June Uprising

• In June 1953 Ulbricht announced need for industrial productivity to increase by 10% while workers wages would remain unchanged
• protestors demanded an end to the SED, genuine choice in political parties in elections, return to SPD and release of political prisoners
• response on 17thJune was 300 builders on a high profile construction project to develop Stalinallee went on strike
• the protestors demanded a reduction of 10% productivity
• builders marched towards the House of Ministries and were joined by thousands of other workers
• By the following day, strikes and demonstrations had spread through the whole of the GDR
• more than 20,000 soviet soldiers and 600 tanks stationed to suppress the revolts
• 21 demonsrators were killed
• following the uprising 20 were executed and 500 recieved prison sentences
• government responded to demands to reduce work norms but NO concessions were made to political demands
• uprising revealed high levels of dissatisfaction in the GDR but Ulbricht did not make signifigant reforms; instead he produced more hard line policies like mass arrests and purges
• some concessions were made e.g., increase in pensions production of more consumer good and reduction in price of basic items
• first time people openly protested against the SED
• little impact it was successful at giving people a voice