At the end of the Second World War, the city of Berlin was divided into the East and West in an attempt to prevent Germany from starting a third World War. However, this solution was not wanted by many countries; it was merely a compromise. Thus came the German Question. No one would give in and agree to unify Germany, especially the United States and the Soviet Union because the Cold War had just begun. The U.S. was afraid that if they gave in then communism would spread. At the time, leader of East Germany, Walter Ulbricht, wanted to stay in power and have a Soviet style economy, which is why the USSR refused to give in. Finding an answer to the German Question would be one of the driving factors behind the Cold War. One of the results would
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This fact once again brought the German Question to America’s attention (Hutchings). At this point, American presidents had repeatedly expressed “the importance of the Wall to America’s objectives in the Cold War,” the U.S. wanted reunification of Germany, while other countries, such as France and England, were hesitant to support it (Sloan). English Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher reportedly spoke against the reunification, saying that “the "Huns" would once again be a threat at the gates of the new Europe”, whereas, American President George H. W. Bush expressed support for reunification from the start (German). While Bush encouraged the reunification, he was still cautious about how to approach it. He worried that the Soviets would entice West Germany and get it to abandon its plan for democracy. What America wanted was a united Germany in NATO in an attempt to ensure its involvement with the future of Europe through the preservation of NATO (Hutchings). The process of reunification was practically unstoppable, partially due to America’s determination to keep Germany in NATO and solidifying a U.S.-Germany relationship. Two months after the fall Germany elected its first chancellor, Helmut Kohl, and officially became unified, marking the end of the Cold
This fact once again brought the German Question to America’s attention (Hutchings). At this point, American presidents had repeatedly expressed “the importance of the Wall to America’s objectives in the Cold War,” the U.S. wanted reunification of Germany, while other countries, such as France and England, were hesitant to support it (Sloan). English Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher reportedly spoke against the reunification, saying that “the "Huns" would once again be a threat at the gates of the new Europe”, whereas, American President George H. W. Bush expressed support for reunification from the start (German). While Bush encouraged the reunification, he was still cautious about how to approach it. He worried that the Soviets would entice West Germany and get it to abandon its plan for democracy. What America wanted was a united Germany in NATO in an attempt to ensure its involvement with the future of Europe through the preservation of NATO (Hutchings). The process of reunification was practically unstoppable, partially due to America’s determination to keep Germany in NATO and solidifying a U.S.-Germany relationship. Two months after the fall Germany elected its first chancellor, Helmut Kohl, and officially became unified, marking the end of the Cold