the division of Germany and formation of the GDR 1945-63

Aims of the Allies at the end of WW2

• allies untied during the war
• different vies afterwards
• relationships steadily broke down
• conflict based on ideological differences

Capatalism - USA and Britain

• economic + political system based upon operation markes
• privately owned bussiness which compete with each other
• Karl Marx - minority wealthy majority poor
• the state should not interfere with bussiness
• state interveens to regulate bussiness and protect people from exploitation

Communism - Soviet Russia

• economic +political system where private ownership of bussiness and property is abolished
• collective ownership of property
• every member of society is equal + shares resources of country equally
• distribution carried out by the state
• single authoritain party

How democratisation was implimented

Three western zones (USA, France, Britain)

• Democracy established and encouraged on a local level very quickly
• 1947, local provencies had own local parliaments
• free political parties allowed to develop
• people who wanted to form a political party had to be at local or national level for licence
• only parties committed to democracy were allowed

Soviet Zone

• Local democracy was distrusted
• 1952, Lander was dissolved
• political parties not allowed total freedom
• German communists sent into soviet zone
• comunist party encouraged to infiltrate and dominate key admin posts

Berlin Blockade (June '48 - May '49)

• …