Essay Title

How and why was Germany divided in 1949?

The major divide within Germany in 1949 was a physical manifestation of what became
of a broken country heavily influenced by two opposing powers and ideologies. After the events
of World War II Germany was completely controlled by the victors: France, the United States,
Britain and The Soviet Union. The Yalta conference and then later the Potsdam Conference held
in 1945 saw the leaders of these countries come together to compose a plan that would deal with
Germanys punishment and reparations that were due to the victors as well as a new post-war
order for Germany. The Potsdam conference was the beginning of what would be a long and
terrible divide for Germany. Eventually this meeting and several other actions taken by the
powers that held territory in Germany particularly, The Soviet Union resulted in a divide that
would threaten the existence of Germany as a single country. Although both The Soviet Union
and the powers that aligned together in West (France, The United States and Britain), created
tensions and projected their own ideologies onto the territories they held which led to the split in
Germany, neither powers intended to split Germany into the Federal Republic of Germany (West
Germany) nor the German Democratic Republic (East Germany). This split in 1949 was a result
in the complete distrust for each power by the other.
In order to come to an understanding of why Germany was split into two separate
countries in 1949, we must take into consideration the ending of World War II which essentially
became the beginning of the drift between both sides of Germany. After the fall of the Third
Reich and Hitlers army, it was up to the victors, the Allies, to come up with a plan for Germany
in this post- war time period. At the time what was called The Big Three which included

Soviet leader Joseph Stalin, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill (who was later replaced on
July 26 by Prime Minister Clement Attlee), and President Harry Truman of the United States met
in Potsdam, Germany, from July 17 to August 2, 1945, to convey standings for the end of World
War II. During this conference several key points were made and agreed upon between the
victors of the war. One key point was the establishment of four occupied zones in Germany that
would be controlled by the victors. According to the protocol of proceedings at the Potsdam
conference,
In accordance with the Agreement on Control Machinery in Germany, supreme authority
in Germany is exercised, on instructions from their respective Governments, by the
Commanders-in-Chief of the armed forces of the United States of America, the United
Kingdom, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, and the French Republic, each in his
own zone of occupation, and also jointly, in matters affecting Germany as a whole, in
their capacity as members of the Control Council.1

The Soviet Union would control a territory further east while the United States and
Britain would control the western sphere of Germany. Later on it was decided that France join
but only if it were to retrieve its territory from the parts the U.S. and Britain controlled. The main
reason for this divide was to essentially keep Germany crippled for a period of time. They knew
that if Germany were to be kept together and allowed to return to a good economic state, then it
may have become another threat. The split of Germany between the four victors in the Allies was
aligned with other policies which kept Germany crippled at the time, such as its complete
disarmament dismantling of weaponry.
It is important to take note of the different and mostly opposing attitudes and concerns
taken on by each party during the conferences. After the fall of Hitler and the Third Reich, the
USSR, the United States, France and Britain who were once united as the allies, no longer had a
common enemy that would help unite them in one cause. After Germany had fallen a new

conflict had begun to arise between the East (mainly The Soviet Union) and the West, which was
the remaining allies. This was due to opposing ideologies which had a heavy influence on the
decisions each side had come to about Germanys fate. This made it extremely difficult for these
sides to come to a decision on post war Germany. In the Yalta and Potsdam conference about
Germany, the Soviet Union was mainly focused on the reparation calculations and payments that
it would receive from Germany. After much debate, it was agreed by the United States and other
allied powers that The Soviet Union could only pressure Germany about reparations from its
territory. As stated in the protocol for the Potsdam conference, Reparation claims of the U. S. S.
R. shall be met by removals from the zone of Germany occupied by the U. S. S. R., and from
appropriate German external assets.1 According to an account by the U.S. Department of State,
while the soviets were hard on reparations, the United States believed that this pressing for high
reparations from Germany is what badly damaged its economy after World War I which led to
depression and the rise of Hitler2. They did not want to repeat this mistake and begin a cycle.
Along with these reparations and claims to German land, other important decisions for
Germanys future were made, including the denatzification of the German public, disarmament
of Germany and the prosecution of all Nazi war criminals. Although there were productive
decisions made on both ends, this Potsdam conference was said to also further tensions between
the United States and the Soviet Union.
The Potsdam Conference, which was the last meeting between the allied powers, was
effectively the beginning of tensions between the Soviet Union and the Western nations. Many of
the goals for this conference were met but simultaneously sparked a mistrust by each side for one
another as their goals were not always aligned. Although they were able to agree on policies for
demilitarization, denazification and reparations, these policies meant different things to them and

effected their respected zones. The Western zones controlled by the U.S., France and Britain all
were aligned in their meaning for the policies created. They believed that the recovery for
Germany would come at the economic restoration of their territories. The first move in this
alignment of beliefs would form what was known as Bizonia. This was a first step in what would
later be the massive split in Germany in 1949.
Bizonia was a product of the Marshall plan, which was aid to Europe, including
Germany. The United States was beginning to fear the steady growth of communism in Europe
after a communist uprising to overthrow the government in Greece had been thwarted only
through the help of British troops. Europe was suffering through a great depression after World
War II and the United States feared that many of the European countries would turn to
communism because of this depression and poverty. President Truman had announced in his
famous Truman Doctrine that it was his job to roll-back and stop the spread of communism
in Europe. To do this it was believed that the economic recovery of Europe was important.
General Marshall, of World War II, after visiting Europe and acknowledging the desperation
proposed the Marshall plan which called for a strengthening and revival of Europes economy
through a $17 billion recovery fund that included grant and loans. What was very special about
this was the fact that part of this fund would go to Germany. Even though Germany was still
making reparation payments to its victors in the billions, over $2 billion was given to Germany
out of this fund, effectively ending its punitive period while establishing a time of economic
revival. This was in stark opposition and contrast to the Soviet occupied territory of Germany
where reparations and punitive settlements were still being made. According to a source from a
scholar through Cambridge University, [The USAs Western European partners let alone the
Soviet Union, could not contemplate such a move since their own wartime sacrifices would

appear to have counter for little.3 However the United States was more focused on the economic
recovery of Europe as a whole because they feared communism would take over if it did not
recover and Reconstruction could not be avoided if Western European integration [and
recovery] were to work.3 This made West Germany more attractive and increased tensions in
Berlin where care-packages were being delivered by the West right in the heart of the Soviet
zone. As a plan to revive Germany but also continue in its reparations so as to not anger the other
victors the US proposed Bizonia3. In January 1946 Bizonia was the product of an economic
merger between the U.S. and British occupied zones. This was created in order to reduce
administrative burdens of two territories that were already aligned in theory.
Years later in 1949 the French joined Bizonia and it became Trizonia, or the Federal
Republic of Germany. This was the beginning of the major split in Germany. It is interesting to
note that the first step towards a separated Germany was taken on by the Western powers
unification. The USSR was always thought to be the main antagonist but the first act towards a
separated Germany was through unification. The USSR would later come to be a solidifying of
German separation.
After the passive aggressive move of by the United States, France and Britain, a more
aggressive action was taken by a threatened Soviet Union. The Berlin Blockade in which the
Soviet Union decided to cut off West Berlin from the outside world was the first aggressive move
by the East, which would add fuel to the fire that was heating between the West and East. The
Berlin blockade arose out of a need for the Soviet Union to control its population in East
Germany as citizens were flocking to the West in search of a better economic situation and life.
Over 2.5 million German fled to the West through West Berlin 4. It is important to understand the
feelings at the time of this blockade and why it arose as it is one of the reasons why Germany

was separated officially in 1949. The Soviet Union was failing in its attempt to revitalize its
section of Germany while simultaneously retrieve its reparations. Life in East Germany at the
time was terrible and aid to the citizens of East Germany was not enough to close the gap and
hunger of the millions of citizens struggling. The mass migration to the West was causing East
Berlin to fall even harder as this left a gap in the employment force. The Soviet Union failed
when compared to the aid given to the citizens of West Germany. Billions of dollars had been
supplied to West Germany including those citizens in West Berlin. As a way to stop the mass
migration to East Berlin, the Soviet Union imposed the Berlin blockade. This aggressive move
was the first physical attempt at separating East and West Germany. Before this both controlling
parties, The United Sates and The Soviet Union were supposed to have an understanding that one
day Germany was to be re-unified. With this blockade, the Soviet Union disposed of all of those
previous assumptions. Along with the re-unification assumptions, the Soviet Union also threw
away all diplomatic relations with the Western government.
The Berlin Blockade was the beginning of tensions between the United States and the
Soviet Union. These tensions were projected onto the opposing sides of Germany and are
therefore what solidified the split of Germany and the establishments of two new governments.
The Soviet Union used a technicality to justify their blockade saying that there were no previous
agreements that allowed the western allies free access in to West Berlin through East Germany.
In response to this blockade, the Berlin airlift was established in order to supply West Berlin with
food, supplies and fuels. The U.S. ran the risk of being shot down by the Soviet Union in a clear
violation of their blockade. This however, never happened thankfully and the Soviet Union
decided to lift the blockade after heightened tensions and bad publicity. The Berlin Blockades
main purpose was to force the troops in Berlin to surrender through starvation, however, by

doing so The Soviet Union was effectively starving the citizens in that city as well. This made
the Soviet Union look terrible around the world as images of starving citizens including children
were circulated. Of course the Western Allies were seen as heroes with their daring airlifts to
deliver food and supplies. Stalin decided to lift the blockade only with the promise of another
four-powers meeting5.
One of the main reasons the Western powers decided to impose the Berlin airlift instead
of giving up was because of the fears that communism would spread to West Berlin. They
believed that, that would be the beginning of a domino effect and did not want Europe to fall to
communism. General Clay, an American commander in Berlin, said that: When Berlin falls,
Western Germany will be next. If we withdraw our position in Berlin, Europe is threatened ...
Communism will run rampant.6 They did not want this prediction to come true so they continued
with the airlift and forced the Soviet Union to give up. What was even more important however,
was the fact that this first move sparked a need for a defensive measure by the western powers.
They realized how unprepared they were against an attack by the Soviet Union and wanted to fix
that. This is when the North Atlantic Treaty Organization came into play. This agreement
between the Western allies and more was a way to establish the defensive support between
participating countries should a communistic power decide to attack 5. What is significant to
about this treaty is that the Western allies no longer saw it fit to occupy Germany as a territory
but rather create a new country that would be called the Federal Democratic Republic of
Germany in the Bonn-Paris conventions in May 1952 where it was signed. NATOs formation
now called for West Germany to sign and align itself officially with the West as a separate entity.
West Germany would now re-arm itself as a country with defense and promise to attack the
communistic opposes that first attack anyone of the NATO countries. In response to the NATO

establishment, the Soviet Union created its Warsaw pact in which aligned its satellite territories
which included East Germany with its defense policies.
After the establishment of these two countries all eyes were on them as they were the
center of what would be deemed the Cold War. These two opposing countries and Berlin were
right next to each other. The troops that were in West Germany were now officially on NATO
business. If any move was to happen on either side of the two opposing powers, the western
allies and the Soviet Union a reaction could take place in this country. This is why it was
imperative that the Western Allies station troops in Germany to safe guard and defend its
citizens.
The question of why was Germany divided in 1949 stems beyond the two opposing super
powers that was the Soviet Union and the western allies. These two opposing powers which
projected their policies and beliefs in their territories, had differing ideologies. The Soviet Union
believed that communism was the best way for a country to be run and the Western allies
believed in free-trade and capitalism as the best way for a country to be run. These beliefs had
the United States and the Soviet Union raise tensions with each other so much that the World was
on the brink of another war and nuclear annihilation of both countries and neighboring areas
could have been possible. West Germany was ran as a capitalist country with free trade and
production. Under its new leader Konrad Hermann Joseph Adenauer, West Germany saw a
prosperous time called the Wirtschaftswunder or German Economic Miracle which was said to
be a surprise given all Germany had been through in World War II. Germany grew to be the third
biggest economy thanks to this system and leader. East Germany however could be seen as one
of the Soviet Unions puppet states as it mimicked the Soviet Unions communist economy

with its own central planned economy. East Germany was also able to proper after 1949 and
reestablish itself as one of the most prosperous countries in the eastern bloc.
The tension between the two huge powers that were I the West and Eat is what led to the
split of Germany in 1949. The aggressions each power had taken on each other in the late 1940s
all centered around Germany to the point where they just tore Germany apart. Both the allies and
the Soviet Union are responsible for the separation of Germany itself. However, Germany is also
to blame for this action. After the regime led by Hitler, and after starting two world wars,
Germany as a country could not be trusted by the countries it shared this world with. This lead to
the victorious powers splitting it up and halting all kinds of economic recovery until its
punishment was over and debts were repaid. However, after the common enemy in Germany was
defeated both powers realized that they could not trust each other as well. Both capitalism and
free trade and communism were against the Fascism, but once that was defeated their differences
were once again highlighted. The fear of communism spreading throughout Europe was started
with President Trumans speech and with each move The Soviet Union made, Germany was
feeling the pressure. At one point each country decided to isolate their own territories from the
other for different reasons. The Western allies would do this to use Germany as a buffer for
communisms spread and the Soviet Union would do this in an attempt to extract its reparations
and project communism to East Germany. During the cold war these countries were the center of
tensions as they were juxtaposed right next to each other. Eventually reunification came in 1990
after the fall of the Berlin wall, created to keep East German residents in East Germany.

1 United States. United States Department of State. U.S. Government Printing Office. The Berlin
(Potsdam) Conference. N.p.: n.p., n.d. FRUS: Foreign Relations of the United States : Diplomatic
Papers : The Conference of Berlin (the Potsdam Conference), 1945: Contents. Web. 05 Apr. 2015.
<http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/FRUS.FRUS1945Berlinv02>.

2 "The Potsdam Conference, 1945 - 19371945 - Milestones." Office of the Historian. U.S. Dept. of
State, n.d. Web. 05 Apr. 2015. <https://history.state.gov/milestones/1937-1945/potsdam-conf>.

3 Marshall Aid and British Policy on Reparations from Germany, 1947-1949J. Farquharson
Review of International Studies
Vol. 22, No. 4 (Oct., 1996) , pp. 361-379
Published by: Cambridge University Press
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/20097457

4 "Berlin Wall Built." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 05 Apr. 2015.
<http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/berlin-wall-built>.

5 Review: Standing up to StalinThe Berlin Blockade by Ann Tusa; John Tusa

Review by: Frank Roberts
The World Today
Vol. 44, No. 11 (Nov., 1988) , pp. 200-201
Published by: Royal Institute of International Affairs
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/40395976

6 Shlaim, Avi. The United States and the Berlin Blockade, 1948-1949: A Study in Crisis Decisionmaking. Berkeley: U of California, 1983. 106-09. Print.