British occupation zone facts for kids

The Allied powers won World War II against Nazi Germany. After the war, from 1945 to 1949, they split Germany into four occupation zones. This meant different parts of Germany were controlled by different countries.

The British zone included areas like Schleswig-Holstein, Hamburg, Lower Saxony, and what is now North Rhine-Westphalia. The British military government was based in a town called Bad Oeynhausen.

Even though Bremen and Bremerhaven were surrounded by the British zone, they were given to the United States so the Americans would have a port. What is now Rhineland-Palatinate was first meant for the British zone. But it was later given to the French to form part of their occupation zone.

In May 1949, the British, French, and American zones joined together. They formed a new country called the Federal Republic of Germany. The military leaders who were in charge were replaced by civilian high commissioners. These high commissioners acted like both governors and ambassadors. The occupation officially ended in 1955. This is when the Federal Republic became a fully independent country. The high commissioners were then replaced by regular ambassadors. However, the four Allied powers still had special rights in Germany until 1990. This was when the Final Settlement was signed.

The city of Berlin was special. It was not part of either the new West or East German states. Berlin stayed under Allied control until 1990.

Quick facts for kids German Reich Deutsches Reich
1945–1949
The C-Pennant
Post-Nazi German occupation borders and territories from 1945 to 1949. British (green), French (blue), American (orange) and Soviet (red) occupation zones. Saar Protectorate (light blue) in the west under the control of France. Berlin is the quadripartite area shown within the red Soviet zone. Bremen consists of the two orange American exclaves in the British sector.
Status	Military occupation
Capital	Berlin (de jure) Frankfurt (American zone) Bad Oeynhausen (British zone) Baden-Baden (French zone) East Berlin (Soviet zone)
Governors (1945)
• British zone	F. Mar. Montgomery
• French zone	Gen. Lattre de Tassigny
• US zone	Gen. Eisenhower
Historical era	Cold War
• Surrender	8 May 1945
• Allied Control Council	5 July 1945
• Saar Protectoratea	15 December 1947
• Federal Republic of Germany	23 May 1949
• German Democratic Republicb	7 October 1949
• Final Settlementc	12 September 1990
Population
• 1945	64,260,000
• 1949	68,080,000
Currency	Reichsmark (1945–48) Rentenmark (1945–48) Deutschmark (W: 1948–49)d Deutschmark (E: 1948–49)e Saar mark (Saar: 1947–48) Saar franc (Saar: 1948–59)
ISO 3166 code	DE
Preceded by Succeeded by Nazi Germany West Germany East Germany Saar Protectorate West Berlin
Today part of	Germany
Joined the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) on 1 January 1957. Reunited Germany by joining the Federal Republic of Germany on 3 October 1990. German reunification took place on 3 October 1990. The western Allied zones of Germany and the western sectors of Berlin. The Soviet zone of Germany and sector of Berlin.
The four sectors of the Allied occupation of Berlin and exclaves.

Military Leaders and High Commissioners

After the war, military leaders were in charge of each occupation zone. They were called military governors. Later, these governors were replaced by high commissioners. These commissioners helped Germany become an independent country again.

British Zone Leaders

• From 1945 to 1946: Bernard Law Montgomery
• From 1946 to 1947: William Sholto Douglas
• From 1947 to 1949: Gen. Sir Brian Robertson

British High Commissioners

• From 1949 to 1950: Gen. Sir Brian Robertson
• From 1950 to 1953: Sir Ivone Kirkpatrick
• From 1953 to 1955: Sir Frederick Hoyer-Millar

Related Topics

• Allied occupation zone
• American occupation zone
• Soviet occupation zone

Images for kids

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  Allied zones of occupation in post-war Germany. This map shows the Soviet zone (red) and the inner German border (black line). It also shows the area from which American troops left in July 1945 (purple).

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  Pink areas show parts of Germany east of the Oder–Neisse line that became part of Poland. Red shows the Soviet Occupation zone of Germany.

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  The Royal Air Force's Malcolm Club in Schleswig in late 1945. This was formerly the Stadt Hamburg Hotel.

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  A British armored car at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, 1950.

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  A road sign showing the border of the British sector in Berlin, 1984.

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  French forces in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, 1946.

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  The insignia of the French Forces in Berlin after 1949.

Allied-occupied Germany#British Zone of Occupation