History of Germany (1945–1990)

From 1945 to 1990, Germany went through a time of great change and division. It began with the Berlin Declaration on June 5, 1945, which ended the German Reich and started the Allied-occupied period in Germany. After World War II, Germany lost parts of its land, and many people had to move to new places.

After the war, there were many people who had to leave their homes and were called foreign displaced people. This included survivors of the Nazi concentration camp system and prisoners of war.

As the Cold War began, Germany was split into two countries. The Federal Republic of Germany, known as West Germany, was a democracy. The German Democratic Republic, known as East Germany, was a socialist state led by the Socialist Unity Party of Germany. Over time, East Germany faced problems, and in 1990, the two Germanys joined together again on October 3, 1990, marking the German reunification.

Division of Germany

At the Potsdam Conference in 1945, after Germany's surrender in World War II, the Allies divided Germany into four military occupation zones: France in the southwest, the United Kingdom in the northwest, the United States in the south, and the Soviet Union in the east. This division was bounded by the new Poland-Germany border on the Oder-Neisse line.

The northern half of East Prussia was assigned to the Soviet Union, while the Free City of Danzig and the southern half of East Prussia were incorporated into Poland. Many ethnic Germans fled or were expelled from these areas, with millions settling in West Germany and East Germany. This large group of refugees and expellees had a significant impact on German politics and society in the following decades. The Allied Control Council, made up of the commanders-in-chief from the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and the Soviet Union, was intended to govern Germany as a whole, but in practice, the zones often operated separately, especially as Cold War tensions grew.

Elimination of war potential and reparations

Denazification

Main article: Denazification

After World War II, the leaders of the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Soviet Union worked to remove symbols and supporters of the Nazi regime from Germany. The swastika and other Nazi symbols were banned, and a new temporary flag was made for the country. This was necessary until East and West Germany were created in 1949.

The Allies agreed to treat Germany as one nation with some shared government services. However, this plan faced challenges. France wanted to keep Germany weak, and both France and the Soviet Union wanted to take resources from Germany to repair the damage caused by the war. These differences grew larger when the Cold War began, making it hard to agree on how to manage Germany.

Industrial disarmament in West Germany

Main article: Morgenthau Plan

Initially, the Allies wanted to weaken Germany’s ability to make weapons and tools for war. They planned to shut down factories that could help make weapons and limit other industries. This idea came from a plan called the Morgenthau Plan, which suggested turning Germany into a place focused on farming rather than industry.

At first, Germany’s steel production was cut to just 25% of what it had been before the war. Car production was also greatly reduced. Over time, these strict rules were relaxed. By 1950, some factories had their equipment taken away, and steel production was lowered. As the Cold War started, the Allies changed their minds. They realized that a strong West Germany could help protect Europe from the Soviet Union, so they began to rebuild the country’s economy.

Relations with France

Germany’s area known as Silesia was given to Poland, and many German people living there were moved away. France wanted control over an area called the Ruhr, which was very important for coal and steel. France’s plan to control this area was later replaced when West Germany agreed to work together with other European countries to share its coal and steel.

Dismantling in East Germany

The Soviet Union took apart many factories in the part of Germany they controlled. They did this to get resources for their own country, even though it hurt the German economy and made people unhappy. This action helped create a divide between East and West Germany.

Marshall Plan and currency reform

Main articles: Marshall Plan and Deutsche Mark

To help West Germany’s economy, the United States provided aid through the Marshall Plan. A new currency called the Deutsche Mark was introduced, which helped stop inflation. However, the Soviet Union did not agree to this change. In response, they blocked access to West Berlin by road and rail. The Western Allies flew in supplies to the city in an operation called the Berlin Airlift. After 11 months, the Soviets ended the blockade.

Reparations to the U.S.

The Allies took valuable German inventions and patents to help their own industries. This stopped Germany from doing new research for a while and sent many German scientists to work in the United States.

Nutritional levels

After the war, Germany had trouble getting enough food. The country had taken food from places it had occupied during the war, and now it had to rely on its own resources. For several years, German people did not get enough to eat. Food supplies were low, especially during a very cold winter in 1946–1947.

States in Germany

Main articles: Federal Republic of Germany, German Democratic Republic, and Saar Protectorate

In 1947, an area called the Saar Protectorate was set up under French control. It joined West Germany in 1957 after a vote. In 1949, West Germany was created with Bonn as its capital, and East Germany was created with East Berlin as its capital. The two Germanys remained divided until reunification in 1990.

West Germany (Federal Republic of Germany)

See also: West Germany

The Western Allies allowed West German officials to take on more responsibilities, preparing for a future German government. In 1949, the Basic Law, West Germany's constitution, was established, and the first federal government was formed under Chancellor Konrad Adenauer. Bonn became the provisional capital, chosen for its central location and to support the idea of reunification.

West Germany joined international organizations and focused on economic growth. The economy flourished in the 1950s, with low inflation and rising exports. The country also faced issues related to its past, including discussions about compensating victims of Nazi persecution and remembering World War II. The 1960s brought political changes and social movements, including protests and debates about the government's policies and the country's role in the world.

East Germany (German Democratic Republic)

Main article: East Germany

After World War II, the Soviet Union controlled eastern Germany. In April 1946, the Social Democratic Party was required to join the Communist Party, forming the Socialist Unity Party (SED). In October 1949, East Germany was officially created with a new constitution and government. The SED led the country as the only party, controlling all important decisions.

East Germany aimed to build a socialist society. The government took control of industries and farms, planning the economy carefully. However, many people were unhappy with strict rules and high demands. In June 1953, large protests broke out when workers demanded better conditions and fairer treatment. The government used force to stop the protests, showing the strict control it would maintain over the country.

Berlin

Shortly after World War II, Berlin became the main place where the Allied Control Council — the "Four Powers" — planned to govern Germany until peace was settled. However, in 1948, the Soviet Union stopped working with the other powers and set up a communist government in East Berlin. From then on, the Western Allies kept their authority only in their parts of the city, while allowing the people of West Berlin to run their own affairs through elected leaders.

During this time, West Berlin, though far inside East Germany, stayed strong with support from the Western Allies and West Germany. The city held fairs, festivals, and grew its industry. Finally, after Germany reunited, Berlin became the capital of the whole country. The government moved there step by step, with the official move finished in 1999. Today, Berlin is one of Germany's 16 states, known as a Länder.

Relations between East Germany and West Germany

Main articles: Inner German relations and Hallstein Doctrine

After World War II, West Germany and East Germany had very different governments and ways of life. West Germany, led by Chancellor Adenauer, claimed it was the only true representative of the German people and refused to recognize East Germany as a real country. Many people from East Germany tried to escape to West Germany, which caused problems between the two.

In 1961, East Germany built the Berlin Wall to stop people from leaving. The Wall became a powerful symbol of the division between East and West during the Cold War.

Later, under Chancellor Willy Brandt, West Germany tried to improve relations with East Germany and other Eastern European countries. This effort, called Ostpolitik, led to several important agreements between the two German states. By the 1970s, East and West Germany began to recognize each other in a limited way, and both joined the United Nations in 1973. In 1987, the leader of East Germany even visited West Germany.

Aftermath

Further information: New states of Germany

Even after the two Germanys reunited in 1990, differences remained between the former East and West Germany. The eastern part took longer to recover economically and still has distinct characteristics compared to the western part.