Four-Power Authorities: Difference between revisions

Following the defeat of [[Nazi Germany]] and then the partition of German territory, two '''Four-Power Authorities''', in which the four main victor nations (Thethe [[United States]], the [[United Kingdom]], the [[Soviet Union]] and [[France]]) managed equally, were created.

The intended governing body of Germany until it could run itself was called the '''[[Allied Control Council]]'''. The commanders-in-chief exercised supreme authority in their respective zones and acted in concert on questions affecting the whole country. The capital [[Berlin]], which lay in the Soviet sector, was also divided into four sectors.

Only two jointly- run four-power organizations survived the division of Germany. Both were in [[West Berlin]], [[Germany]], and existed during the [[Cold War]] from 1948 to 1989. These were the [[Berlin Air Safety Center]] and [[Spandau Prison]] (which was demolished in 1987 when [[Rudolf Hess]], the sole remaining prisoner, died).

These two organizations were uniquely four-powered in that American, British, French, and Soviet authorities cooperated in their management. This was a far crydifferent from the intensely adversarial relations the allies had with the [[Warsaw Pact]] leader in almost every other aspect of world affairs during this time. Both organizations remained low-profile and secretive during their existences to avoid highlighting the politically sensitive nature of their interactions and cooperations.

* [[Four Power (disambiguation)]]

* [[Four Power AgreementNaval on BerlinCommission]]

* [[Council of Foreign Ministers]]

* [[European Advisory Commission]]
* [[Treaty on the Final Settlement With Respect to Germany]]

* [[History of Germany since 1945]].

[[Category:France–SovietUnited UnionKingdom–United States military relations]]