Destroyed cities, people in need:After the Second World War, Germany is fighting for survival. The country also has to reorganize itself politically. What was the development like in the north?
Hunger, cold and a lack of housing made the first years after the end of the war in 1945 a struggle for survival for many Germans. Countless refugees are flocking to northern Germany in particular. Life is provisional, old structures no longer exist. The four victorious powers have divided the country among themselves - sometimes across old provincial borders. Large parts of northern Germany form the British occupation zone. Today's Mecklenburg-West Pomerania, on the other hand, belongs to the Soviet zone.
Create new structures
In the years after 1945, the occupying powers set up new structures to help the Germans establish their own administration and political organization. In addition to denazification and democratization, the Potsdam Agreement of August 2, 1945 also provides for the creation of new administrative structures. But how should one restructure Germany, which is lying in rubble and ashes? How about a country "Lower Elbe"? Or a federal state "Weser-Ems"? In the first few years after the end of the Second World War, a lot suddenly seemed possible - and just as much was discussed. The paths and developments of the individual countries founded by the end of 1946 are correspondingly different.
The new beginning in Schleswig-Holstein
In the first few years after the war, Schleswig-Holstein was particularly affected by the large number of refugees from the former eastern territories. In addition, there are countless "displaced persons", as the former forced laborers and liberated camp inmates who were deported to Germany are called. Schleswig-Holstein, which is already suffering economically, is overwhelmed with the care of the new arrivals. In Schleswig, the so-called New Danes flourished and with it the hope of bringing Schleswig back under the Danish crown - probably also because the supply situation in Denmark is better.
23. August 1946:Schleswig-Holstein is born
On August 23, 1946, the British military government allows the formation of countries in their zone of occupation. This date is considered the birth of the state of Schleswig-Holstein, which was previously a Prussian province. Against resistance from Schleswig, the seat of government is moved to Kiel. The British military government appoints Theodor Steltzer Prime Minister. Schleswig remains part of Schleswig-Holstein and therefore German, but the minority rights of the Danes-Germans are strengthened.
Hamburg remains a free and Hanseatic city
Hamburg remains independent even after the war:the British military government confirms the independent existence of the Free and Hanseatic City. In November 1946 the first general election takes place. Max Brauer emerges from this as the winner for the office of First Mayor.
One of the most serious problems in Hamburg is the housing shortage:more than 280,000 apartments were completely destroyed during the war and a further 172,000 were damaged. In 1948, 200,000 Hamburgers were still living in emergency shelters such as barracks, bunkers or ruins.
Brits reject Northern State
The idea of a larger northern state as a merger of several countries, which has also been discussed again and again in the recent past, for example in Hamburg, already existed back then. Hermann Lüdemann, Schleswig-Holstein Prime Minister from 1947 to 1949, is committed to this. But his plan to form a northern state called "Lower Elbe" with Hamburg and Lower Saxony was rejected by both the British occupying forces and the people of Hamburg.
A new political entity:Lower Saxony
After the Second World War, Lower Saxony is a new political entity south of the Elbe. Previously it consisted of the Prussian provinces of Brunswick, Oldenburg, Hanover and Schaumburg-Lippe, which the British occupiers renamed to Länder. One person in particular is campaigning for these countries to ultimately merge into a larger entity:Hinrich Wilhelm Kopf, initially the Chief President of the Province of Hanover. But Braunschweig and Oldenburg made other suggestions. Oldenburg, for example, suggested a federal state called "Weser-Ems".
Nevertheless, on November 1, 1946, the British military government's "Regulation No. 55" officially established the state of Lower Saxony with the capital Hanover. Hinrich Wilhelm Kopf is elected Prime Minister. There were initial protests, especially from Oldenburg, and the "dominance of Hanover" was even criticized as a "dictatorial measure".
Mecklenburg becomes three districts
Similar to the British, Americans and French, the Soviet occupiers initially created five states in their zone after 1945:Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia, Saxony and Brandenburg. A Soviet order dated July 9, 1945 ordered the founding of the state of Mecklenburg-West Pomerania. The British troops stationed in western Mecklenburg are withdrawing. The Mecklenburg-West Pomeranian Consultative Assembly appointed by the Soviet Military Administration (SMAD) is intended to pave the way to the state parliament, which is elected in October 1946. By order of the SMAD, the state was only called Mecklenburg from 1947.
The SED politicians Wilhelm Pieck and Otto Grotewohl shaped the development phase of the GDR.Years later, after the GDR had already detached itself as an independent state, the government there decided in July 1952 to reorganize the middle level of government based on the Soviet model. From the previous five states, 15 districts are created. The state of Mecklenburg is divided into the three districts of Rostock, Schwerin and Neubrandenburg. When the People's Chamber passed the Federal State Introductory Act on July 22, 1990 after the fall of the Wall, the three districts became today's federal state of Mecklenburg-West Pomerania.
Consequence of the Cold War:Two German States
The overriding question is even more complicated:how should a new German state emerge from the occupation zones? The increasing political tensions between the USA and the USSR mark the beginning of the Cold War. In addition, the economic developments in the occupation zones continue to diverge. The establishment of the bizone by the British and Americans and the Marshall Plan boosted the economy in West Germany. On the other hand, the Soviet Union continues to insist on dismantling for reparation purposes. The currency reform of June 20, 1948, which, contrary to the will of the Soviets, is also to apply to the western sector of Berlin, culminates in the Berlin blockade in 1948. The division of Germany - and thus the founding of two German states - is becoming more and more likely.
23. May 1949:Promulgation of the Basic Law
On September 1, 1948, the Parliamentary Council is opened in Bonn. Its president is Konrad Adenauer.On July 1, 1948, the Western military governors handed over the "Frankfurt Documents" to the West German Prime Minister:They contained the mandate to found a West German state and to draw up a constitution. On September 1, 1948, the Parliamentary Council met in Bonn for the first time. His job is to draft the Basic Law. On May 8, 1949, the Parliamentary Council passed the Basic Law by a vote of 53 to 12. With the exception of Bavaria, which calls for a stronger federal character, the states also voted in favor of the Basic Law a few days later. On May 23, 1949, it was solemnly announced - the birth of the Federal Republic of Germany.
7. October 1949:People's Chamber puts the GDR constitution into effect
For a long time, the political forces in the Soviet occupation zone worked towards founding a unified German state. In October 1948, the Second German People's Congress, which also included members from the West, was to work out the draft of an all-German constitution for the "German Democratic Republic" under the direction of the former SPD and now SED politician Otto Grotewohl. Forced to act by the founding of the Federal Republic, the Third People’s Congress met on May 28 and 29, 1949. It accepted the draft constitution with only one dissenting vote and held elections to the Second German People’s Council. From this, the Provisional People's Chamber was constituted on October 7, 1949, which put the GDR constitution into effect.