Quiz 2 (Nazi Berlin & Divided Berlin)
Albert Speer
"Hitler's architect"; designed and built major government buildings and political rally sites both in Berlin and beyond; plans of "Germanía" never realized
The Berlin Blockade: Define it, and know what tensions led to it. Who was put in greatest peril by the Blockade? How was it solved and eventually ended (and what is the name given to this solution)? What were the dangers of this solution? What was the symbolic significance of the blockade and its solution by Western Allies?
-1948-1949; one of the first major international crises of the Cold War; Soviet Union blocked the Western Allies' railway, road, and canal access to the sectors of Berlin under Western control -what led to the Blockade: January 1947 Britain and the US joined their two zones together to form the Bizone - Russians realize Britain and the US starting to create a new, strong Germany; 31 March 1948 Congress voted for Marshall Aid, which USSR saw (rightly) also as an attempt to undermine Russian influence in Eastern Europe; 23 June 1948 Britain and US introduced new currency into the Bizone and West Berlin (Eastern Europe began to change all their money into new western currency which they thought was worth more) -the West Berliners were put in the greatest peril by the Blockade; with all rails, roads, and canals cut off, the city had a very hard time getting resources and supplies from West Germany, thus the Airlift had to happen to get essentials to the 2.1 million Germans living in the western sectors -the Airlift was how the US and Britain solved the problem of the Blockade and got vital supplies to west Berliners -the Airlift was dangerous for those living in West Berlin particularly during the winter months; there were drastic power cuts, food was strictly rationed, coal was scarce, few fresh vegetables -symbolic: in only 3 years, Berlin goes from being Nazi Germany capital to being the Cold War battleground; West Berlin becomes a bastion of democracy to be protected by Western Allies at all costs -also symbolic in solidifying the East/West political division
The political division of Germany and the emergence of two separate states: when were the FRG and the GDR established? Why then? What led to this clear split? Know about each state's basic structure, its most prominent party (or, in the case of West Germany, parties), its first leader / head of state, its capital city. In the case of the capital city, what considerations went into the FRG's decision to choose the "city" of Bonn? What was the political and military status of West Berlin within the FRG? In other words: who was technically in control of West Berlin?
-FRG established 23 May 1949, the GDR was established 7 October 1949 -this clear split was a direct effect after the end of the Blockade - solidified division -FRG: first Chancellor = Konrad Adenauer from the CDU party (Christian Democratic Union); first President = Theodor Heuss from the FDP Party (Free Democratic Party; city capital = Bonn (chosen because Adenauer and other prominent politicians intended to make Berlin the capital of reunified Germany, and felt locating the capital in a major city like Frankfurt or Hamburg would imply a permanent capital and weaken support in West Germany for reunification) GDR: head of state = Walter Ulbricht of the SED party (Socialist Unity Party of Germany); parliament = Volkskammer (illusion of elections); real authority = Politburo (executive committee of communist parties); capital city is East Berlin -political and military status / technically holding control of West Berlin: US
How and when did the Allied Powers conquer Berlin? What military methods were employed, and how did they affect the city's inhabitants and its landscape? Which power's army arrived in Berlin first? What were the long-term effects (beyond the division of the city) of this conquest on the city and its citizens? Give 2 effects.
-May 8, 1945 Allied Powers conquered Berlin -Berlin was captured by Soviet and and Polish troops; the Red Army encircled the city and then gradually took the entire city -total war and war of attrition; destroying the resources and destroying the buildings and landscape of Berlin; lots of destruction and city left in ruins -the city's inhabitants were left to take shelter in their homes and risk their lives in the midst of all the destruction; lack of food, water, and other resources for Berliners; as the Soviets pushed further into the city they also posed a major threat to women, raping many of them along the way -the USSR / Soviets arrived in Berlin first -long term effects: many women left changed forever after repeated rapings; much of the city was destroyed and would take a long time to rebuild
The Potsdam Conference: when was it? Which Allies attended? What were the major issues discussed? What tensions emerged between the Allied Powers? What were the most important results of this meeting, particularly for Berlin?
-occurred June 17 - August 2, 1945 -was attended by Britain (Attlee), US (Truman), and USSR (Stalin) -discussed how to divide Berlin and all of Germany; how to reestablish Germany after WW2 and complete denazification -disagreements over the flow of goods, issue of reparations, and the "denazification" of German citizens (not sufficiently addressed); foretelling future tensions between western powers and USSR -most importantly this meeting established the four sectors of Germany and the four sectors of Berlin split between Britain, US, France, and the Soviets; established East and West Berlin
John F. Kennedy's visit to Berlin (after the building of the Berlin Wall): when was it? Where did he speak? Discuss the historical significance of his visit and his speech.
-visited on June 26, 1963 -spoke at the Schoneberg Town Hall, home of the West Berlin government -he said "All free men, wherever they may live, are citizens of Berlin. And therefore, as a free man, I take pride in the words, 'Ich bin ein Berliner.'" (I am a Berliner) - "Berliners" meaning victims of Communism tyranny and virtuous exemplars of a noble steadfastness - they were portrayed this way in American Cold War propaganda -Wall represent the justice of their cause; by taking the victim's perspective turned the shame of the Wall into a position of moral superiority
Trummerfrauen
1945; "women of the rubble"; women after WW2 who helped clear and reconstruct the bombed sites of Germany and Austria; significant because it was the symbol of post war Germany; showed that even when the outlook was bleak the Germans would keep working
Berlin Wall (picture identify)
A fortified wall surrounding West Berlin, Germany, built in 1961 by the Soviet Union (recommended by Soviet leader Nikita Khruschev) to prevent East German citizens from traveling to the West. Its demolition in 1989 symbolized the end of the Cold War. This wall was both a deterrent to individuals trying to escape and a symbol of repression to the free world. The wall symbolized the Cold War divison between East and West Berlin, and eastern and western Europe.
May 23, 1949
After blockade was lifted on May 12, the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) or the FRG is established; its constitution, the Basic Law, is published; existed until reunification of Germany, 1949-1990
Peter Fechter
Attempted to get to the other side of the Berlin Wall. He was shot on the wall and fell back onto the Eastern Side and was left to bleed and die. Became a symbol. 1962
Joseph Goebbels
Chief minister of the Nazi propaganda; Gauleiter (political official governing a district under Nazi rule) of Berlin from 1926-45; Minister of Propaganda and Enlightenment of the people (after 1933)
February 27, 1933
Date of the Reichstag fire: blame the fire on a Communist, consolidate the police force and round up "enemies of the state", use to gain Nazi power, suspend many civil liberties, Hitler able to secure an emergency decree from Hindenburg which allowed Hitler to rule under what amounted to martial law - legal basis for his dictatorship
October 7, 1949
Establishment of the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) or the GDR
FRG
Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany); established May 23, 1949; constitution is the Basic Law; aligned with US
GDR
German Democratic Republic (East Germany); aligned with USSR; established October 7, 1949; SED party leader, Walter Ulbricht
The Potsdam Conference
June 17 - August 2, 1945: final wartime meeting after WW2; Truman, Attlee, and Stalin decide on division of Berlin and all of Germany into American, British, French, and Soviet "sectors"; disagreements over the flow of goods, issue of reparations, and the "denazification" of German citizens (not sufficiently addressed) - foretells future tension between western powers and USSR
Walter Ulbricht
Leader of the SED party; leader in charge of establishing new East German government - the GDR, German Democratic Republic starting on October 7, 1949; at center was establishing East German's capital of East Berlin
Potsdamer Platz (picture identify)
Night life of the square and it's lively nature was put down by the Nazis. The square was almost entirely demolished during WWII. Afterward, it served as the functional border between Soviet, American, and British occupying forces. Also, it served as the city's black market during the post-war years.
"Anti-Fascist Protective Barrier"
Official name of the Berlin Wall in East Germany; although those who tried to cross the wall from East Germany were killed, imprisoned, or tortured, GDR propaganda claimed it was a way to keep the forces of fascism out, not keep East Germans in
John F. Kennedy
President of the United States from 1961-1963; was leader during the Cold War and the East/West divide and when the Berlin Wall was built; executed the failed military operation of the Bay of Pigs in Cuba (Cuban Missile Crisis)
SED
Socialist Unity Party; created by East Germany in April 1946 through a merger of the eastern SPD (in part) and the KPD
the Brandenburg Gate (picture identify)
Survived WW2, but with lots of damage. Symbol in the Cold War for the division of Berlin and the rest of Germany. The gate stood between East and West Berlin and became part of the Berlin Wall.
August 13, 1961
The Berlin Wall is built: keep Western "fascists" from entering East Germany and undermining the socialist state, but primarily served the objective of stopping mass defections from East to West Berlin
June 17, 1953
The Workers' Uprising in East Berlin: began with construction workers on the Stalinallee in East Berlin going on strike, ended with intervention fo Soviet tanks and declaration of "martial law", uprising put down swiftly as Western powers sat by and watched
Checkpoint Charlie
This was the name given by the Western Allies to the best-known Berlin Wall crossing point between East Germany and West Germany during the Cold War; was manned by US military; symbol of east and west division
the Reichstag (picture identify)
This was the pseudo-Parliament of the Third Reich from 1933-45. During WW2, the Reichstag was badly damaged and then fell into disuse. The building was in West Berlin, but only a few meters from the border of East Berlin.
Lucius Clay
US General known for his administration of occupied Germany after World War II.; he orchestrated the Berlin Airlift (1948-1949) when the USSR blockaded West Berlin
The Marshall Plan
US plan for aiding the European nations in economic recovery after World War II in order to stabilize and rebuild their countries and prevent the spread of communism; 1948-52 the US transferred 13 billion dollars in grants to aid Western Europe (Britain, France, West Germany, Italy); European recovery was seen as essential for the future wealth of the American economy and world security
Konrad Adenauer
West Germany's chancellor from 1949 to 1963 who guided the nation's rebuilding (first Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG); former mayor of Cologne; part of the CDU party, Christian Democratic Union
Nikita Khrushchev
ruled the USSR from 1958-1964; Soviet Union political leader during part of the Cold War as the first secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1953-64 and as chairman of the Council of Ministers from 1958-64
