divisions between the eastern and wester zones

• At Yalta and Potsdam, the Allies had agreed to keep a single state, yet they had different concepts of its social, economic and political organisation.
• There were three Western zones - British, French and American - and this was repeated for Berlin. The Allied Control Council (ACC) was the military governing body, whose decisions had to be unanimous, and when this failed, each military governor could implement decisions in their zone, which resulted in different policies in each zone.
• There were severe economic problems, which could better be addressed by greater co-operation between the zones.

  Problems following the Second World War included:

  • food and fuel shortages
  • homelessness
  • bereavement
  • integration of soldiers into civilian society
  • refugees
  • dealing with the impact of genocide
  • the collapse of the currency.
• 1946

  The USA drew up plans for German reconstruction, but Russia and France did not agree. France did not want a strong Germany and wanted large reparations; it even took over the Saar for a short period
• 1946-47

  A severe winter worsened conditions. A weak British economy, with bread rationing at home, meant Britain was unable to fund its zone.
• 1947

  By 1947, economic recovery was essential to prevent an economic crisis and social revolution in Western Europe.

  Food had to be imported, which cost $700 million per year. The problem was made worse as some industry had been dismantled to pay reparations and there had been an influx of refugees. The British and American zones were merged to form Bizonia. Aid was poured into the Western zone.
• 1948

  The Marshall Plan was applied to the Western zone.

  The London Conference, between February and June 1948, agreed a West German currency and state. From summer 1948 onwards, Western representatives of the 'Parliamentary Council' started to devise a constitution for a new state in the West.
• 1949

  France, after initial resistance, joined the British and American zones and created Trizonia. A new constitution, the Basic Law, was adopted in May 1949, which established a West German state.
• British and American zones merged to form Bizonia


  1947
• French joined to form Trizonia


  1949
• Disputes developed over Soviet reparations from the Western zones


  Growing division between Russia and the West over the Truman Doctrine and Marshall Aid
• A black market had grown in the West due to the weakness of the currency
• The introduction of a new currency, the Deutschmark, was essential before aid was brought in
• The Soviets refused to follow suit and introduced their own currency, the East German mark
• The Soviets refused to follow suit with the Deutschmark


  They began the Berlin blockade, which confirmed the division of Germany
• Russia stated that 'technical difficulties' would continue until plans for a West German government were abandoned