Catalogue Number
NMLH.1994.168.176
Object Name
Poster
Title
Four power talks- Britain should support A United Germany With No Military Alliances poster
People
Stalin
Events
The Berlin Blockade
Date
1948-1961
Description
Large black and white screen-printed poster. White background with large black text saying "FOUR POWER TALKS, BRITAIN SHOULD SUPPORT A UNITED GERMANY WITH NO MILITARY ALLIANCES. "This poster is a Cold War era poster - the cold war was an ongoing political, social and military rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union and their allies that developed after World War Two. This state of political hostility between countries, namely the Soviet Bloc countries and the Western powers, were characterised by threats, military threats, propaganda and other measures short of warfare. The official dates of the Cold War are from 1945-1990, but this has been disputed. "Four Power Talks" refers to the four powers who were the governing body of the Allied Occupation zones in Germany and Allied Occupied Austria after World War Two. Members were the Soviet Union. Britain, America and France. This poster is referring to the reunification of Germany, as in 1945 Germany was divided into four
zones with varying military alliances. This led to British and French zones launching their own currency, which led to the beginning of the Berlin blockade. This ended in 1949. In 1958, the second Berlin crisis started in which the Berlin wall was built in 1961 by the Society due to a breakdown in talks to decide the future of Germany. The Eastern bloc portrayed the wall as protecting its population from fascism - cutting off West Berlin from surrounding East Germany and East Berlin. This poster is stating that Britain should support the reunification of Germany with no military alliances, to provide a peaceful reunification without external military presence or alliances. In small black text the bottom of the poster says "printed by publicity Printing Co. (T.U.), 464 Duke St., Glasgow, E.1." The paper is creased.
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