Foreign Relations of the United States, 1950, Central and Eastern Europe; The Soviet Union, Volume IV

Editorial Note

On May 15 Grotewohl sent a letter to Stalin asking the Soviet Union to consider a reduction in reparations delivery. On the same day Stalin replied, granting a 50% reduction because of the Soviet “desire to help the endeavours of the German people in the restoration and development of the German national economy.” For the texts of these two letters and a letter of thanks from the SED to the Central Committee of the CPSU, dated May 16, see Beate Ruhm von Oppen (ed.), Documents on Germany Under Occupation, 1945–1954 (London, Oxford University Press, 1955), pages 488–490.