Details

Abstract / Summary

This case study is designed to highlight the link between two problems: the origins of the Cold War, and the resolution of the “German Question”: the belief that whoever controlled Germany could dominate the whole of Europe and tilt the global balance of power against its rival. Indeed, the country’s strategic, economic, and political importance made both East and West fearful of the prospect of a unified Deutschland aligning itself with the other side. This case asks students to analyze what the United States and its allies were likely to gain through negotiations with the Soviets versus what they could achieve, and to a large extent had already achieved, through negotiations among themselves. It could be paired with Case Study 147, “Deciding Germany’s Future, 1943-1945.”

Field of Interest

World History

Author

David S. Painter, 1948-

Publisher

The Institute for the Study of Diplomacy

Copyright Message

Copyright © 1988 The Institute for the Study of Diplomacy

Content Type

Case study

Warning: Contains explicit content

No

Format

Text

Page Count

22

Publication Year

1988

Publisher

Georgetown University. School of Foreign Service. Institute for the Study of Diplomacy

Place Published / Released

District of Columbia

Series Number

Case 139

Subject

World History, Global Issues, History, Social Sciences, Trade and Commerce, Individual and Groups Rights, Border Enforcement and Control, Germany and its Borders, Cold War, 1945-1989, Berlin Blockade, Berlin, Germany, 1948-1949, History, Diplomacy, Politics & Policy, Comercio, Comércio, Direitos Individuais e de Grupo, Derechos del Individuo y de Grupos, Alemania, Alemanha, Deutschland, Unión de Repúblicas Socialistas Soviéticas; Unión Soviética, União das Repúblicas Socialistas Soviéticas; União Soviética, USSR (Historical Place), Soviet Union (Historical Place), United States of America, USA, US of A, America, Estados Unidos, George F. Kennan, 1904-2005, Germany, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (Historical Place), United States, 20th Century in World History (1914--2000)

Series / Program

Institute for the Study of Diplomacy Case Study Program

Keywords and Translated Subjects

Comercio, Comércio, Direitos Individuais e de Grupo, Derechos del Individuo y de Grupos, Alemania, Alemanha, Deutschland, Unión de Repúblicas Socialistas Soviéticas; Unión Soviética, União das Repúblicas Socialistas Soviéticas; União Soviética, USSR (Historical Place), Soviet Union (Historical Place), United States of America, USA, US of A, America, Estados Unidos