What was East and West Germany about?
Overview of the Potsdam Conference. For purposes of occupation, the Americans, British, French, and Soviets divided Germany into four zones. The American, British, and French zones together made up the western two-thirds of Germany, while the Soviet zone comprised the eastern third.
How did Germany split into East and West?
At the Potsdam Conference (17 July to 2 August 1945), after Germany’s unconditional surrender on 8 May 1945, the Allies officially divided Germany into the 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.
Why was there a wall between East and West Germany?
The Berlin Wall was built by the German Democratic Republic during the Cold War to prevent its population from escaping Soviet-controlled East Berlin to West Berlin, which was controlled by the major Western Allies.
What brought East and West Germany together?
On Aug. 31, 1990, two Germanys signed a Unification Treaty and on Oct. 1, 1990, the Allies suspended rights to Germany. On October 3, East and West Germany joined together.
How did Berlin get divided?
Shortly after midnight on August 13, 1961, East German soldiers begin laying down barbed wire and bricks as a barrier between Soviet-controlled East Berlin and the democratic western section of the city. After World War II, defeated Germany was divided into Soviet, American, British and French zones of occupation.
Why did East Germany and West Germany unite?
The Peaceful Revolution, a series of protests by East Germans, led to the GDR’s first free elections on 18 March 1990 and to the negotiations between the GDR and FRG that culminated in a Unification Treaty.
How did Berlin Wall fall?
It was on 9 November 1989, five days after half a million people gathered in East Berlin in a mass protest, that the Berlin Wall dividing communist East Germany from West Germany crumbled. East German leaders had tried to calm mounting protests by loosening the borders, making travel easier for East Germans.
Why did Berlin Wall fall?
The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 was a pivotal moment, not just in the Cold War but in the history of modern Europe. It was brought about by political reforms inside the Soviet bloc, escalating pressure from the people of eastern Europe and ultimately, confusion over an East German directive to open the border.
Who unified East and West Germany?
Two months following reunification, all-German elections took place and Helmut Kohl became the first chancellor of the reunified Germany. Although this action came more than a year before the dissolution of the Soviet Union, for many observers the reunification of Germany effectively marked the end of the Cold War.
Is East Germany bigger than West Germany?
The former East Germany trails the former West in productivity. The former East has a much smaller population than the former West (about 16 million people, compared with about 67 million), but its productivity is also lower when adjusted for population differences.
What are the differences between East and West Germany?
– culture – religion – politics – economic setup – even in genetics [the North and East being more “Germanic”/”Slavonic” and less “Celtic” than the West and South]
What was the main difference between East and West Germany?
• West Germany was recognized by the rest of the world as the legal successor of Germany whereas East Germany was considered an illegitimate communist state.
Why did Germany split into East and West Germany?
One reason is that the western side of Germany was controlled and ran by the United States, French, and British forces. Right when it became available, the plan was to become an independent country. Right when this happened, the western and eastern parts of Germany split and became separate countries; East and West Germany. West Germany became an independent, democratic nation, controlled by the Allied forces.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHq9rZrI9xk