© University of Reading 2006 www.reading.ac.uk

Occupied Germany And The German Division Richard M McKenzie MA – Reading University

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Give me 12 years….. • 50% of all dwellings destroyed

• 300,000 civilian deaths (US Strategic

Bombing Survey, 1945)

• 11 million men POW’s (Der Stern, 2005)

• 123 women for every 100 men (Kirk,

1958, 5)

• Civilians receive only 53% of calories received in 1938

• Average weight for a woman 1947 98lb (6 ½ St or 43.5Kg)

http://www.britishpathe.com/video/british-section-of-berlin/query/berlin+1945

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Capitulation and Occupation

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Occupation of Germany and Berlin

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Allied Policy

Potsdam Agreement 2/8/1945

• The 5 D’s

• Demilitarisation – Disbandment of military, paramilitary and NS military units

• Denazification – Nazi party and organs forbidden

– Removal of all Nazi officials from all public offices

– Nüremburger Prozess/Nuremburg Trials

– Fragenbogen

• Democratisation – Establishment of political parties

– Freedom of the press

– Freedom of religion

– Freedom to create labour unions

• Disarmament – Removal of means of weapons production

– Control of heavy industries and arms industries

• Decentralisation – Political

– Industrial – Removal of cartels

• http://www.britishpathe.com/video/potsdam-conference/query/berlin+1945

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One Germany Two Countries

• West

• 1947 – Länder elections

– Marshall Plan

– Bi-zone

• 1948 – Currency Reform – Introduction of the DM in West Zones and Berlin

– Frankfurt Documents/Frankfurter Dokumente

– Grundsesetz/Basic Law

– June Berlin Airlift Begins

• 1949 – April NATO established

– May Berlin Airlift ends

– 23 May Signing of Basic Law

– 14th August 1 Federal elections

– 15th September Bundestag elects Konrad Adenauer Chancellor

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http://www.1000dokumente.de/

One Germany Two Countries

East

• 1945 – Sept expropriation of all farms above 100ha

– Oct expropriation of all Nazi property and businesses

• 1946 – KPD and SPD unite to make SED

– 1946-1949 establishment of Bloc Parties

– LDPD/CDU/DBD/NDPD

• 1947 – June Economic control in SBZ by Deutsche

Wirtschaftskomission—DWK

• 1949 – First SED Party conference

– 7th October DDR established

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www.germanwarfilm.co.uk

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