The post war division of germany

• When did Germany surrender to the allies?

  8th of May 1945
• What was the condition of Germany after the surrender?

  The country was in ruins with no government
• How many soldiers were dead after the war?

  7 million soldiers
• What were the four major allies focused on after the war?

  Demilitarisation and denazification of Germany
• What did the Allies agree to at Yalta regarding Germany?

  To divide Germany into four military zones
• Who oversaw the division of Germany?

  The Allied Control Council
• What did Stalin seek regarding Germany's borders?

  A redrawing of borders to favour Poland
• What land was Poland given as compensation?

  Land to the East of the border and Neisse Rivers
• What were the agreements made at Potsdam?

  Denazification, demilitarisation, industrialisation, democratisation
• What was the geographical situation of Berlin after the war?

  Berlin lay in the Soviet zone
• What was the issue regarding access to Berlin for the Western Allies?

  No formal agreement on access to their zones
• What was the outcome of the Allies' discussions on reparations?

  They were unsuccessful in agreeing on reparations
• How many citizens did Stalin lose during the war?

  20 million citizens
• What did the USA refuse regarding reparations?

  To agree on a fixed sum for reparations
• What was the short-term strategy regarding reparations?

  Assumed Germany would eventually reunite
• How did the Western allies view their priorities for Germany?

  As capitalist democracy and denazification
• What was the population of the Soviet zone in 1939?

  17 million
• What was the women to men ratio in the Soviet zone in 1947?

  135:100
• What was claimed about war damages in the Soviet zone?

  Claims were over-exaggerated
• What was the status of large-scale enterprises after the war?

  Most continued quickly after the war
• What was Stalin's policy towards a Communist republic in the Soviet zone?

  He had no desire for a separate republic
• What did Stalin want for Germany's future?

  A reunited Germany under Communist control
• What was the role of German Communists in the Soviet zone?

  To run the zone under Russian supervision
• How were former Nazis treated in the Soviet zone?

  Excluded from public life
• What was Stalin's hope regarding US withdrawal from Europe?

  He hoped for a repeat of post-WWI
• What was Stalin's priority regarding Germany?

  To keep Germany weak and prevent nationalism
• What was the role of the Soviet Military Administration (SMAD)?

  To govern the Soviet zone until GDR creation
• What was the purpose of the SMAD's creation in June 1945?

  To ensure the Soviet zone evolves as Stalin wanted
• What was the relationship between SMAD and the Soviet government?

  Confusion about which had more power
• What were the two socialist parties in the Soviet zone?

  SPD and KPD
• What was the KPD's manifesto about?

  It played down Communism
• What was the aim of the merger between KPD and SPD?

  To create a large Communist Party
• What was the outcome of the merger of KPD and SPD?

  Membership increased from 1.2 million to 2 million
• What was the public response to the merger outside the Soviet zone?

  Very little support for the merger
• What was the condition of Nazi party members after the war?

  Thousands were arrested and sent to camps
• What was the condition of concentration camps after the war?

  Conditions were as bad as during Nazi times
• What reforms were made to eradicate Nazism?

  Land reforms, confiscation of property, education reforms
• What happened to landowners who supported Nazism?

  Lost land without compensation if over 100 hectares
• How much land was redistributed to landless peasants?

  2 million hectares
• What happened to property belonging to former Nazis?

  Confiscated in October 1945