Differences Between West Vs East Germany

West vs East Germany
After World War II, Germany was in ruins and the world was divided. In a famous speech Churchill expressed his view that an Iron Curtain had now descended across Europe (Harbutt 551), “From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Atlantic, an iron curtain has descended across the Continent” (Perry 452). The “Iron Curtain” that had fallen across Europe, separated the West and East. A Cold War had begun between the two major powers: The U.S and Soviet Union. It was Capitalism\Democracy vs Communism/Autocracy (Perry 452). This curtain laid between West and East Germany. The West controlled by the U.S. and the East by the Soviet Union. Germany while being virtually one country was split between 2 really different ideologies,resulting
West Germany or “FRG” (Federal Republic of Germany) was a capitalistic society that favored democracy as they were heavily influenced by U.S. that dominated decision making in the West (Richard L. Merritt 91-92).West Germany’s economic structure was owned and controlled by the private individual. From businesses to property everything was privately owned. Their economy was largely driven by free enterprise (Heller,Walter W. 215-231). Every West German had to work for themselves to create their amount of wealth. Although, not everyone was employed. Resulting in a society of different class distinctions: the rich, middle class and poor. Their economy overall was free and competitive with little to no government interference. All these factors along with certain reforms and aid from the U.S. West Germany eventually had an economic miracle or boom called “Wirtschaftswunder” in the 1950s that stunned and was hailed by its other European neighbors (Lutz, F.A 122-42). Theodore White in his regular visits to West Germany wrote “Germany is alive and vigorous again-to the sight, to the ear, to the touch.”(Theodore H. White “Germany Is Alive and Vigorous Again” 468). These improving economic conditions greatly improved living standards for many living in West Germany. Due to being more of a capitalistic society and financial aid from the USA, West Germany eventually had an
As the country was separated, each side began to develop their own culture. In West Germany, people were more independent and open to discussions. They were also more ambitious and motivated to start and take on different ventures (Judith Meyer, “Understanding Germany” 1). The people were also less misogynistic or racist as West Germany went through more “denazification” than East Germany (Merritt 93). People in West Germany were often welcoming to foreigners that would immigrate to the country. Another major factor that heavily influenced West German culture was the influence of the U.S. and rest of Western Europe in general. This resulted in West Germany becoming more of a cosmopolitan society noted by Austin Harrington in his book “German Cosmopolitan Social Thought and the ideas of the West: Voices from Weimar” where he mentions that historians were seeing a “tendency of liberal cosmopolitan orientations in German literary and academic writing” (Harrington 17). Sports were also very popular especially football/soccer as it became the most played sport in West Germany. In fact, West Germany won the 1990 FIFA World Cup, the headline read “Germans’ triumph sullied as Argentina are disgraced” (Colin Gibson “In Rome”). Literature was also prominent in West Germany. A movement by the name “Trümmerliteratur” meaning “Rubble Literature” took place right after