Berlin Accord

The **Berlin Accord** was the treaty establishing Russia-International governance over three occupation zones within the former German Empire, each to be later established as their own independent nation-states. In addition, it also established the annexation of certain German territories outside of the occupation zones.

## Treaty

The treaty was signed after the fall of Germany, between the following signatories:

* Belgium
* Britain
* Denmark (constituent state of the Nordic Federation)
* France
* Russia

## Territories annexed

### **Luxembourg**

The territories of western Luxembourg were returned to Belgium, though some Belgian diplomats argued for either the full annexation. They also pushed for a referendum for Luxemburgish independence in the region after the end of the zones. After multiple delays, the united government of West Germany held the vote, but it ended with only 42% of the population voting for independence. Though the syndicalist government was still unpopular, Luxembourg had already become fully integrated within the German Empire prior to the Second Weltkrieg, and many had viewed themselves as a core territory of Germany even after the war.

### **Heligoland**

Oswald Mosley, the chairman of the Union of Britain, heavily pushed for the annexation of Heligoland to prevent the restoration of naval dominance in northern Germany. Despite pushes by hawkish ministers to completely destroy the islands, Mosley instead chose to retain them as a permanent fleet base.

### **Schleswig**

With the recent establishment of the Nordic Federation, its constituent states were constitutionally allowed to make decisions and treaties regarding their own territory. As a result, the return of Schleswig to Denmark was the first treaty made by the new government of the country.

### Alsace-Lorraine

The return of Alsace-Lorraine, a territory lost in the Franco-Prussian War in 1871, had long been a goal of France against Germany, even after the installation of a syndicalist government in the country.

### Memel-Klaipéda

Memel, or Klaipéda, was a territory long-claimed by Lithuania, which was annexed into the greater state of Russia after the Second Weltkrieg. As a result, the annexation of the strategically important area was a target easily pushed for by Russian interests, to legitimize the return of the area under Russian control as well as to secure naval interest in the Baltic Sea.

## Successor governments

The occupation zones in Germany: the French Occupation Zone, British Occupation Zone, and Russian Occupation Zone, lasted four years before becoming the South German Union, the North German Confederation, and the East German Republic respectively in accordance with the treaty. However, when the far-right government in eastern Germany established its own military, it was perceived to violate the neutrality of the three states advocated for by the treaty.

Both Britain and France pushed for retaliation. France pushed for the establishment of a military in kind. Britain, however, advocated for the creation of a stronger buffer state in Germany and the reunification of the west. After much deliberation, due to France's hesitance on steps towards a united Germany, the Democratic Republic of the German Confederation was created, outraging the Moscow Accord, which reorganized the East German Republic into the German Volksstaat.

Both countries *de jure* moved their capitals to their sides of Berlin, but retained their executive and legislative branches in Frankfurt and Königsberg.