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Bmw map of west Germany

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niall4473
Posts: 177
Joined: Mon Apr 09, 2007 2:54 pm
Location: U.K.
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West Berlin

Post by niall4473 »

Darryl,
not being an expert on German political history, I once again rely on anybody more knowledgeable to correct any mistakes.
Following the surrender of Nazi Germany in 1945, parts of Eastern Germany were given to Poland and the USSR, and what remained was divided into Germany and Austria as per pre-1936. Each was placed under Four-Power military occupation, and additionally, both Berlin and Vienna were divided although in Vienna's case the city was not quartered, the individual districts were split amongst the Occupying Powers, in 1955 the USSR withdrew from both Eastern Austria and Vienna, on condition that Austria become a neutral country, and the Western allies likewise withdrew.
Germany however was treated differently, when the Federal republic was created in 1949, the USSR refused to go along with it and created the DDR in response, the West Germans regarded the East, including territory beyond the Oder-Neisse line as 'German Territory' and did not recognise the DDR-Polish border for many years, although it maintained its claim to the DDR even after.
However the Western Allies refused to withdraw from Berlin and it remained under Allied Military Control, this included East Berlin, although it was also the capital of the DDR, because of this although West Berliners were automatically citizens of West Germany, they could not vote in West German elections, the West German Government appointed deputies to represent them in the Bundestag.
The were other anachronisms as well, I believe West Germans could cross over into East Berlin and East Germany, but West Berliners could not, unless it was from West Germany, via transit road/railway.
This was all to maintain the Nato military presence and retain control of West Berlin.
The Allied Military authorities did not want to continue the day to day administration of the city so they devolved to a civil administration under its own constitution, which co-operated very closely with the West German Government, including adopting West German Law etc, and which lead to the encouragement of industry to relocate which you referred to, because the economy of the city had to be seen to support its inhabitants, to maintain the 'free city' pretence, as the Russians would have been quite happy for the city to have been handed over to the DDR, in the same way that the Soviet Zone of Austria had been handed back in 1955. There was also all the spying, Spandau Prison and all the other stuff. Once Germany re-unified Greater Berlin was absorbed into the BRD.
So no, West Berlin was not actually part of West Germany.
Which may or may not explain why it is not shown on the dealer map, since there were dealers in the city, and the West Berlin Police used BMWs, which must have been supplied somehow.
Oil is always cheaper than metal

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