1.7 The impact of defeat and occupation of Germany, 1945–55

• Germany


  After the German surrender and the process of denazification, Germany was divided into two states, with people living very different lives
• Germany's surrender and occupation


  1. Germany surrendered in May 1945

  2. Soviet forces entered Berlin and Hitler killed himself in April 1945

  3. Germany signed full surrender on 7 May 1945

  4. Soviets were first to occupy Berlin
• Potsdam Conference


  1. Berlin split among four occupying powers (USA, Britain, France, USSR)

  2. Germany to be denazified, demilitarised and democratised
• Denazification


  • Banning Nazi Party
  • Arresting Germans seen as threat to Allied control
  • Introducing new education system
  • Punishing Nazi criminals at Nuremberg Trials
• People in Germany wanted to forget, with Trümmerfrauen ('rubble women') clearing bombed buildings
• 12-14 million German speakers in Eastern Europe became refugees, returning to Germany where they were not welcome
• Soviet approach to denazification

  • Destroying all evidence of Nazism
  • Sending Nazi officials to camps
  • Removing one-third of German teachers
  • Convicting around 30,000 Germans
• Western Allies' approach to denazification

  • Arresting leading Nazis
  • Germans over 18 revealing political beliefs and past jobs
  • Investigating senior officials and public sector members
  • German Review Board investigating 3.5 million cases, finding 4000 guilty and executing under 500
  • Re-educating Germans about Nazi atrocities
• Western Allies wanted to

  Rebuild Germany to prevent extremism and develop trade links
• Soviets wanted


  Reparations and Germany divided
• Americans introduced Marshall Aid in 1947 to help countries recover, which the Soviets refused in their zone
• Western zones becoming more prosperous


  Made Soviets fearful
• Soviets launched Berlin Blockade in 1948


  To cut off supply routes into West Berlin, which failed and led to deeper resentment
• Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany)


  Democracy, Basic Law, Konrad Adenauer as chancellor, joined European Coal and Steel Community and NATO
• West Germany social and economic changes

  • Wages increased over 80%
  • More jobs from industrial development
  • Affordable housing schemes
  • Fewer strikes, unions less suspicious
  • Growth in consumer goods, standard of living increased
  • 'Economic miracle' - 8% annual growth 1949-54, unemployment fell to 4% by 1955
• German Democratic Republic (East Germany)


  Communist dictatorship, Stasi secret police, Walter Ulbricht as leader, SED (German Communist Party) dominant
• East Germany social and economic changes

  • Lower living standards
  • Rationing
  • Forced military service
  • Lack of consumer goods
  • Industrial unrest and emigration to West
  • Free education, abolishing private schools
  • Few economic improvements, producing goods to help rebuild USSR