Between June 1945 and November 1946 Germany was occupied by 4 powers The western zones tried to organise economic and political recovery while the Soviet zone had resources taken to the USSR For some time Stalin seemed willing to create a new democratic Germany with the Communists playing only a role Paris Conference April -July 1946 The USSR requested 10 billion dollars of reparations from Germany Byrnes argued for reparations to be paid once there was a trade surplus to cover cost of food and raw materials The offer to unify the US zone with the other 3 zones was accepted only by the British Anglo-US Bizonia was formed on 1 January 1947 What was the impact of this? US wanted western European integration USSR wanted to avoid the partition of Germany. They had tried to gather German support against the western policies The conference ended on 15 Dec with the USSR accusing the USA and UK of breaking the Potsdam agreements and denying them their reparations Hope of 4 power cooperation disappeared A western alliance in Germany and trade with western Europe seemed inevitable Early in 1948 the three western zones merged to form a single economic unit which, thanks to Marshall Aid, recovered more rapidly than the USSR's zone The west wanted all 4 zones to be reunited and self-governing as soon as possible Stalin kept his zone separate In June 1948 the West introduced a new currency and ended price controls in their zone and West Berlin A boost for western powers NATO was formed in April 1949 western powers coordinated their defences Germany remained divided West Germany (the German Federal Republic) was set up in August 1949 with Konrad Adenauer as chancellor East Germany became the German Democratic Republic in October 1949 Berlin is the testicles of the west...every time I want to make the west scream I squeeze on Berlin 20 divisions of Soviet troops within frontiers West Germany was an economic miracle Autumn 1958 Khrushchev was confident of US concessions for West Berlin He exaggerated Soviet nuclear power and put pressure on West Berlin He wanted concessions without war Began on 10 Nov 1958 when Khrushchev called for a peace treaty for the two German states: The time has obviously arrived for the signatories of the Potsdam Agreement to renounce the remnants of the occupation regime in Berlin, and thereby make it possible to create a normal situation in the capital of the GDR. The USSR, for its part, would hand over to the sovereign GDR the functions in Berlin that are still exercised by Soviet agencies. This, I think, would be the correct thing to do. Proposals for German unity but no agreement West suggested free elections USSR suggested a confederation Khrushchevs threats continued In September 1959 Khrushchev visited Camp David the atmosphere was friendly but there was no progress 2 years of detente alternated with crisis! Threats led to discussions in London and Washington: Scheme for nuclear free zone in Central Europe? Recognition of Polands western frontiers? Recognition of GDR? Western divisions This was cancelled by Khrushchev when a US U2 spy plane was shot down over the USSR At first, the Americans tried to claim that it was a weather-plane that had gone off-course. However, the Russians put the pilot Gary Powers on trial for spying, and it was clear that he was not a weather-man. The Americans admitted it was a spy-plane. Confirmed their lack of ICBMs Khrushchev wanted to wait for a peace treaty but by 1960 many refugees were leaving the east for the west Ulbricht pressed Khrushchev for a peace treaty with the GDR using threat of GDRs collapse Khrushchev was reluctant as he feared the GDR might provoke a crisis like the Berlin Blockade When JFK came to power he did not make the concessions Eisenhower had refused. His response hinted to a solution to the Berlin problem. He built up US forces in Europe and urged negotiations on the German Question 25 July 1961 he made a TV broadcast stressing the importance of free access to West Berlin for the USA Khrushchev had hoped to avoid closing off East Berlin frontier He had hoped to take West Berlin from the FRG instead of cutting of East Germany However, unrest caused by agricultural collectivisation and an increasing number of refugees meant he had to prevent the collapse of the GDR At the end of July/beginning of August 1961 he decided to close the East German border in Berlin This was confirmed by Warsaw Pact members in Moscow 3-5 August The border was closed, sealed off first with barbed wire and later a concrete wall film/film- archive/player.asp?catID=3&subCatID=3 &filmID=14 Khrushchev had failed to get western troops out of the USSR or negotiate a peace treaty The wall meant limited but important success for Soviet Policies Western toleration meant recognising East Germany Consolidated GDR and ensured that the USSR was responsible for maintaining international access to West Berlin Sep 1969: Brandt Chancellor of FRG Aug : Moscow Treaty (USSR/FRG) recognition of post-war borders Sep : 4 Power Treaty on Berlin signed by 4 occupying powers to allow unimpeded transport rights to East Germany Dec : Basic Treaty (FRG/GDR) FRG gives up Hallstein Doctrine, GDR seen as equal. Beginning of path to reunification. A Reunited Germany Honecker had been communist leader of East Germany since He intended to keep communism in place, standing firm with other Eastern bloc countries and refusing all changes or reforms. However, he was overtaken by events: In June 1989 Gorbachev needed financial help from West Germany and visited Kohl in Bonn. He promised an end to a divided Europe in return for aid. In August and September 1989 thousands of East Germans were able to esacpe to the west via Poland, Czechoslovakia and Hungary when Hungary opened the border with Austria. East Germanys Protestant Church created an opposition party called New Forum. They campaigned against communism. In October 1989 there were demonstrations all over East Germany demanding freedom and an end to communism. Honecker wanted the army to open fire on the demonstrators but he was not supported. Honecker was dropped and succeeded by Krenz who opened the Berlin Wall on 9 November 1989 and promised free elections. With international support for a reunited Germany, West German political parties moved into the East. Kohl staged an election tour and the East German version of his party (CDU) won in March Maiziere became Prime Minister. His hopes for gradual reunification were abandoned with the overwhelming pressure from the people for immediate reunification. The USA and the USSR agreed that reunification should take place. Gorbachev promised that all Russian troops would be withdrawn from East Germany by Germany was reunited at midnight on 3 October The conservative CDU/CSU alliance won a majority in the December 1990 elections. Kohl became the first German chancellor since the Second World War.