Die Sowjetunion und die deutsche Frage

13 years after Wilfried Loth’s publication Stalin’s Unwanted Child he draws conclusions from his research on Soviet policy towards Germany after the Second World War. What do the Moscow archive say about the intention Stalins’, of his programme for the defeated Germany and his motives? How did the Soviet policy towards Germany change throughout the political process with the Western allies and the situation in occupied Germany? Who influenced Stalin’s politics and how did the successor deal with the inheritance of the policy towards Germany?Archives show that Stalin against assumptions held on to a programme for the whole of Germany. Until March 1945 this programme said to split Germany between the Western countries and to build a system of peace amongst the victorious powers. Then a united German state within the borders of the occupation zone was meant to be established. The SED-dictatorship became only of prime importance in Soviet politics with the fall of Berijas. The author’s conscientuous analysis removes the basis for other specualtions on the aims of the Soviet policy towards Germany. Pivotal documents allow verifying if Loth’s arguments are conclusive. Wilfried Loth delivers an essential key to the understanding of the division of Germany and Europe after the Second World War. He also gives a new insight into the mechanisms of power and its structures.