the European Defense Community (EDC or Pleven Plan) - European army under supranational control - European Minister of Defense responsible to a European Assembly which would be appointed - FRG would have battalions (800) while the rest had troop units of 10,000 **The Spofford Compromise:** - Pleven Plan focused on controlling German armament instead of military effectiveness - Allies weren't down with it - Compromise -- Charles Spofford (US NATO's Atlantic Council) -- European Army through NATO (integrated force) - Germany would have smaller units which would be supervised **Strains within NATO (Dec. 1950- June 1951):** - (Feb. 1951) Adenauer began to discuss with Western Allies for creating 12 divisions for NATO - Western powers started to normalize relations with FRG - Terminated Statute of War and replace the Occupation Statute - Some smaller nations/France weren't excited **West German Rearmament:** - Social Democratic Party attacked Adenauer's intention to join the EDC -- it would keep Germany divided - Adenauer responded by negotiating more independence and equality -- France not happy **Disagreements about Korea and China:** - European Allies were worried that the US would use atomic bombs when the PRC assisted North Korea -- Wanted the US to negotiate - Truman refused but said no atomic bombs would be used - Republican Party strengthened in Congress (aggressive stance with communist) - Truman was a democrat -- had to push rearmament to finish war so Republicans would lose steam **Franco-German Agreement on the EDC:** - (Oct. 1951) Negotiations on EDC started in Paris - Talks between High Commissioners and the West German Chancellor (Adenauer) about replacing occupation statue with a semi-independent state - France still didn't want West Germany to become a major military power -- vetoed German membership into NATO and wanted to restrict size of units in the EDC - (May 1952) General Treaty replaced the Occupation Statute -- struggle to have it ratified **[Financing West European Rearmament:]** - When Soviets had the atomic bomb -- Truman pushed rearmament - Hydrogen bomb - Tripled military spending - Marshall Plan funds were diverted for rearmament - \(1951) Stopped to focus on a direct military assistance program -- almost destabilized NATO **The Economic and Political Costs of Rearmament:** - NATO states increased spending from \$4.4 billion (1949) to \$8 billion (1951) - Expensive raw materials caused inflation and balance of payment problems - Cost of living increased - Higher taxes undermined political stability - Communists and conservative nationalists gained support **Guns and Butter:** - Organization for European Economic Cooperation (OEEC) worried about another economic crisis - Worked with NATO to ensure rearmament didn't kill economy - Called for 25% increase of production - Financing for rearmament and increased consumer goods -- "guns and butter" - Helped further economic and political integration **Stalin's Response to Rearmament:** - Attempt to counter the threat of NATO and German rearmament - Launched communist --led World Peace Movement (disarmament and world peace) - Offered FRG to join a neutral united Germany (1950-1952) put forward a series of initiatives to try to unify Germany- - Proposed free elections by a supervised commission - Germany would be neutral not join EDC or NATO - Wouldn't have to pay reparations - Allies and Adenauer rejected -- didn't want to fall to Soviet control 3. **The Consolidation of the Rival Blocs -- How did the polarization of Europe into two rival blocs accelerate during the years 1950-1952?** **[Western Economic Integration:]** 2 Key Factors (Michael Hogan): - Rebuild Western Europe in the image of the US (European political and economic union would create a United States of Europe - Integrated Europe would bring wealth and deter communism, boost trade, open markets for US exports, pull East Europe out of communism - France/Small European states saw integration as a key to keeping FRG in check while creating a defense from USSR - Britain refused to commit to full integration, wanted strong links to US and British Commonwealth - Britain wanted to use NATO as a means of rearming and aligning it with the Western powers -- no integration (France said not happening) **The European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC):** - (May 1950) France's Foreign Minister Robert Schuman announced the plan for the ECSC (Schuman Plan) - Would allow west to exploit Germany's resources for their own rearmament programs without allowing Germany to become a powerhouse - Adenauer from FRG was down with plan -- knew he needed integration to keep Soviets out - Everyone was on board except Britain (didn't want to lose control of industry) - \(1952) Regulated coal and steel industries in Europe- laid the foundations for economic and political integration - NATO/ECSC strengthened the Western Bloc **[The Consolidation of the Eastern Bloc (1948-1952):]** - Eastern Bloc states theoretically were independent but all adopted identical cultural, military, economic and social policies of the USSR **COMINFORM -- Communist Information Bureau (Sept.1947)** - Promoted ideological unity among communist parties in Europe - All Eastern Bloc communist parties joined (French/Italian) - Main Task -- Sovietization of Satellite States -- combat "Titoism" **Cominform and the Peace Movement:** - \(1949) Cominform was given the task to mobilize the Soviet backed peace movement - Stalin hoped peace movement would get Western citizens to not support NATO (fear of WWIII) or support FRG - World Committee for the Partisans for Peace (Soviet Bloc Countries) -- called for the banning of atomic bombs and the condemnation as war criminals of whichever government used it first in a conflict - West was suspicious -- called Stalin's push for peace bogus **COMECON (Council for Mutual Economic Assistance 1949):** - West saw it as a response to Marshall Plan - Main Task -- integrate the economies of the satellite states (only existed in name until 1954) - Economic integration didn't occur until 1959 -- agriculture was collectivized, centralized economies, 5 year plans were introduced **Soviet Control of Eastern Europe:** - Only effective ties strengthening the bloc were the networks of bilateral treaties of friendships (USSR/individual state) or (two states) **Agreements:** - Mutual defense agreement - Ban on joining NATO - Recognition of equality, sovereignty, and noninterference in internal affairs (except USSR) USSR achieved obedience through making leaders come to Moscow for instruction and Soviet ambassadors advising internal affairs in satellite states. Red Army garrisons were stationed throughout bloc and satellite state armies were integrated into one military under the Soviets **The Cult of Stalin:** - Helped unify the Eastern Bloc - Stalin was a great ruler and Savior of the USSR and liberator of the Eastern Bloc **[The Yugoslav-Soviet Split:]** - \(1949) Split between USSR/Yugoslavia -- Stalin was critical of Tito's attempts to play an independent role in the Balkans - (1947-1948) Tito was trying to form a Balkan Federation (Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, and Yugoslavia) -- Stalin feared this would weaken his power and manipulation but also provoke the US **The Break with Stalin:** - \(1948) Stalin vetoed Yugoslav troops in Albania and proposed a smaller federation of just Bulgaria and Yugoslavia - Tito would still have to consult with USSR on foreign policy -- Tito felt this would just lead to a Soviet take over - Stalin accused Yugoslavia of being political/ideological criminals -- pressured Eastern Bloc to support his decision to isolate Yugoslavia - \(1948) Yugoslavia was independent of the USSR- hoped communist party would overthrow Tito (Tito purged pro-Cominform suspects) - USSR tried to assassinated Tito and tried trade embargos **Tito and the West:** - Tito looked for help from the West -- stopped supporting Greek communist rebels and received aid from Britain/US - \(1954) Yugoslavia, Turkey, and Greece signed the Balkan Mutual Defense Pact - Distanced itself ideologically from USSR - (1950s) workers managed factories, prices weren't fixed, and businesses could export without government involvement but government still controlled banks **[Western Attempts to Destabilize the Soviet Bloc:]** - With Yugoslavia breaking away -- NATO looked to weaken USSR's control in the East - Britain/US gave assistance to Yugoslavia - Tried to remove Enver Hoxha from Albania's government - Filed Human rights abused to UN - Eastern European refugees were helped financially - Radio Free Europe: anti-Soviet propaganda in the east