The USA cedes conquered territories to the Soviet Union
Realizing that they were about to win the Second World War, the “Big Three” – Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin – took the decision in September 1944 to divide post-war Germany into three zones of occupation. This settlement was amended in July 1945 to give France an area of control and reduce the level of Soviet influence. The Soviet zone was to include areas in Thuringia, Saxony, West Prussia and Mecklenburg. In the final weeks of the war, US troops advanced faster than expected and occupied areas intended for conquest by the Red Army. When rumours spread that the Western Allies planned to withdraw from these areas, many Germans fled westwards to escape Russian reprisals for German atrocities committed in the East. Companies such as Siemens also took steps to relocate machinery, documents and staff.
US forces withdrew to the pre-arranged areas of control in July 1945. Although the Soviet troops that moved in remained largely peaceful, after a few months, the new occupation authority began with the forcible removal of 60,000 musical instruments, a million items of furniture and articles of clothing such as winter coats. 3,000 businesses were dismantled and moved eastwards, together with industrial goods, raw materials and foodstuffs. The Soviets also interned former Nazis and anyone suspected of “anti-Soviet activity” in Special Camps set up in a range of installations including the former Buchenwald concentration camp near Weimar.
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