Syllabus Edition
First teaching 2024
First exams 2026
The Creation of East & West Germany (Edexcel GCSE History)
Revision Note
Written by: Zoe Wade
Reviewed by: Bridgette Barrett
The Creation of East & West Germany - Summary
In June 1948, the Soviet Union shut off the land routes in Soviet-controlled Germany, preventing Trizonia from accessing their zone in Berlin. Without supplies from Trizonia, people in West Berlin would run out of food and important resources. The Western allies responded by flying supplies directly into West Berlin in an event known as the Berlin Airlift. For nearly a year, the Soviet Union could only watch as thousands of supplies made their way into West Berlin.
When the Berlin Blockade was officially lifted by the Soviet Union in May 1949, the Western allies quickly moved to create a separate West Germany known as the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG). A few months later, Stalin and the Soviet Union created the German Democratic Republic (GDR) in East Germany. Neither Germany officially recognised the other until the early 1970s. |
West Germany - The FRG, May 1949
After the Soviet Union lifted the Berlin Blockade, it was clear that Germany would continue to be divided
The members of Trizonia acted first and officially created the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) in West Germany
The process of creating the FRG
The city of Bonn was chosen as the capital
West Berlin continued to be controlled by and owned by the FRG
Stalin responded to the creation of the FRG by formally creating a new state in East Germany
East Germany - The GDR, October 1949
Stalin responded to the creation of the FRG by formally creating a new state in East Germany known as the German Democratic Republic (GDR)
The process of creating the GDR
A timeline showing the events that established the GDR East Berlin remained the capital
Only the East recognised the GDR as a nation
East Germany and West Germany did not recognise each other as official states until 1972
Cold War tensions increased following the creation of both the FRG and GDR
Examiner Tips and Tricks
A question could ask you to write a narrative account of the Soviet reaction to the Berlin Crisis. A narrative account answer should follow CHRONOLINK:
Put the sequence of events in chronological order
Link each section of the narrative to the next event that occurred. You should use linkage terms such as: 'as a consequence', 'this led to' or 'because'
The last section of your narrative account could be the formation of the GDR and the FRG. Before you discuss this event, you should use process words such as 'affected' and 'worsened' to link another event to the creation of the FRG and the GDR.
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