HIS344H1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Bizone, Democratic Republic, Berlin Blockade
Document Summary
The clash of interests over the future of germany. Agreed to continue postponing dealing with this, settle all other issues first. By leaving it, everyone became committed to their own sides --> impossible to resolve. 2 years before it actually happened - 1948. Americans were hesitant to make deals with them. Soviets forced mergers of socialist parties of germany --> one unified party. Humiliating defeat of communist party in east germany. East didn"t want germans to return to industrialization. Fear of germany trying to get revenge for war. Cared more about recovery than soviet security concerns. Usa didn"t want to compromise with ussr anymore. Stalin made a major compromise, last ditch effort --> follow path laid by kolpakov. Free elections across germany supervised by all 4 powers. Democratic republic could emerge and stalin would be okay. Lines drawn by west, no matter how hard stalin tried. A key moment in the growing cold war.
