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West Germany
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End of WWII
At this time Germany finally agrees to Unconditional Surrender. -
Potsdam Conference
This was held in Germany and the Great Powers decided what they were going to do officially with Germany. They split Germany into 4 different zones between France, Britain, the US, and the Soviet Union. They also split up Germany's capital, Berlin, into 4 different sections between the same powers. -
Wirschaftswunder "economic miracle"
West Germany started off with a highly skilled workforce and high technological level in 1946. Walter Heller from the US advised west Germany to lower taxes as well. The most improvement was made by rebuilding the capital stock. The high capital investment rate was possible because of low consumption and small need for replacement capital investments. Living standards rose steadily with purchasing power of wedges increased. -
Marshall Plan
The MP was finally put into affect in April 1948 and they started giving aid to European countries that were in need of economic help. This helped out in West Germany's economic recovery as well as many other European countries. -
Currency Reform
The start of the currency reform in 1948 stabilized the currency by changing it from the Reichsmark to the Deutsche Mark. This helped West Germany's economy.
To facilitate the Marshall plan, eliminate black market, and to eliminate price controls. Changed from Reichsmark to Deutschemark -
Berlin Blockade and Airlift
Berlin was in the soviet section of Germany and with the hostilities between the Soviet Union and the US, the Soviet Union created a blockade on Berlin. This was the Soviets attempt on trying to cut off the other powers from getting anything, like food or oil, to their section of Berlin. The other powers fought this off by sending in all their supplies by air. This continued the tension between the Soviets and the other powers in the west. -
East and West
Germany became two separate states. On the west was the Federal Republic of Germany who was supported by the US, Britain and France. On the right was the German Democratic Republic who was supported by the Soviet Union. -
Basic Law
This connect the trifecta in West Germany between Britain, France, and the US. This became a collaborated set of laws for the FRG. This was a temporary set of laws planed until the reunification of all of Germany. It had an extensive Bill of Rights that focused and centered on human rights and dignity. This also made power decentralized in West Germany through a federal system. -
Konrad Adenauer
Background: Born in 1876 he was raised a Catholic and was Devoted to Catholicism for the rest of his life. He studied law and politics in college. In 1906 he became a part of the Centre Party. He became Mayor of Cologne in 1917 and ran through WWI. He also became president of the Prussian State Council but both of his positions were soon shot down as the Nazis risked. After WWII he focused on creating the Christian Democratic Union. -
Chancellor Konrad Adenauer
Politics: He was the leader of the Christian Democratic Party. He wanted the dignity and respect of Germany to be regained. He helped make Economic gains possible and reconnected ties with France and cooperated in the movement for European Economic Integration. He had support from the US and other Western European powers and gained back full sovereignty for West Germany. He also made the connections to join with NATO. -
Co-determination
In 1951 co-determination was introduced in the Determination Law of 1951 (the Mortan Act) this was because occupying forces gave power back to the West Germans. -
Codetermination explained
Co-determination gave seats to labor workers on the board of directors of larger firms, allowed more skilled workers and higher technological levels -
Co-determination cont.
Now German workers in iron, steel, coal and other industries would have the ability to elect five members to create a supervisory board. -
The Warsaw Pact
This pact was made between the Soviet Union and East Germany among with many other Communist states. This was the Soviets reaction to NATO and the west coming together. -
Gastarbeiter "guest workers"
In West Germany there was a labor shortage so they started to allow guests from other countries in need of work to come in and work in West Germany. It first started with their agreement with Italy in November 1955 and they made many other agreements with other countries and made their last agreement with Yugoslavia in October of 1968. -
NATO
West Germany officially gets to join a place in NATO. -
NATO chart
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Berlin Wall Built
The building project of the Berlin Wall begins. -
Willy Brandt
Background: Born in December 1913, he became a German statesman and politician. During Nazi control he fled to Norway and changed his name from Herbert to Willy. In October 1957 he became the Mayor of Berlin and later became the leader of the Socialist Democratic Party in 1964. -
Chancellor Willy Brandt
Politics: He wanted to keep close relations with the US and with the rest of Europe. This led to his policy of Ostpolitik.
Ostpolitik: This was The idea of connecting Western Europe Back with Eastern Europe. He started with making attempts at reconnecting with East Germany rather than trying to defeat it that was considered in the Christian Democratic Union Which was the main party of FRG in the postwar years till now. -
United Nations
East and West Germany both join the United Nations -
Helmut Schmidt
Background: He was born December 1918. He was a group leader for Nazi Youth but then left because of his anti-Nazi views. He studied Economics and Political Science in college. He became the Minister of finance from 1972-1974 and received credit for financial policies that helped stabilize German currency. -
Chancellor Helmut Schmidt
Politics: Brandt stepped down from the position mid-term..because Gynter Guillame (Brandt's close aide) was exposed as a Stasi agent. Schmidt took over as the Chancellor of
West Germany. He was part of the Social Democratic party since 1946. He pushed for European cooperation and economic coordination. -
Grenzmaur 75
Border Wall 75" Was a concrete wall that enhanced the "death strip" along the East German barrier, the fence was made to be hard to climb with spikes and trenches and minefields. -
Co-Determination Act
This expanded the amount of infustries that workers could utilize co-determination. It applied to most companies, legal entities, and joint stock companies. -
Helmut Kohl
Background: Born April 1930 and was raised conservative and Catholic. He studied law, history , and political science in college. He joined the CDU in 1946 and became the chairman from 1973 to 1998. -
Chancellor Helmut Kohl
Political: Helmut Kohl recieved the absolute majority. His government included government cuts and strong support for NATO. For the first 8 years he focused on West Germany. He strengthened ties between European countries, both west and east, and he brought together Germany as a whole. He was the Chancellor for reunited Germany from 1990-1998. -
Church of Reconciliation
East Germany destroys the Church located in Berlin, on the East-West border. The church was located on the "death strip" the E. German government justified it's destruction, saying people crossing the border would hide in the church. -
"Tear Down the Wall!"
USA President Ronald Regan gives speech that in retrospect probably didn't persuade the Soviet leader's viewpoint on the wall. It became famous throughout the USA. "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!" -
Fence Cutting
Australia and Hungary (Communist) begin cutting down it's border fence, the photos were publicly distributed throughout Europe. East Germany felt pressure because it's people began fleeing to Austria (over 10,000) -
"Monday Demonstrations"
East Germany held peaceful protests against the communist government. These protests were held on Mondays outside the St. Nicolas Church and up to 70,000 people attended. -
Erich Honecker Kicked Out
The reigning East German leader was kicked out by reformists. Honecker wanted to keep the Berlin Wall...however thousands of East Germans disagreed with him, and this lead to his demise. -
Leipzig Crowd
The "Monday Demonstration" crowd gained full attention from the communist government forces of East Germany when they reached 320,000 demonstrators. -
Alexanderplatz Demonstration
Following the Leipzig crowd, another demonstration was held. An estimated 500,000-1,000,000 civilians joined. -
Eventful Day
Gunter Schabowski (East German) reported on live television that people could pass freely from West Germany by using the borders, with a passport. -
Eventful Night
People assumed that this was in effect IMMEDIATELY. Thousands of people rushed to the Borders demanding to pass. In order to stop a riot guards let the most hostile civilians pass.. however the crowd grew more frustrated and finally East Berlin citizens were allowed to cross. 161 people died. -
Brandenburg Gate
The Brandenburg Gate is officially open. It symbolizd the freedom and unification of Berlin. -
Germany Reunited
Germany officially reunited, ending the 45 year divison from World War 2. -
Berlin = Capitol
German parliament chooses Berlin as the capitol of unified Germany.
