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Potsdam Conference
Since the Yalta conference a series of changes had occured effecting the outcome and decisions of the Potsdam conference. FDR had died in office leaving Harry S. Truman as the fumbling new president. A change that Truman was unaware of was the successful test of an Atomic weapon. Clement Atlee had now replaced Churchill as Britan's prime minister as well. But more unsettling was the Soviet occupation of Central and Eastern Europe. -
GDR Recongnized by Soviet Union
After the partition of Germany to the main ailled powers the GDR was established under the Soviet sphere. The US refused to recongnize the GDR claiming that it existed without legality. However very quickly hopes of German unification diminshed prompting the USA to establish full diplomatic relations. -
Potsdam Resolutions
At the conference the descion to partition Indochina (Vietnam) at the 17th parallel was made. The Polish government in exile ceased to be recongnized as the legitament government and a democratic government mostly controlled by the Soviet Union was recongnized. Mostly importantly though was the decision as to how to deal with Germany. Prosecution of Nazi war criminals was decided upon, as well as the reparations to be paid to the victor nations. -
Potsdam Resolution Part Two
Mostly importantly however was the descion to partition Germany into four different sectors controlled by each allied government. However it soon became very clear that Eastern Germany was Soviet territory while West Germany was the territory of the Western nations. -
Socialist Unity Party
Nicknamed the "Russian Party" it was very obvious very early on that this was a Soviet puppet government. Purging Socialist Democratic opposition this party held power from 1946 until it's dissolution and restructuring in 1989. -
Anglo-American Zone/ Bizone
This was the name given to the British and American occupied zones of Germany, it was known as the Bizone. -
Six Power Conference
The main take-away from this meeting was the Luexomberg annexation of former German lands, considered to be Germany reparations to the small nation. -
Currency Issue in Western Zone
The Soviets had excessively printed the German Reichsmark leading to massive inflation as had been the case in post- WW1 Germany, In order to prevent such disastorous inflation a new currency was in the works by Western powers. The Soviets seeing this as an effort to undermine their power enforced a blockade in retailiation. -
Berlin Blockade
After the currency issue in the Western Zone the Soviet Union retailiated by enforcing a blockade preventing supplies from entering into Western Berlin. In response to the blockade the Western allies implmented an airlift to carry supplies into the western sector. The blockade was lifted in May of 1949 having lasted 11 months. -
Bizone 1949
After the creation of the Bizone two years later France was added to the control. The Bizone then became known as the Trizone sometimes referred to as Trizoneasa and eventually became known as the Federal Republic of Germany later known simply as West Germany. -
"Basic Law" of the FRG
The Federal Republic of Germany 's constitution. Approved on May eighth of 1949 it was implemented on the 23rd of May 1949. -
People's Congress and GDR Constitution
Formed in 1949 this government was based heavily upon the Weimarer Reichsverfassung. This was done in such a way that it would be a federal and democratic republic. -
Adenauer
Konrad Hermann Joseph Adenauer was the first post war chancellor he led his nation from post war ruin creating close ties with former enemies Britan, France, and the US he led the way to create Germany into the succesful and prosperious nation it is today. -
Pleven Plan
Proposed by the French Preimer, Rene Pleven this was a proposition for a supranational European army. -
Unrest in GDR
In 1953 a series of strikes and protests occured led by East Berlin construction workers. However the strikes were put down violently by Soviet tanks. Despite the violence demonstrations continued to occur in over 500 towns. -
FRG Joins NATO
After the exit of French, British, and American troops in West Germany, it was declared the Federal Republic of Germany and subsequently joined NATO. -
Hallestin Doctrine
This document established that the FRG would not maintain diplomatic realtions with anyone who recongnized the GDR. -
Warsaw Pact
The Warsaw Pact was made in a response to the NATO alliance. It was signed by eight communist countries in Eastern Europe. -
Treaty of Rome
This treaty established the European Economic Community, which later became the EEC. The treaty was signed by West Germany, Luexemburg, the Netherlands, Belgum, France, and Italy. -
Khrushchev and "Berlin Ultimatum"
Nikita Kruschev demanded that the Allied powers leave West Germany within six months or see the cut off of all ties and communication between East and West Germany. Neither side willing to step down led to the creation of the Berlin Wall. -
"Second Berlin Crisis"
This was the last real Cold War conflict between the Soviet Union and the allied powers in occupied Germany. The Soviet U nion demanding that the Allied powers leave. This led to the partition of East Germany and the errection of the Berlin Wall. -
Berlin Wall Built
At Midnight GDR police and border control began to close the border, streets and passages around the border were destroyed to make them impassible and by the morning barbed wire and guards shut off the two Germanies. -
Policy of Ostpolitik
Translating into "New Eastern Policy" this was the name given for the formal opening of relations between GDR and the FRG. These changes were made possible by the installation of power Willy Brandt as Chancellor. -
USSR-FRG Treaty
This was the treaty that officially recongnized the Ostpolitik policies. -
Basic Treaty
This treaty abandoned the Hallestein Doctrine and replaced it with Ostpolitik. -
Berlin Wall Falls
East Berlin announced that ten new border crossings between East and West Germany would be opened the zealous German's lined up and forced their way through the wall going so far as to tear some parts of it down. This is generally held to be the finish of the Cold War. -
Two Plus Four Treaty
The Two Plus Four Treaty was negotiated between the four powers that occupied Germany: France, England, the USA, and the Soviet Union. This treaty renounced all rights and influence in Germany allowing a sovreign unified Germany to control itself.
