How far can 1945 be considered a zero hour

How far can 1945 be considered a zero hour

1. Intro

   • The occupying powers in both west and east Germany needed to deal with the legacies of the Nazi War and past and move on and create a fresh start for Germany
   • However the West were only able to move on as they established a democracy an improved German economy and removed Nazi influence from society
     • East still had a dictatorship and therefore there were missed opportunities as this led to the division of Germany

2. Denazification

   • Both Germanies were able to to improve their society as they ensured the citizens moved from being ruled by a tyrant before WW2 and eradicated all Nazi influences
     • Nuremberg trials in 1946
       • The nuremberg trials were a step in the right direction because the trials showed that the west discouraged the nazi past and want to eliminate all influences of Nazism in West Germany
         • Therefore meaning that the citizens of Germany were moving forward from the Nazi past in 1945
   • HOWEVER
     • Persil Trials in 1945 is evidence of not moving away from Nazi Pas
       • Tribunals could hardly keep pace with amount of cases that were brought up
         • Making this inconsistent for eradication of Nazi Influence
   • Education
     • The East hired 4000 new teachers and teachers assistance
       • Allowing students to move away from Nazism and recieve the proper education they needed for their lives
     • HOWEVER
       • Lack of education reform in the west
         • The handicap for Denazification was the need for trained professionals and it weakened its thoroughness
           • Because of the lack of an education reform in the west this meant that the education was still poor in West Germany
           • Education was poor especially in German universities and it was the authoritarian way it had been before showing that students weren't whitewashed from the Nazi Past

3. Rebuilding the economy

   • Marshall Aid 1947
     • It increased exports by 3% in the free market policy and allowed a freer and fairer economy in West Germany
       • Important step because when comparing to the structure of the economy to 1945, the increase of exports meant that more workers are able to acqure better lifestyles
       • having more money for themselves bringing about the element of consumerism showing workers life's improved from the rationing and war time conditions of ww2
   • Bizonia 1947
     • Improved economic structure as it ensured greater cooperation as it merged the allies zones into a single economic unit
     • Linking this with the level of industry plan of 1946 which permitted sufficient production shows the west achieved an economic recovery as they pumped 3 million DM back into the economy
       • Therefore improving the economic structure of West Germany as less people became unemployed when compared to 1945
   • HOWEVER
     • The East did not improve their economy as they used reparations to weaken their own zone
       • 1945-1946
         • 17,000 factories were used by soviet troops to move 1.28 million tons of materials and 3.6 million tons of equipment amounting to 1/3 of the productive capital of the eastern occupation zone
         • This and the Berlin Blockade in 1948 are evidence of the east not moving on because they are weakening the economy to take the goods for themselves and by isolating the citizens in the blockade the reminded the people of wartime conditions
           • as they had to ration while the blockade was implemented therefore showing a step back to the legacy of the Nazi war and past

4. Political system

   • The west were able to establish a democracy and change the system from the corrupt dictatorship that was implemented in Hitler's reign.
     • Democratisation 1945
       • This helped a fresh start because it restored Germanies freedom to choose political parties and be ruled by an elected government reliant on consent, debate and a majority vote
         • Giving people the right to vote freely rather than vote out of fear
   • Basic Law 1949