HI 224Raffael ScheckColby College

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Family Recollections

My Grandparents and Parents

Gustav Scheck (1901-1984)

Ernestine Nitschke-Scheck (1901-1984)

Florian Scheck (born 1936)

August Wache (1906-1994)

Klara Plessow-Wache (1902-1971)

Dora Zander-Wache (born 1912)

Monika Scheck-Wache (born 1935)

The Hour Zero

Living in the Ruins

Famines 12 million refugees from the East Denazification; Nürnberg Trials Allied considerations

The Partition of Germany

Against Partition: The Potsdam Conference (July-August 1945)

The 5 D‘s: – Democratization– Demilitarization– Denazification– Decartelization– Decentralization

Problems and Results: – Stalin decides on German east before the conference– Deportation of 12 million Germans sanctioned– No peace treaty; no German government– Tenuous agreement for common administration

The Beginning of the Cold War

Western suspicions of Soviet designs (Greek Civil War, 1947)

Growing cooperation between the western zones („Bizonia,“ 1947; „Trizonia,“ 1948)

Introduction of the D-mark in the western zones, 1948

The Berlin Blockade, 1948-49

The Federal Republic of Germany

Democratic constitution (Grundgesetz), October 1949

Weak president but strong chancellor Capital: Bonn Rapid economic recovery with the help

of the Marshall Plan

The German Democratic Republic

Forced unification of SPD and KPD (SED) Sham elections 1949 SED as Soviet style „Unity Party“ Capital: East Berlin Slow economic recovery Uprising in June 1953 Mass flight to the West until 1961

Reflections on Divided Germany, 1949-1990

West Germany

Success and stability of democracy; rule of law Prosperity, social welfare state; partnership of

trade unions and employers‘ federations Openness to the world Downsides: large unemployment since the 1970s;

environmental problems; terrorism; drugs; crime; malaise of wealth?

East Germany Another repressive system, based not on the

popularity of a dictator but on Soviet power; massive spying by secret police (Stasi); propaganda; careers monitored by the state

Scarcity; communist „welfare“ state Increasingly enclosed and parochial society Environmental crisis - but unacknowledged Bright sides? Almost no crime; no

unemployment; progressive policies toward women (employment; daycare; abortion)

Dealing with the Nazi Past: East Germany

Initial openness to discussing the Holocaust; later: anti-Israel stance

Focus on communist resistance; guilt hidden behind „antifascist“ ideology, which works as an integration factor („as communists, we were all victims of Nazism“)

Official Communist brotherhood with the Soviet Union and its allies

Accusation against West Germany and the U.S. as capitalist (equals fascist) states and successors of Nazism

Dealing With the Nazi Past: West Germany Distancing during the economic miracle (legends of

„clean“ army; generalization of the military resistance; anti-communism) - except for historians

Payments to surviving German Jews; support for Israel (since 1950s)

Totalitarian theory: communism as Nazism‘s relative Since 1970s: open and accusatory public discussion of the

Nazi past. Widespread acceptance of guilt. Mandatory Holocaust education; civil service in countries that suffered from German aggression

The EndThe End

It was a pleasure working with It was a pleasure working with you!you!