This document summarizes the occupation of Germany after World War 2 by the Allied powers. It details the devastation in Germany, with half of all dwellings destroyed and massive civilian casualties. Under the Potsdam Agreement of 1945, the Allies pursued a policy of demilitarization, denazification, decentralization, and democratization to rebuild Germany. This included disbanding the military, removing Nazi officials, and establishing political freedoms. Germany was divided, with the West establishing the Federal Republic of Germany in 1949 under Konrad Adenauer as Chancellor, while the Soviet-occupied East established the German Democratic Republic the same year.

1. Occupied Germany
And The German
Division
Richard M McKenzie MA – Reading University
© University of Reading 2006
www.reading.ac.uk
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2. Give me 12 years…..
• 50% of all dwellings destroyed
• 300,000 civilian deaths (US Strategic
Bombing Survey, 1945)
• 11 million men POW’s (Der Stern, 2005)
• 123 women for every 100 men (Kirk,
1958, 5)
• Civilians receive only 53% of
calories received in 1938
• Average weight for a woman
1947 98lb (6 ½ St or 43.5Kg)
http://www.britishpathe.com/video/britishsection-of-berlin/query/berlin+1945
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3. Capitulation and Occupation
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4. Occupation of Germany and Berlin
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5. Allied Policy
Potsdam Agreement 2/8/1945
•
•
The 5 D’s
Demilitarisation
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•
Denazification
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•
Removal of means of weapons production
Control of heavy industries and arms industries
Decentralisation
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–
•
Establishment of political parties
Freedom of the press
Freedom of religion
Freedom to create labour unions
Disarmament
–
–
•
Nazi party and organs forbidden
Removal of all Nazi officials from all public offices
Nüremburger Prozess/Nuremburg Trials
Fragenbogen
Democratisation
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–
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–
•
Disbandment of military, paramilitary and NS military units
Political
Industrial – Removal of cartels
http://www.britishpathe.com/video/potsdam-conference/query/berlin+1945
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6. One Germany Two Countries
•
•
West
1947
– Länder elections
– Marshall Plan
– Bi-zone
•
1948
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–
–
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•
Currency Reform – Introduction of the DM in West Zones and Berlin
Frankfurt Documents/Frankfurter Dokumente
Grundsesetz/Basic Law
June Berlin Airlift Begins
1949
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April NATO established
May Berlin Airlift ends
23 May Signing of Basic Law
14th August 1 Federal elections
15th September Bundestag elects Konrad Adenauer Chancellor
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7. http://www.1000dokumente.de/
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8. One Germany Two Countries
East
• 1945
– Sept expropriation of all farms above 100ha
– Oct expropriation of all Nazi property and businesses
• 1946
– KPD and SPD unite to make SED
– 1946-1949 establishment of Bloc Parties
– LDPD/CDU/DBD/NDPD
• 1947
– June Economic control in SBZ by Deutsche
Wirtschaftskomission—DWK
• 1949
– First SED Party conference
– 7th October DDR established
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9. www.germanwarfilm.co.uk
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