Is WOII over? (1 Viewer)

[JPB]

Is WOII over?

Technically not I, I believe that there is no agreement between Germany and Russia.

JPB

 

[theBaron]

Actually, it is. In 1990, the "Treaty on the Final Settlement with Respect to Germany" was negotiated between the Federal Republic of Germany, and the Four Powers-the US, the UK, the USSR and France. It went into effect in 1991, and Germany regained her full sovereignty at that time.

In this treaty, the Four Powers gave up all remaining rights they held as the result of the defeat of the Third Reich and subsequent agreements; the Soviets agreed to withdraw their remaining troops from German territory by 1994 (which was accomplished); the states that made up the former German Democratic Republic were declared to be a nuclear-free zone; and the Federal Republic agreed to negotiate a separate agreement with Poland on the former German territories which fell under Polish control after 1945. That treaty was negotiated also in 1990.

The treaty was signed by both West and East Germany, and paved the way for final, legal reunification. It was ratified by the reunited Germany.

BTW, we are approaching the anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall, on the 9th. Mauerspechte voraus!

Prosit!
Brad

 

[Spitfrnd]

...BTW, we are approaching the anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall, on the 9th. Mauerspechte voraus!

Prosit!
Brad

Indeed, I had the good fortune to be in Berlin that week. It was a lifetime experience.

 

[theBaron]

I saw it, before it fell, as a student in 1985. I also got to visit East Berlin. I remember noticing large paved areas, as I walked around, areas that looked out of place, as though something should have stood there. Then I realized that I was looking at sections of city blocks that the Communists simply paved over, because they couldn't marshall the resources to restore or replace the war damage. Silent testimony to the failure of that worldview.

I also saw a rally of the "Free German Youth" blueshirts. "You may not stand with us, but your children will!" As true for the Communists, as it was for the Nazis (after all, they are ideological cousins.)

I also was amused by the East German guards and border personnel, who were visibly irritated by green Jägerrock that I wore (surplus from the Grenzschütz and my Bavarian accent, but who found they couldn't stop me, when I showed my US passport. Bloody Prussians!

Their beer was awful, too. No "People's Own Enterprise" could compete with ours in the West. (I trust it's gotten better.)

Prost!
Brad

 

[redhugh]

Is WOII over?

Technically not I, I believe that there is no agreement between Germany and Russia.

JPB

Its Russia and Japan who haven't signed a peace treaty yet

"Russia and Japan have yet to sign a formal peace treaty due to their territorial dispute over the South Kuril Islands, former Japanese territory annexed by the Soviet Union after World War II."

Its still on

 

[Spitfrnd]

I saw it, before it fell, as a student in 1985. I also got to visit East Berlin. I remember noticing large paved areas, as I walked around, areas that looked out of place, as though something should have stood there. Then I realized that I was looking at sections of city blocks that the Communists simply paved over, because they couldn't marshall the resources to restore or replace the war damage. Silent testimony to the failure of that worldview.

I also saw a rally of the "Free German Youth" blueshirts. "You may not stand with us, but your children will!" As true for the Communists, as it was for the Nazis (after all, they are ideological cousins.)

I also was amused by the East German guards and border personnel, who were visibly irritated by green Jägerrock that I wore (surplus from the Grenzschütz and my Bavarian accent, but who found they couldn't stop me, when I showed my US passport. Bloody Prussians!

Their beer was awful, too. No "People's Own Enterprise" could compete with ours in the West. (I trust it's gotten better.)

Prost!
Brad

The EG Guards were indeed colorful and amusing. That was my first trip to that part of Germany and I was amazed at the differences between the West and East. As you note, WW II battle damage was still apparent in the East and our cab driver was happy to point out all the empty Eastern apartment buildings that, while being relatively new, had to be abandoned since they were literally falling apart due to poor construction materials and technique. I remember wondering how in the world West Germany was going to bring all the Communist era infrastructure up to standard. Of course for that week, it was all one giant party.