West and East Germany

• Names for soviet controlled Germany

  East Germany, DDR, GDR (German Democratic Republic)
• Names for western controlled Germany 


  west Germany, FRG (Federal Republic of Germany)
• When was Germany separated?

  1949
• Who controlled West Germany?

  USA, UK, France
• Who controlled East Germany?

  Soviet Russia
• West German constitution

  -Freedom of expression

  -Freedom of assembly

  -5% hurdle

  -
• How was West German Government set up?

  Individual state shad elected representatives with power over regional issues

  Elected representatives were then represented in the upper chamber

  Parties who did not agree to uphold the constitution were banned

  President was chosen bu the members of the lower chamber

  Presidential powers were significantly reduced

  The President appoints the Chancellor but needs approval of parliament
• The basic law of west germany

  This is what the constitution of West Germany was called as it was a temporary measure until all of Germany was united.
• How was East Germany governed?

  Parliament was not democratic as seats were chosen before the election

  Only one party which gave the illusion of choice (SED - Socialist Union Party of Germany)

  Democratic Centralism
• East Germany Landerkammer

  Upper house - represented 5 regions abolished in 1952 and replaced with smaller units that were easier to control
• STASIin the DDR

  State Security Service set up in 1950
• People's police in barracks in the DDR

  regular police who had loyalty to east germany
• FRG Bundestrat 


  the upper chamber
• FRG Bundestag


  lower chamber
• Causes of the 1953 uprising in East Germany

  Strict border controls

  Enforced collectivization

  Pressure on workers to increase productivity.
• Events of the 1953 uprising in East Germany


  Workers went on strike

  They demanded and end to increased working hours

  more pay

  the removal of Ulbricht

  Democratic elections

  end to Ulbricts economic policies
• Consequences of the 1953 uprising in East Germany

  Soviet tanks crushed strikers

  policy on increased working hours was ended

  more consumer goods were to be produced

  overall success for workers, however changes were brought by more lenient Khrushchev as Stalin had died.
• Building Socialism Policy East Germany 


  emphasized increasing productivity by 10% but keeping wages the same
• East German economy

  Had to pay harsh reparations to USSR

  Poorer than FRG

  Poor living standard

  No consumer goods

  Few luxuries
• DDR 5 year plan 1961

  Aims:

  Make up for War losses

  Make reparation payments to USSR

  Reality:

  Production goals were not reached

  Shortage of raw materials

  neglected consumer goods
• DDR 5 Year Plan 1956


  Aims:

  Nationalization of all industrial concerns

  Collectivization of agriculture
• DDR New Economic System 1963


  Aims:

  Replace 5 year plans

  Reduce wastage of raw materials

  Focus on quality of products not quantity

  Problems:

  People didn't like it because it was too capitalist
• Economic Change in the DDR - Collectivization

  Started in 1952 - Farmers did not like it so the fled

  This led to shortages of food and social unrest

  13% of agricultural land was abandoned

  1/3 of all land was collectivized in 1958

  Tried again in 1960 - Farmers who refused were denied use of machinery

  By 1962 85% of land was collectivized

  Refugees fleeing DDR to FRG peaked in 1961
• Economic change in the DDR - Nationalization

  Industry was put under state ownership

  People who worked in factories were controlled by the Government

  Government set production targets and focused on quantity of products not quality

  The economy did improve a little bit in the 1950s
• Social change in the DDR - peasants

  They gained land but were forced to join collectives

  They had better education opportunities
• Social change in the DDR - Women

  Provided with better maternity care

  More education opportunities
• Social Change DDR - Factory workers

  More opportunities for higher education

  loyal workers were rewarded
• Mass organisations in the DDR

  Free German Trade Union League - ran by state and everyone was a member, organised workers holidays
• mass organisations DDR

  Democratic Womans League of Germany

  League of Culture

  Society for Sports and Technology

  German-Soviet friendship society
• Youth organizations in the DDR

  The Free German Youth Organization

  Promoted soviet culture and planned trips

  Many preferred western culture and the state used repression to deal with this
• Education in the DDR

  State run schools to promote socialism
• Religion in the DDR

  East Germany is Atheist

  Churches were initially left alone

  Law for Democratization of German schools removed religious education from curriculum

  Church forced into working agreement with state

  Church was against youth making pledge to state but had to back down

  1952-53 over 50 religious figures arrested
• When was the Berlin Wall put up?

  1961
• Why was the Berlin Wall built?

  Skilled workers from the DDR were fleeing West

  This affected the DDR's economy
• What was the Berlin Wall

  Had barbed wire, patrol units, electric fences

  Physically divided Germany

  Separated many families

  More than 100 people died trying to cross the wall
• dwindling oppositionin west germany

  5% hurdle

  parties who didn't agree to constitution were banned

  smaller parties were divided

  many of those in right wing parties joined CDU
• How long was Adenauer chancellor?

  1949 to 1963
• CDU - Christian democrats

  right wing

  christian

  capitalist

  welfare state
• Elections in west germany

  31 seats in 1949

  50 seats in 1957

  43 seats in 1961
• When did west Germany join NATO?

  1955