The rehabilitation of Germany after World War II

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 This article does not cite any references or sources. (February 2008)
Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed.

The rehabilitation of Germany after World War II was a long process. After the war, 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. 7,5 million Germans had been killed during the war, 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).

[edit] Rehabilitation

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. [1][2] [3].

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.[citation needed] Germany's economy continued to improve until the 1973 oil crisis. (see also Wirtschaftswunder))

[edit] Rehabilitation Milestones

  • 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.

[edit] See also