Cold War Germany: German Federal Republic (1949-1990)

Figure 1.--It would be Konrad Adenaur, the ore-NAZI mayor of Cologne would would lead Germany's return to democracy and the rule of law. He helped found the Christoian Democratic Union (CDU) and was the German Federal Republic's first chancellor. Here Chancellor Adenauer is pictured with an orphan at a Christmas party (1954). The press caption read, Dr. Adenauer, West German Chancellor, giving a toy dog on wheels during a Christmas party for orphans in Bonn." The photograph is dated December 28, 1954.

West Germany is coloquial English term for the (Bundesrepublik Deutschland (German Federal Republic--BRD) in the period post-World War II/Cold War era in which Germany was divided between East and West between the Western Allies and the Soviet Union. The BRD came into existence with the first free elections in Germany since the NAZI seizure of power (1949). The BRD was about two-thirds of what remnained of Germany after World War II. Areas to the east of the Oder-Nessie Line were transferred to Poland and the Soviet Union and the erhnic German population expelled. Throughout the Cold War, the BRD was aligned with NATO and Deutsche Demokratische Republik (East Germany--DDR) with the Soviet-backed Warsaw Pact. The two Germanies were divided by an Inner German border, some of it along the Elbe River. The two Germanies were separated by this 866 mile (1,393 kilometre) by this internal border for more than 40 years. The DDR proceeded to harden the border making it the most deadly, inpassable border ever constructed. It began with barbed wire, but as many East Germans wanted to escape the Communist police states it was hardened with steel and cincrete, land mines, motion activated automatic firing aparatuses, police dogs, watch towers, search lights, and much more to prevent any crossing. All the ingenuity of East German Coimmunists were used to create a horific death trap. It was the Berlin Wall writ large. Communists around the world did not seemed bothered as to why a worker's paradise needed such an horific construction to keep their people in. The BRD was established from eleven states formed from the three Western Allied occupation zones (United States, the United Kingdom, and France). American and British forces remained in the country throughout the Cold War, including the period followung the end of World II occupation. The population grew from roughly 51 million (1950 to more than 63 million (1990). The city of Bonn was designated the provisional capital. All Germans coninued to see Berlin as the capital, but as West Berlin was surrounded by the Soviets, the BRD decided on Bonn. The 1949 constitution created a federal system that invests significant authority to the constituent Länder (states). Before unification there were 11 West German Länder (including West Berlin, which had the special status of a Land without voting rights). Unification added 5 eastern Länder in the unified republic. The largest of the states is Bavaria (Bayern), the richest is Baden-Württemberg, and the most populous is North Rhine–Westphalia (Nordrhein-Westfalen). The BRD first chancellor was Konrad Adenauer, the pre-NAZI mayor of Cologne (Köln). The NAZIs removed him and he spent time in and out of prison and concentration camps. Adenauer helped found the Christian Democratic Union (CDU). The other major party was the Social Democratic Party (SDP). This was the major party before the War. Adenauer's CDU was a new party replacing more conservative parties like the pre-War Catholic Center Party. The Western Allies, in sharp contrast to the Soviets, reinstituted free elections. The revived Budestag chose him to be the BRD's first chancellor, by one vote (1949). He was a strong believer in democracy and heloped to create the modern Germany that is a model democracy and stalwart for civil rights. Adenauer supported the policies developed by Ludwig Erhard who had been chosen by the Americans to the Economic Council for the joint Anglo-U.S. occupation zone (1947). The result was the German Economic Miracle. As chancellor, Adenauer worked tirelessly to strengthen both ties with the United States as well as to develop a new relationship with France leading to European unification and the modern European Union. This would set Germany foreign policy that continues today.

Terminology

West Germany is coloquial English term for the (Bundesrepublik Deutschland (German Federal Republic--BRD) in the period post-World War II/Cold War era in which Germany was divided between East and West between the Western Allies and the Soviet Union.

Foundation

The BRD came into existence (1949). It was based on the first free elections in Germany since the NAZI seizure of power (1933). The BRD was about two-thirds of what remnained of Germany after World War II. Areas to the east of the Oder-Nessie Line were transferred to Poland and the Soviet Union and the ethnic German population expelled.

Orientation

Throughout the Cold War, the BRD with the strong support of the population Soviet Union was aligned with NATO and Deutsche Demokratische Republik (East Germany--DDR) without any input from the population was aligned with the Soviet Uniin as part of the Warsaw Pact.

The Inner-German Border

The two Germanies were divided by an Inner German border, some of it along the Elbe River. The two Germanies were separated by this 866 mile (1,393 kilometre) internal border for more than 40 years. The DDR proceeded to harden the border making it the most deadly, inpassable border ever constructed. It began with barbed wire, but as many East Germans wanted to escape the Communist police states it was hardened with steel and cincrete, land mines, motion activated automatic firing aparatuses, police dogs, watch towers, search lights, and much more to prevent any crossing. All the ingenuity of East German Coimmunists were used to create a horific death trap. It was the Berlin Wall writ large. Communists around the world did not seemed bothered as to why a worker's paradise needed such an horific construction to keep their people in.

Western Occupation Zone

Pooulation

The population grew from roughly 51 million (1950 to more than 63 million (1990). Much of that increase was tge huge number of Germans driven out of Eastern Eurooe by peooles incensed by brutal German behavior durung the War. The Soviets did not let their ethnic Germans leave, but other countries drove them out, often with great brutality. Almist all ofvtesevrefugees headedvto West Germany. This was because of a hated of Communism and the fact that Soviet authorities in East Germany did not want them. It was thevgreatest mass migratiin within Europe in all history. Te EstbGermanscwith scarce resources tookmthemmin and sucessfully intehrated them.

Capital

The city of Bonn was designated the provisional capital. All Germans coninued to see Berlin as the capital, but as West Berlin was surrounded by the Soviets, the BRD decided on Bonn. Whike West Berlin was administered by y Allies mikitarybGovernment, thevWestGermans stringky supported the economy, disadvantaged by being surrounded by the Soviet Unon and DDR. The West German political parties competed in Berlin and elected municipal goverment officials.

Federal System

The 1949 constitution created a federal system that invests significant authority to the constituent Länder (states). Before unification there were 11 West German Länder (including West Berlin, which had the special status of a Land without voting rights). Unification added 5 eastern Länder in the unified republic. The largest of the states is Bavaria (Bayern), the richest is Baden-Württemberg, and the most populous is North Rhine–Westphalia (Nordrhein-Westfalen).

Political Partiess

The BRD's first chancellor was Konrad Adenauer, the pre-NAZI mayor of Cologne (Köln). The NAZIs removed him and he spent time in and out of prison and concentration camps. Adenauer helped found the Christian Democratic Union (CDU). The other major party was the Social Democratic Party (SDP), a socialist oriented party. The SPD had a socialistborientatiin, but not a hard Marxist vision like the British Labour Party which won the 1945 British general election. That difference woukd significantlyaffectedvtheveconomic trajectirynof thevtwo natiins. The SPD had been the major party before the War. Adenauer's CDU was a new party replacing more conservative parties like the pre-War Catholic Center Party. The Western Allies, in sharp contrast to the Soviets, reinstituted free elections. The revived Budestag chose Adenaue to be the BRD's first chancellor, by one vote (1949). He was a strong believer in democracy and heloped to create the modern Germany that is a model ofdemocracy and stalwart for civil rights. Adenauer supported the economic policies developed by Ludwig Erhard who had been chosen by the Americans to the Economic Council for the joint Anglo-U.S. occupation zone (1947). The result was the German Economic Miracle. As chancellor, Adenauer worked tirelessly to strengthen both ties with the United States as well as to develop a new relatiinship with France leading to European unification and the modern European Union. This would set Germany foreign policy that continues today. There were other smaller parties, including the Commuists who were allowed to compete. The political process was, however, a contest between the competing division between the CDU and SPD.

Stalin's Peace Offer (1952)

Stalin has expected American forces to leave Western Europe after World War II as they had done in World War I. President Roosevelt has assumed that the American public would demnand this and told Stain at Tehran (1943) that this would be the case. But it did not happen. American public opoinion shifted. We are not sure why. We expect that it in part reflected the impact of Pearl harbor on the anerucan psyche. The Berlin Air Lift and the Korean War were also important. Worse still was that Germant and the Western countries were repoerting economic miracles. while Soviet-controlled Eastern Eurooe was in economic doldrumns. We are not sure just what was affecting Stalin's thinking, but the Soviet dictator decided on a major policy initive--a peace plan. He may have began to realize that West Germany would eventually join NATO creating a real military deterent. These were all issues whirling around in 1952. There is no way of knowing, however, just whay was on Stalin's mind, but he made an offer to the West--unify AND neutralize Germany. He even offered to tolerate free elections--essentially Finlandization. Germany located in he heart of Europe was potentially the strongest economy in Europe and was already strongly recovering from the War in 1952. There could be no crediatable defense of Western Europe without Germany. And in essencevthevCold War was a struggle for Germany. In the end the German peoples would have to decide tgeir future. There was the appeal of unity in Stalin's offer. The East German people definitely would have supported it because it meant loosening the Soviet grip. The question was waht did the West German people want. And the politicans (less so the people) were divided. The Social Democrats wanted to accept the offer. The Christain Democrats wanted no part of it.

Created: 8:59 AM 10/10/2018
Last updated: 7:34 PM 8/20/2019