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What led to the division of Germany at the end of World War II and how did Berlin become a focus of tension during the Cold War? - Leaving Cert History - Question 2 - 2018
Question 2
What led to the division of Germany at the end of World War II and how did Berlin become a focus of tension during the Cold War?
Worked Solution & Example Answer:What led to the division of Germany at the end of World War II and how did Berlin become a focus of tension during the Cold War? - Leaving Cert History - Question 2 - 2018
Step 1
What led to the division of Germany at the end of World War II?
Answer
The division of Germany resulted primarily from ideological differences between the Allies, specifically the United States and the Soviet Union. After World War II, Germany was divided into four occupation zones controlled by the U.S., the U.K., France, and the Soviet Union. Tensions escalated as the Western Allies aimed for economic reconstruction and a democratic government, while the Soviet Union sought to secure its Eastern European border and spread communism. This fundamental clash of ideology laid the groundwork for the political division of Germany.
Step 2
How did Berlin become a focus of tension during the Cold War?
Answer
Berlin epitomized the Cold War divide, as it was located deep within the Soviet-controlled East Germany yet was wholly surrounded by it. The city's division in 1949 into East Berlin (capital of the German Democratic Republic) and West Berlin (an enclave of the Federal Republic of Germany) led to significant tensions. Key events, such as the Berlin Blockade in 1948-1949, where the Soviet Union attempted to cut off all ground access to West Berlin, escalated the conflict. The subsequent Berlin Airlift by Western Allies demonstrated the lengths to which they would go to support West Berlin, symbolizing the struggle between capitalism and communism.