When and why was Germany the focus of Cold War hostility in the 16 years after World War 2?

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When and why was Germany the focus of Cold War hostility in the 16 years after World War Two?

Germany’s geographical position in the centre of Europe, made it difficult for the western powers and the USSR to agree. Khrushchev called Berlin “A fishbone in Germany’s gullet”. The USSR did not want to see a new Germany rise and invade them again, but at the same time, the west wanted a rich and prosperous Germany. This made Germany of vital concern to the west and the USSR and meant that it played a vital role in the cold war. The four D’s were decided at the Yalta conference, and also the division of Germany into four zones. It was also decided that Russia would receive 50 percent of reparations from Germany. At Potsdam, the agreements at Yalta proved hard to enforce. It was decided that they would be taken out in their respective zones. This meant a divided Germany, and one that looked impossible to unify. Tension was caused because of the difference in aims for Germany, also because of events in and around it at the time.

The four D’s, disarment, demilitarization, de-Nazification and division of Germany was decided at the Yalta conference in early 1945. The war against Nazi Germany was still not over, but it was becoming clear that it was coming to an end. Also, it was decided that Germany be divided into four zones between the USA, the USSR, the UK and France. It was agreed that Germany would pay reparations, but no figures were agreed. There were no real disagreements between Russia and the western allies at Yalta over Germany. At Potsdam however, the Germans had surrendered ‘unconditionally’, and now that the war was over, the agreements had to become enforced. “Our first break with Soviet policy in Germany came over reparations,” General Clay. In theory, Germany was to pay 20 billion dollars in reparations, of which half would go to the Soviets. The four D’s were also to take place in their respective zones of occupation. The Potsdam Conference highlighted the mutual suspicions and disagreements of the west and the USSR. This is because of different economic aims for Germany as the USSR wanted to strip Germany of its  assets and the west wanted to trade. We can see already that there are differences, and this could only lead to more hostility in the Cold War. This was shown shortly after the Potsdam conference when Stalin blockaded Berlin.

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From 1948-49, Stalin blockaded Berlin in order to starve the allies out. This was due to the USSR’s fear of a strong democratic and united Germany. In comparison to East Germany, West Berlin was heaven. It had made a drastic recovery since the end of WWII. Stalin believed that West Berlin was a capitalist showpiece in the heart of East Germany and was propaganda against the spread of Communism. Marshall aid had helped West Germany develop quickly and the USSR felt that now the western powers had merged their zones into Bizonia, they were ‘ganging up on him’. After the ...

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