Breakdown of the Wartime Alliance
- In 1945, the Allies (USA, USSR, UK, later France) won WWII but had different visions for post-war Europe.
- The USA and UK wanted democracy and capitalism, while the USSR wanted communist governments as a buffer zone.
- Disagreements over Eastern Europe (especially Poland) led to mistrust.
- The Iron Curtain speech (Churchill, 1946) symbolized the growing divide.
- Early flashpoints: Yalta Conference, Potsdam Conference, and disputes over German reparations. The wartime spirit of cooperation was replaced by mutual suspicion and competition for influence.
Exam technique
- Use both long-term and short-term causes in your analysis.
- Connect breakdown of the alliance directly to the emergence of the Cold War.
Historiography
- Traditionalist view: USSR caused the breakdown by expanding into Eastern Europe.
- Revisionist view: USA was aggressive, using economic power to dominate Europe.
- Post-revisionist view: Misunderstandings and security concerns on both sides.
Tip
- Know three conferences (Yalta, Potsdam, one other) in detail.
- Have at least one historian quote or interpretation ready for higher marks.
Emergence of the Cold War and Its Impact on Germany
- Germany became the central Cold War battleground.
- Disagreement over reparations, economic policy, and political systems between Soviet East and Allied West.
- USA introduced the Marshall Plan (1947). USSR saw it as a threat and created COMECON.
- Berlin Blockade (1948–49) was Stalin’s attempt to force Allies out of West Berlin; ended with the Berlin Airlift.
- Formation of NATO (1949) and Warsaw Pact (1955) deepened division.
Common Mistake
- Writing only about general Cold War causes without focusing on Germany.
- Forgetting to mention economic factors such as the Marshall Plan, currency reform, etc.
Exam technique
- Always link Germany to wider Cold War events.
- Use dates and statistics for the Berlin Airlift (e.g., 277,000 flights, 2.3 million tons of supplies).
Tip
- Practice explaining why Berlin was such a focal point of Cold War tensions.
- Create a cause-effect table linking each Cold War crisis to German division.
Division of Germany
- 1949: Germany officially split into FRG (West) and GDR (East).
- FRG: capitalist democracy supported by the USA, UK, and France.
- GDR: communist state aligned with the USSR.
- Berlin Wall (1961) was built to stop East Germans from escaping to the West.
- Economic contrast: West Germany’s Wirtschaftswunder (economic miracle) vs. East Germany’s slower growth.
- Political contrast: FRG had free elections; GDR was a one-party state.
Common Mistake
- Treating the division as sudden. It was the result of years of tension.
- Overlooking social impacts (families separated, propaganda on both sides).
Exam technique
- Use comparisons between FRG and GDR in terms of politics, economy, and daily life.
- If the essay asks about "impact on Germany," include both Berlin and wider Germany.
Tip
- Be ready to discuss long-term consequences (until 1990 reunification).
- Use the Berlin Wall as a case study for political, economic, and social division.
Case study
- The Berlin Airlift (1948–1949)
- After WWII, Germany was divided into four occupation zones (USA, UK, France, USSR).
- Berlin, deep inside the Soviet zone, was also split into four.
- In June 1948, the Western Allies introduced a new currency in West Germany to stabilize the economy. Stalin saw this as a threat to Soviet influence.
- The USSR blocked all road, rail, and canal access to West Berlin, hoping to force the Allies to abandon the city.
- The Allies responded by flying in supplies to West Berlin.
- Planes landed every few minutes, delivering food, coal, and medical supplies.
- Over 277,000 flights brought 2.3 million tons of goods in less than a year.
- Nicknamed “Operation Vittles” (US) and “Operation Plainfare” (UK).
- Outcome
- In May 1949, Stalin ended the blockade.
- Shortly after, FRG (West Germany) and GDR (East Germany) were created.
- The airlift was a symbol of Western resolve and a major Cold War propaganda victory for the Allies.
Self review
- Assess the reasons for the breakdown of the wartime alliance and how this contributed to the emergence of the Cold War in Europe by 1949.
- To what extent was Germany the main focus of Cold War tensions in the period 1945–1961?
- Evaluate the impact of the division of Germany (1949–1961) on political, economic, and social developments in both the FRG and the GDR.
