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 APPROVED FOR RELEASE: 2009/06/16: CIA-RDP01-00707R000200110019-3

Chronology (u/ou)

1945
 * April
 * First group of German Communist emigres, headed by Walter Ulbricht, returns from Moscow to take charge of civil affairs under Soviet auspices.
 * May
 * German High Command signs unconditional surrender.
 * June
 * Allied Control Council composed of United Kingdom, France, United States, and U.S.S.R. takes over government of Germany.
 * July-August
 * Tripartite (United States, United Kingdom, and U.S.S.R.) Potsdam Conference confirms division of Germany into four zones of occupation, while Berlin is divided into sectors occupied by four Allied powers. Germany not to be partitioned but to be treated as single economic unit with certain administrative departments following a common policy to be determined by Allied Control Council.

1946
 * April
 * Socialist Unity Party (SED) founded in Soviet Zone through forced merger of Communist Party and Social Democratic Party.
 * October
 * Elections held for parliaments in five Laender created in Soviet Zone, and coalition governments (SED, CDU, LDPD) formed. Number of central administrative departments created, directly responsible to Soviet occupation authorities.

1947
 * January
 * U.S. and British zones fused into the Bizone to cope with economic problems worsened by Soviet lack of cooperation. (French zone joined in October 1948.)
 * December
 * SED convenes People's Congress in East Berlin; by apportionment of seats SED and front parties dominate.

1948
 * January
 * Power and composition of Economic Council of Bizone changed to create nucleus of a future German government.
 * March
 * Soviet representative walks out of Allied Control Council, thus ending last vestige of joint control.
 * April
 * Soviet authorities gradually extend restrictions on road and rail traffic to Berlin.
 * June
 * Soviet representative leaves Allied Kommandatura, executive body for Berlin. Total blockade imposed on 2.5 million inhabitants of West Berlin by Soviet and East German authorities, requiring airlift by U.S. and British to supply city.
 * Summer
 * U.S.S.R. begins to build up militarized police force in East Germany, in violation of Potsdam Agreement.

1949
 * May
 * Blockade of West Berlin ends. People's Congress adopts East German Constitution. Federal Republic comes into existence in West Germany with publication of its constitution.
 * September
 * East German regime joins Soviet-sponsored Council for Economic Mutual Assistance.
 * October
 * German Democratic Republic proclaimed and its government recognized by Soviet Union and Soviet-dominated governments; Soviet Military Administration dissolved and administrative functions transferred to East German regime; East German representative at quadripartite functions retained by Soviet Control Commission.

1950
 * July
 * East Germany and Poland sign treaty at Goerlitz recognizing Oder-Neisse line as their frontier.
 * October
 * General elections held in East Germany establishes primacy of SED. To enhance illusion of East German autonomy, Soviet Control Commission replaced by a Soviet High Commissioner with rank of ambassador.

1952
 * May
 * Police-guarded no man's land 3 miles wide created along entire western frontier excluding only Berlin.
 * July
 * East Germany administrative divisions reorganized; traditional Laender abolished; 14 districts (Bezirke), similar to Soviet oblast, established. Collectivization of agriculture begins.

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