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Wilfried Ranke
Chronicle of 1933 to 1955*/2
1949
8.2.49
The Parliamentary Council in Bonn resolves to name Berlin in the preamble
of the Basic Law as the twelfth federal state.
4.4.49
The NATO treaty is signed in Washington.
Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Great Britain, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg,
the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal and the USA join the defence alliance,
created at a time of heightened east-west tension to counterbalance the
threat posed by the military presence of the Soviet Union in Europe. Greece
and Turkey join the alliance on 18 February 1952, followed by the Federal
Republic of Germany on 5 May 1955.
10.5.49
The Parliamentary Council votes by 33 votes to 29 to adopt Bonn as the
provisional seat of government.
12.5.49
In accordance with the New York Four Power Agreement signed an 4 May 1949,
the Soviet Union lifts transport restrictions between West Berlin and
the western zone of occupation, thereby ending the blockade of Berlin.
Late in the evening of the same day the three western military governors
receive representatives of the Parliamentary Council and approve the Basic
Law for a Federal Republic of Germany promulgated by the Council.
14.8.49 First elections to the German Bundestag, the lower house of parliament.
15.9.49
With the slimmest of majorities, the first German Bundestag elects Dr
Adenauer from the CDU party Federal Chancellor.
16.9.49
In Hungary a show trial planned long before starts against former Interior
Minister, Laszlo Rajk and seven co-defendants. The verdicts are delivered
after a trial lasting one week; Rajk and four other defendants are sentenced
to death, while the others receive lengthy or life sentences of imprisonment.
Rajk, veteran of the Spanish civil war, leader of the Communist resistance
in Hungary during World War Two and holder of high party office, is accused
of contacts with western secret services and involvement "Titoist
conspiracy."
According to the indictment, the case has international significance.
The American and English spy organizations bought the services of Tito's
people during the war against Hitler in order to prevent the national
and social liberation of the people of southeast Europe, isolate the Soviet
Union and prepare for the third world war".
15.10.49
The Soviet Union is the first country in the world to recognize the German
Democratic Republic and establish diplomatic relations with it.
In a telegram of congratulation an 13 October Stalin writes: "The
foundation of the peace-loving German Democratic Republic is a turning
point in Europe's history. There can be no doubt that the existance of
a peace-loving, democratic Germany alongside the existence of the peace-loving
Soviet Union precludes the possibility of new wars in Europe, puts an
end to bloodshed in Europe and prevents the subjugation of the European
countries by the world imperialists".
21.10.49
In a government statement to the Bundestag Chancellor Adenauer
denies that the GDR has any democratic legitimacy and maintains that the
federal government has the sole right of representation.
1950
25.4.50
President Truman approves a memorandum from the National Security Council
in the USA (NSC 68) an future politico-military strategy towards the USSR.
The secret paper reports that the Soviet Union is at present turning its
interest to the "subversion or violent destruction of the system
of government and social structure of the countries of the non-Soviet
world" and is currently concentrating on dominating the Eurasian
landmass"; as a countermeasure the paper recommends an "accelerated
build-up of political, economic and military strength in order to create
confidence in the free world". Memorandum NSC 68 formulates and puts
in writing the ideological framework for a "policy of strength".
25.6. 50
Units of the North Korean army Cross the 38th parallel and advance an
Seoul.
After Japan's capitulation Korea ist occupied north of the 38th parallel
by the Red Army and to the south by the US army. Under the occupation
regimes with corresponding allegiances and backing are established an
each side: Kim 11-Sung's in the north and Syngman Rhee's anti-communist
regime in the south. They remain hostile to each other even after the
withdrawal of the occupying forces in 1949, and there are spasmodic border
skirmishes along the demarcation line. The incursion of North Korean troops
becomes more than a border incident rohen an the third day of the invasion,
South Korea unnecessarily - retreats before the invaders - clearly with
the intention of provoking massive support from the USA.
27.6.50
President Truman orders support for the South Korean troops from American
air and naval forces.
The US government regards the attack by the North Koreans as a "Soviet
challenge" to the free world.
Under the command of US General MacArthur South Korean and American forces
fight under UN auspices against the Soviet-backed "aggressor"
from the north. The war escalates when MacArthur's forces cross the 38th
parallel on 15 September and advance as far as the Chinese border. This
action provokes Chinas intervention in the conflict. The first armed confrontation
between the two power blocs creates grave anxiety in all quarters. In
the USA the anti-communist hardliners see their postition justified; the
"policy of strength" propagated in Memorandum NSC 68 gains favour.
In Europe there are also increasing fears about the expansionist threat
of the Communist system and growing acceptance of the need for common
defense.
12 to 18.9.50
The conference of foreign ministers of the western powers agrees that
West Germany should make a military contribution to the defense of Europe.
1951
10.7.51
Start of ceasefire negotiations in Korea which drag on over two years.
10 to 14.9.51
The conference of the three western foreign ministers in Washington agrees
to allow the Federal Republic to join the EDC and to rescind the occupation
statute.
Germany is to be allowed to make a contribution to defense within the
framework of the European Defense Community (EDC) while the occupation
statute will be replaced by special agreement with a general treaty.
19.11.51
The federal government applies to the Federal Constitutional Court for
the banning of the neo-nazi Socialist Reich Party (SRP). The hearing begins
an 24. 1. 52 and ends an 23. 10. 52 with a judgment ordering the disbanding
of the party.
22.11.51
The federal government applies to the Federal Constitutional Court of
the banning of the German Communist Party.
1952
10.3.52
The government of the USSR hands a note to the governments of France,
Great Britain and the USA containing new Soviet proposals for the settlement
of the German question.
In order to prevent the rearmament of the Federal Republic within the
EDC the Soviet Union first appeals to responsibility under the four-power
agreement and cites the demilitarization measures agreed at Potsdam.
The western powers react coolly and in return call for free elections
for the whole of Germany, an issue not mentioned in the "Stalin note".
But on 9 April Moscow concedes even this possibility. Further notes are
exchanged, generating intense public debate in the Federal Republic. Along
with the western powers the federal government regards the Soviet proposals
as a simple manoeuvre to block the integration of the Federal Republic
into the western world. The opposite view, held by prominent politicians
and journalists, is that refusal to rearm and enter military alliances
may represent the last chance of achieving reunification. Accordingly
they demand that the seriousness of the Soviet proposals be tested by
means of negotiations.
25.3.52
The reply sent by the western powers to the USSR makes free elections
under UN supervision a precondition of negotiations over a peace treaty.
9.4.52
In a further note to the western powers the USSR continues to insist that
Germany remain free from alliances but agress to allow free elections
in Germany an condition that they are supervised not by the UN but by
the Four Powers.
The Council of Ministers in the GDR issues an "Ordinance an measures
at the demarcation line between the German Democratic Republic and the
west German zones of occupation. "
The Ministry for State Security is made responsible for the control and
intensified surveillance of the borders of the GDR in order to prevent
"a further incursion of saboteurs, spies, terrorists and parasites"
into the GDR; later an a 5 km-wide area of no-man's land is established
along the demarcation line.
27.5.52
The foreign ministers of the six countries of the European Coal and Steel
Community sign the treaty an the "European Defense Community"
(EDC) in Paris.
The EDC treaty provides for the setting up of a European defense force,
inucluding a contingent of German troops, based an the principles of equality
and integration. lt is coupled with the "Germany treaty". Neither
treaty ultimately comes into effect because on 30 August 1954 the French
National Assembly votes against ratification of the EDC treaty.
20 to 27.11.52
Slansky trial in Prague
On trial are fourteen leading Communists - Spanish civil war fighters,
members of the anti-fascist resistance and concentration camp survivors.
They are accused of leading a group of subversive conspirators headed
by Rudolf Slansky. The trial takes place against the background of deansing
operations initiated throughout the eastern bloc following YugosIavia's
expulsion from COMINFORM. In 1950/51 150,000 SED members are thrown out
of the party. In December 1952, after the verdict is announced, the Central
Committee of the SED draws "lessons from the trial against the Slansky
conspirators"; further expulsions follow and Franz Dahlem, Ulbricht's
most influential opponent in the SED leadership, is removed from power.
1953
5.3.53
Death of Stalin
6.3.53
One day after Stalin's death the Central Committee of the SED meets in
special session to mourn him; the Council of Ministers in the GDR orders
national mourning.
19.3.53
The German Bundestag ratifies the "Germany treaty" and the EDC
treaty.
7 to 19.4.53
Federal Chancellor Adenauer visits the USA and Canada for the first time.
11.5.53
In a speech to the House of Commons Prime Minister Churchill speaks of
the possibility of a summit meeting of the great powers.
After Stalins death elements of detente are still detectable in Soviet
politics; they are regarded more positively in Britain than in government
circles in the USA.
17.6.53
Unrest in Berlin and the GDR. High Commissioner Semionov summons the SED
Politburo to Karlshorst and announces a state of emergency with effect
from 13.00.
In the period from 16 to 18 June strikes and demonstrations are held in
more than 250 places in the GDR; regular reporting of the events in East
Berlin by the West Berlin radio station RIAS helps to spread the protests.
Where these public demonstrations do not fizzle out themselves they are
suppressed by soldiers from the Red Army. Although in the main Soviet
tanks are used only against demonstrations of power, the unrest leaves
at least 21 people dead. The state of emergency in Berlin is not lifted
again until 11 July.
27.6.53
Fall of Beria in Moscow.
2.8.53
The Soviet Union detonates its first hydrogen bomb.
1954
25.3.54
The government of the USSR publishes a declaration recognizing the sovereignty
of the German Democratic Republic.
9.6.54
Georg Dertinger, former foreign minister of the GDR and deputy chairman
of the CDU, and other co-defendants are sentenced to lengthy terms of
imprisonment by the supreme court in the GDR.
30.8.54
The EDC treaty is rejected by the French National Assembly.
The result of this rejection is that the "Germany treaty", signed
in May 1952 by the Federal Republic of Germany, also fails to come into
effect. Not only does the decision signify that the sovereignty of the
Federal Republic of Germany continues to be restricted, it is also a black
day for supporters of the idea of a united Europe.
27.9 to 3.10.54
The London Nine-Power Conference, which is also attended by the federal
German Chancellor, discusses the issue of a European federation and a
defense contribution an the part of the Federal Republic within the framework
of NATO. The discussions are continued and concluded shortly afterwards
in the Paris Conferences.
19 to 23.10.54
The parallel conferences in Paris lead to the signing of the Paris Treaties
an the expansion of the existing western union into the Western European
Union (WEU), a reformulation of the Germany treaty and the entry of the
Federal Republic into NATO; the three western allies recognize the federal
government as the sole German government (with sole claim to representation);
the other NATO countries adopt the declaration.
1955
25.1.55
The Soviet Union declares an end to the state of war with Germany.
5.5.55
The Paris Treaties come into force; the three high commissioners sign
the proclamation on the lifting of the occupation statute; the Federal
Republic becomes sovereign.
14.5.55
Signing of the Warsaw Pact.
The treaty an friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance (Warsaw Treaty)
is signed by Albania, Bulgaria, the GDR, Poland, Romania, the CSSR, the
Soviet Union and Hungary; at the same time a resolution is passed to create
a unified military command. The Warsaw Pact is formally dissolved an 1
July 1991.
20.9.55
The "full sovereignty" of the GDR is confirmed by the USSR by
the handover to the GDR of the control of roads and waterways to West
Berlin, with the exception of western allied traffic.
*(extract from catalog: Germany in the cold war; 1945-1963, Berlin 1962)
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