Reconstruction of Germany

Reconstruction of Germany

The reconstruction of Germany was a long process. After World War II, Germany suffered heavy losses: the country's cities were severely damaged from the heavy bombings in the closing chapters of World War II, agricultural production was only 35% of what it was before the war. During the war, 7,5 million Germans had been killed, roughly 11 percent of the population (see also World War II casualties).

At the Potsdam conference the victorious allies ceded roughly 25% of Germany's pre-war territory to Poland and the Soviet Union. The German population in this area was expelled by force, together with the Germans of the Sudetenland and the German populations scattered throughout the rest of Eastern Europe. Between 0.5 and 2 million died in the process, depending on source. (See also Expulsion of Germans after World War II). As a result the population density grew in the "new" Germany that remained after the dismemberment.

As agreed at Potsdam, an attempt was made to convert Germany into a pastoral and agricultural nation, which would only be allowed light industry. Huge amounts of factories were dismantled as reparations or simply destroyed (see also the Morgenthau Plan). Due to these policies large numbers of German civilians died in the years following the unconditional surrender in what would eventually become West Germany. (See also Eisenhower and German POWs).

Millions of German prisoners of war were for several years used as forced labor, both by the Western and Eastern Allies.

Beginning immediately after the German surrender and continuing for the next two years the U.S. pursued a vigorous program to harvest all technological and scientific know-how as well as all patents in Germany. John Gimbel comes to the conclusion, in his book "Science Technology and Reparations: Exploitation and Plunder in Postwar Germany", that the "intellectual reparations" taken by the U.S. and the UK amounted to close to 10 billion dollars--equivalent to around 100 billion dollars in 2006 (Ref: Norman M. Naimark The Russians in Germany pg. 206) (see also Operation paperclip).

Rehabilitation and "denazification"

As soon as 1945, the Allied forces worked heavily on removing Nazi symbolism from Germany, this process was dubbed "denazification."

By mid 1947 the start of the Cold War had led to a reconsideration of policy, as the Germans were seen as possible allies in the conflict and the dawning realization that the Economic recovery of Europe was dependent on the reactivation of German industry. With the repudiation of the U.S. occupation directive JCS 1067 in July 1947 the Western Allies were able to start planning for the introduction of a currency reform to halt the rampant inflation. This type of act to help the German economy had been prohibited by the directive and its execution also led to the eventual division of Germany. (see also Berlin Blockade)

In 1948, the Deutsche Mark replaced the occupation currency as the currency of the Western occupation zones, leading to their eventual economic recovery.

In 1947 the Marshall plan, initially known as the "European Recovery Program" was initiated. In the years 1947-1952 some $13 billion of economic and technical assistance—-equivalent to around $130 billion in 2006--were allocated to Western Europe. Despite protests from many beneficiaries the Marshall plan, although in the less generous form of loans, was in 1949 extended to also include the newly formed West Germany. In the years 1949-1952 West Germany received loans which totaled $1.45 billion dollars--equivalent to around $145 billion in 2006.

The country subsequently began exporting local products, reduced unemployment, increased food production, reduced the black market, and slowly, but continuously, improved the country's standard of living.

By 1950 the UK and France were finally forced to stop the dismantling of German heavy industry. [http://www.wdr.de/themen/politik/deutschland/wiederaufbau/chronik/infobox/html.php?block=3&artnr=6&blockoff=3&bf=1] [http://www.thyssenkrupp.com/en/konzern/geschichte_chronik_t1949.html] [http://www.ena.lu?lang=2&doc=16822] .

The country's economic recovery was, once it was permitted, swift and effective; during the mid-1950s, the unemployment rate in Germany was so low that it led to the influx of Turkish immigrants into the country's labor force.Fact|date=February 2007 Germany's economy continued to improve until the 1973 oil crisis. (see also Wirtschaftswunder))

Rehabilitation Milestones

*In 1946 the US Secretary of State (foreign minister) made the speech Restatement of Policy on Germany, repudiating the Morgenthau plan policies.

*In 1947 the JCS 1067 was rescinded.

*In 1948 the Deutsche Mark replaced the almost worthless Reichsmark in the Allied western occupation zones initiating the start of economic recovery in western Germany

*In 1949 West Germany is formed from the Western occupation zones, with the exception of the Saarland.

*In 1949 the Marshall Plan is extended to also include West Germany.

*In 1950 dismantling of West German heavy industry ends.

*In 1955 the military occupation of West Germany ends.

*In 1955 NATO, which was formed in 1948, allowed West Germany to join.

*In 1957 France returned the Saarland to West Germany.

*In 1957 West Germany was one of the founding nations of the European Union.

*In 1973 West Germany joined the United Nations (formed in 1945).

*In 1991 a unified Germany was allowed by the Allies of WW2 to become fully sovereign after signing the Treaty on the Final Settlement with Respect to Germany.

ee also

* GARIOA
* The industrial plans for Germany
* Restatement of Policy on Germany
* The President's Economic Mission to Germany and Austria


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • reconstruction — [[t]ri͟ːkənstrʌ̱kʃ(ə)n[/t]] reconstructions 1) N UNCOUNT Reconstruction is the process of making a country normal again after a war, for example by making the economy stronger and by replacing buildings that have been damaged. ...America s part… …   English dictionary

  • Germany — • History divided by time periods, beginning with before 1556 Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006. Germany     Germany     † …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • GERMANY — GERMANY, country in north central Europe. The Talmud and the Midrash use Germania (or Germamia ) as a designation for northern European countries, and also refer to the military prowess of these peoples and to the threat they posed to the Roman… …   Encyclopedia of Judaism

  • Germany — /jerr meuh nee/, n. a republic in central Europe: after World War II divided into four zones, British, French, U.S., and Soviet, and in 1949 into East Germany and West Germany; East and West Germany were reunited in 1990. 84,068,216; 137,852 sq.… …   Universalium

  • Industrial plans for Germany — The Level of Industry plans for Germany were the effected Allied plans to lower and control German industrial potential after World War II. BackgroundAt the Potsdam conference, with the U.S. operating under influence of the Morgenthau plan, [Cite …   Wikipedia

  • Cinema of Germany — Lists of German films 1895–1918 German Empire 1919–1933 Weimar Germany 1933–1945 Nazi Germany 1945–1990 East Germany German films since 1945 …   Wikipedia

  • 1924 in Germany — See also: 1923 in Germany, other events of 1924, 1925 in Germany and the list of years in Germany . IncumbentsEvents*Anton Flettner develops the rotor ship using rotating cylinders instead of sails. *The German firm Leitz develops the Leica… …   Wikipedia

  • Provincial Reconstruction Team — A Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) is a special military unit that provides security and helps with reconstruction in unstable nations. PRTs first began in Afghanistan in late 2001 or early 2002. Each PRT consists of a small operating base… …   Wikipedia

  • History of Germany (1945–1990) — History of Germany This article is part of a series …   Wikipedia

  • The President's Economic Mission to Germany and Austria — was the title of a series of reports commissioned by U.S. President Harry S. Truman and written by former U.S. President Herbert Hoover. Based on Hoover s previous experience with Germany at the end of World War I, in January 1947 President Harry …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”