Occupied Germany FOCUS

• The west still had underlying hope that their prosperity would attract those from the east and would lead to unification on democratic lines.
• Soviet attitudes were less certain, they were enthusiastic about united Germany. But the western allies believed that the Soviet plans would create a communist dominated Germany.
• Germany was left in a state of shock, chaos and disarray. 6.5 million had been killed. Food was in short supply, so death continued due to hunger.
• The German army was disbanded and national socialism was outlawed.
• The Allied Council Control - made up of military governors who decided on what to do with Germany following the war.
• Ulbricht was flown back over to establish 5 lander governments under the supervision of the SMAD (Soviet military Authority)
• Although the west favoured democracy, they were anxious to prevent any resurgence of Nazism or suppress communism. They even suppressed anti-fascist groups that sprang up at the end of the war. They believed in re-educating Germans.
• The west had to accept what the Soviets had done with the Polish borders.
• In 1948-49 in east, restrictions on all former Nazis were removed, accompanied by an intense re-education scheme to promote socialism.
• Denazification was rapidly abandoned in the west, arbitration tribunals were used to consider individual cases but most were cleared as there was no one to replace them.
• In the soviet zone, the SPD and KPS were merged to form the SED under Ulbricht. Left-wing were forced under a coalition and drew up plans for a GDR but still hoped for unity.
• In 1947, in response to economic developments in the west, the USSR set up the German Economic Commission to co-ordinate economic policy. It was however, controlled by the SED.
• West Germany was repeatedly attacked by east communist press. Ulbricht called the first two Volkscongresse, the first to win over public opinion against German division. The second one elected a Volksrat to draw up a new constitution and prepare for a referendum on German unity - but it was mostly to ensure that the east had a structure prepared in the event of a split.