The Cold War The Early Years 1945 49

The Cold War The Early Years: 1945 -49

Defeat of the Third Reich – May 1945

Parading Nazi insignia in Moscow – May 1945

Potsdam Conference July-August 1945

The Big Three at Potsdam - Attlee, Truman and Stalin

A New Beginning • As a result of the war, Berlin and Germany were occupied and divided by the Allies – UK, USA, USSR and Fran Fr ce. ce • Germany was divided into four occupation zones. • Berlin within the Soviet zone was divided into four occupation sectors • The city was governed by a four power Kommandatura to deal with administrative issues. • One of the main issues was reunification of Germany after denazification and demilitarization.

Germany under Four Power Occupation

Allied Command of Germany • Almost from the start differences emerged between the Western Allies and the Soviets in terms of how to administer Germany and how to shape its future political structure • The Western Powers realized that only an economically strong Germany could guarantee European recovery • The Soviets wanted to continue with dismantling German factories and keeping German POWs as slave labor

Berlin under Four Power Occupation

Red flag over damaged Brandenburg Gate

Ruins of the residential borough of Tiergarten

Germans in a single heated room using one gas lamp

Tension between occupier and occupied Soviet soldier confiscating bike from German civilian

“Moscow wants the Ruhr for Soviet armaments. Therefore Germany should be isolated from the West. Never!”

George Kennan’s “Long Telegram” warning of Stalin’s postwar intensions and how the US should respond - February 1946

March 1946 Churchill gives his “Iron Curtain” speech in Fulton, Missouri, USA

Truman signing Truman Doctrine March 1947

Communist takeover of Hungary 1947 - Statue of Stalin

George C Marshall and his Plan for European Economic Recovery - 1947

Soviet threat to Western Europe - 1947

Truman signing the Economic Assistance Act April 1948

Marshall Plan posters showing Europe moving forward

Marshall Plan calling for Inter European cooperation

First CARE packages within the ruins

CARE packages being distributed to civilians

Communist Coup in Czechoslovakia February 1948

Bi- and Trizonia in the Western Zones • The Anglo Americans stopped dismantling German firms in order to halt the continual economic deterioration of their separate administrative zones • In order to encourage domestic German trade and economic reconstruction, the UK and USA merged their two zones into one economic unit in 1947 known as Bizonia • The Soviets protested vehemently – They wanted an economically weak Germany • The successful economic results were almost immediate • In 1948, the French merged their occupation zone with that of the Anglo Americans creating Trizonia • The Soviets protested stating the Western Allies went against the spirit of Allied Decision-making consent for Germany

“Can He Block It? ” –Stalin’s attempt to block recovery

Barter trade with US GIs in lieu of currency

A new currency – Deutsche Mark • While economic productivity increased in the Western sectors, the “Black market” was still a major problem • The Old Reichsmark was worthless • Civilians bartered goods on the street • In order to crush the “Black market”, the Western Allies secretly agreed to introduce a new stable currency known as the Deutsche Mark • The Soviets were kept out of the planning since they had previously stalled all economic endeavors to reconstruct Germany after the war • The introduction of the new currency fell like a bomb

The Deutsche Mark 1948

Introduction of new German currency – the Deutsche Mark or DM May 1948

Last inter Allied meeting prior to Blockade 1948

Soviets block all Western Allied passage ways to Berlin June 1948

Brits react by separating Soviets from their sector

Allied Air routes during Airlift: 1948 -1949

Berlin Airlift 1948 -1949

Marshall Plan deliveries: Imports of US coal at a Danish port/ US jeeps undocked in Hamburg

Children play on a street in Marseilles, France, as new housing rises in the background

Fiat motors works in Italy began producing cars with machines and steel donated through the Marshall Plan

Viennese girl advertising for the Marshall Plan

Products made in blockaded Berlin with Marshall Plan Aid

Marshall Plan flour guaranteed 2/3 of daily bread in the Western zones of Germany

Brandenburg Gate: East-West Divide Berliners attending different political ideological rallies in the respective Allied sectors - 1948

WAR of WORDS and IDEAS: Radio in the American Sector (RIAS)

WAR of WORDS and IDEAS - Sender Freies Berlin (SFB) Confiscated radio station from Soviets in British sector The British stopped Soviet propaganda in Western sector

Truman, Bevin and Bideau signing NATO agreement – April 1949

Blockade ends – Western Allies win: May 1949

Declaration of the Federal Republic of Germany – May 1949 Konrad Adenauer as Chancellor

Declaration of the German Democratic Republic – Oct 1949 Walter Ulbricht as Communist Party Chief

Divided Post-War Continent – NATO Warsaw Pact