- Four-Power Authorities
Following the defeat of
Nazi Germany and then the partition of German territory, two Four-Power Authorities, in which all 3 of the conquering forces (TheUnited States , theUnited Kingdom , and theSoviet Union ) and another country,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 capitalBerlin , 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 theCold War from1948 to1989 . These were theBerlin Air Safety Center andSpandau Prison (which was demolished in1987 whenRudolf Hess , the sole remaining prisoner, died).Status
These two organizations were uniquely four-powered in that American, British, French, and Soviet authorities cooperated in their management. This was a far cry 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.ee also
*
Four Power (disambiguation)
*Four Power Agreement on Berlin
*Council of Foreign Ministers
*European Advisory Commission
*Treaty on the Final Settlement With Respect to Germany
*History of Germany since 1945 .
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