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GROUP GERMANY

 

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Immigration waves in Germany between 1945-1955

 

 

Historical background - Immigration

 

In 1945 Germany suffered from the effects of World War II. At the "Berlin (Potsdam) Conference" Germany was divided into four parts: the South East was controlled by the United States of America, France controlled the South West, Great Britain controlled the North and North West and the Soviet Union was in charge of the East. It was decided that Germany should have no military any more, that all nazi ideology should be erased and that the population should build up a democracy.

In 1947, in the so-called "European Recovery Program", George C. Marshall wanted to help Western Europe to recover from World War II. The program first tried to help the population suffering from hunger and was designed, in general, to place Europe on its feet again, economically. A second aim was (after the Soviet Union had withdrawn) to prevent the influence of communism on Western Europe. Besides, a sales market was created for America's overproduction.

"Berlin Blockade": The Sowjet Union didn't like the new currency and following to that there was the „Blockade of Berlin“.

Berliner Blockade: Roads to Berlin which were important to transport food were blocked. Apart from that the Russians restricted gas and electricity. In order to prevent the population from staving, the USA help them by sending food via planes (Marshall Plan")

In 1949, after the first elections in the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG), Konrad Adenauer became chancellor.

In the '50s West Germany experienced an economic recovery. More and more people from the East started to flee to the West because of political and economic reasons.

In 1961, the "Berlin Wall" was built in order to prevent people from escaping to the West.