The Significance of Political Change and Leadership in Germany (1945-1989)

Leadership and Political Change in Post-War Germany (1945-1989)

Following the end of World War II, Germany was divided into four occupation zones controlled by the US, UK, France, and Soviet Union respectively. This marked the foundation of the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) and the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) in 1949.
The Berlin Blockade (1948-1949) by the Soviet Union and the subsequent Allied Berlin Airlift were significant events in the early years of divided Germany, leading to further enmity between East and West.
In the West, Konrad Adenauer as the Chancellor played a critical role in rebuilding Germany and establishing it as a democratic state. His policy, named “Wirtschaftswunder” or economic miracle, helped to revive the West German economy.
In the East, there was a shift towards an authoritative socialist state under the new regime backed by the Soviet Union. Walter Ulbricht, leader of East Germany, implemented policies designed to establish the socialist model, including nationalisation of industry and collectivisation of agriculture.

The aftermath of WW2 forced German society to grapple with the genocide of six million Jews during the Holocaust. This led to a significant social and cultural shift towards a more introspective and pacifist stance in both East and West Germany.
East Germany’s shift to communism led to economic hardship for many, symbolised by the Berlin Wall - built in 1961 to prevent the mass emigration from East to West.
The 1960s and 70s in West Germany were marked by the rise of the “68er-Bewegung” (‘68 Movement) - a vigorous student protest movement advocating for greater political transparency, a break from authoritarian societal structures, and a clear distancing from the National Socialist past.

The late 80s were marked by the peaceful revolution in East Germany, with massive demonstrations and civil disobedience culminating in the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989.
This led to the end of the Soviet Union’s influence in East Germany, paving the way for the reunification of Germany in 1990 under Chancellor Helmut Kohl.
This period also saw the rise of ‘Ostalgia’, a nostalgia for aspects of life in East Germany, indicating the complex nature of the reunification process and its impact on society.