Allied Occupation Zones in Germany (1945–1949)

1. German surrender ends Nazi rule in Europe

   May 8, 1945Labels: German Armed, Allied Occupation

   • Britannica
   • Flensburg Gov

2. Flensburg Government dissolved by Allied arrests

   May 23, 1945Labels: Flensburg Government, British Forces

   • Flensburg Gov

3. Berlin Declaration asserts four-power authority

   Jun 5, 1945Labels: Four Powers, Berlin

   • Yale Avalon
   • Berlin Decl

4. Potsdam Conference sets occupation goals

   Aug 2, 1945Labels: Potsdam Conference, Allied Leaders

   • Britannica
   • Potsdam Conf

5. Allied Control Council begins governing Germany

   Aug 30, 1945Labels: Allied Control, Berlin

   • ACC
   • CVCE

6. Nuremberg Trial of major Nazi leaders opens

   Nov 20, 1945Labels: Nuremberg Trials, International Military

   • USHMM
   • Britannica

7. Saar separated from Allied zone system

   Feb 16, 1946Labels: Saar, France

   • Saar Prot
   • French Zone

8. Anglo-American Bizone formed for joint administration

   Jan 1, 1947Labels: Bizone, United States

   • Britannica
   • Bizone

9. Allies abolish Prussia by Control Council law

   Feb 25, 1947Labels: Prussia, Allied Control

   • Abolish Prussia
   • ACC

10. Deutsche Mark introduced in western zones

    Jun 20, 1948Labels: Deutsche Mark, Western Zones

    • GHDI
    • Currency Reform

11. Soviet Union begins Berlin Blockade

    Jun 24, 1948Labels: Berlin Blockade, Soviet Union

    • Britannica
    • GHDI

12. French zone joins western economic union (Trizone)

    Aug 1, 1948Labels: Trizone, France

    • Bizone
    • French Zone

13. Berlin Blockade lifted after airlift succeeds

    May 12, 1949Labels: Berlin Airlift, Soviet Union

    • Britannica

14. Basic Law creates Federal Republic from western zones

    May 23, 1949Labels: Basic Law, Federal Republic

    • Fed Govt
    • DW

15. German Democratic Republic proclaimed in Soviet zone

    Oct 7, 1949Labels: German Democratic, Soviet Zone

    • State Dept
    • Soviet Zone