GDR

• What was the GDR's parliament?

  Volkskammer which was said to represent the people. But it was not democratically elected and the number of seats each party gained was pre allotted. The outcome of an election was certain.
• What was the main ruling force?

  The communist party (SED) , its general secretary Walter Ulbricht. The Prine minister had less and less power as time went on.
• What did the GDR have?

  Upper house (The Landerkanmer) which represented the five regions (Lander) It was abolished in 1958 as it had pretended to represent the regions.
• What was the SED?

  Socialist Unity Party, at the top of its party it had the general secretary and also the Poliburo (Executive committee). Underneath were the central committee (ZK) and various regional groups at the bottom.
• Did they initially have a president?

  Yes, Wilhelmina Pieck who was head of state and there was also a prime minister (Otto Grotewohl) head of government.
• When was the Lander abolished?

  1952 and replaced with smaller units (The Berzirke). These were easily controlled.
• What happened to the Bloc Parties?

  They were increasingly under the control of the SED. The idea of a multi-party system was a pretence.
• What did the soviets have?

  'Democratic Centralism' (where in practice everyone had at least a say) was seen as the 'Better Germany' ran by the heroes of the anti-fascist resistance. Many believed that those living in the capitalist system were suffering from 'False consciousness' and needed re-educating.
• What was always visible?

  A soviet tank presense
• What were many critical of?

  The new politics in Eastern Germany and believed that it was keeping standards of living down.
• What famous intellectuals chose to live Near Eastern Germany?

  Such as Anna Seghers and Hermann Kant
• What were the causes of the uprising in june of 1953?

  -Many disapproved of the stricter border controls, enforced collectivisation and the pressure to increase productivity

  -Death of Stalin (March 1953) who was seen as a powerful leader meant many thought it guaranteed them freedom

  -Workers were told productivity would have to rise by 10% but wages would stay the same
• Events of the uprising

  16th June workers on the Stalinallie went on strike and demanded an end to increaed working hours for no pay. Call for general strike next day and thousands joined.
• What did the workers demand?

  An end of Ulbricht's economic policies, his removal and democratic elections. Ulbricht called on soviet forces to crush the rising. Although the rising was crushed the workers did win concessions
• What were the consequences of this uprising?

  >Policy on increased working hours was ended

  >Position of Ulbricht was strengthened as any weakening was a sign of giving into protestors.

  >Drew East Germany closer to the Soviet Bloc

  >State was concerned about unrest so massively grew the size and powers of the Stasi.
• Collectivisation


  policy of abolishing private farms and joining them together for state collective farms which could use machinery.
• When did this process begin?

  1952. Part of the 'Building of Socialism' process. For individual farmers it changed little and many gave up farming moving to the West.
• What did the abandonment of the farms mean?

  (13% of agricultural land) Serious impact on supply of food to major cities, which went into decline and added to growing unrest that Ulbricht's plans were creating playing a role in 1953 uprising.
• What happened despite the unpopularity of the LPGs?

  Continued to grow (but slowly), 1/3 collectivised in 1958. But by 1959 Ulbricht's position was secure so issue of collectivisation was reattempted.
• When did the second wave of collectivisation follow?

  1960/61. Farmers who didn't join were denied the use of machinery and party officials were sent to villages to persuade farmers of the merits of collectiveness. But many remained unconvinced and it led to arrests and land confiscations.
• However what was seen by 1962?

  85% of farms were collectivised, but it encouraged emigration and number of refugees going to the West peaked in 61 and therefore can be seen as playing a significant role in the building of the wall. Impact was so sever rationing was reintroduced in 1961.
• Yet what happened despite these setbacks?

  Agriculture was collectivised and in the long-term farms were made more efficient than in other parts of Europe but this wasn't until the 1970s.
• What was the case as nationalisation was already in place in many industries and 76% of production was run by the state?

  It was easier to implement change. Emphasis on heavy industry particularly fuel and power as the state wanted to raise the low levels of productivity. The party (SED) set production levels, handled worker discipline, ran social activities allowing them to increase control over workers and their lives.
• Why was the extent to the success of these plans a controversy?

  State claimed 5 year plan targets were met and exceeded and industrial production doubled since 1950. But this argument ignores that many new factories and industries were constructed in inappropriate areas and were not profitable. Quantity was put before quality. Planning was slow and therefore often out of date when implemented; unable to respond to short-term changes. Emphasis on heavy industry meant consumer goods were not produced.
• What happened as a result.

  Living standards improved slowly, metalworker earned less than 300 marks a month manager earned 4-15 thousand and had other benefits, better rented housing and separate canteens. Impact of this reflected on many workers who were put under pressure and gained little from their work so many moved to the West.
• What did the Second plan have?

  More emphasis on consumer goods and the need for technological progress. Some success as the economy grew by 12% in the late 1950s accompanied by an improvement in living standards, but rationing didn't end till 1958. Problem of this was it wasn't on the scale of growth and improvements.
• What happened despite these limitations?

  There was some signs of improvements as worker's cultural centres and polytechnics were opened and many essential goods such as bread had their prices set at a low level. Biggest Indicator of success was the stabilising in numbers of those who moved to the West.
• What were these improvements on the cost and impact?

  The state did not have money to invest in other sectors such as transport or energy, or to modernise industry. Resulting in improvements being limited as underlying problems of the economy were never really tackled.
• What did the Seven Year Plan in 1959 do?

  Aimed at aligning economic development with that of the Soviet Union failed to alleviate the situation. Industrial growth declined resulting in an increase again of people leaving the East until the construction of the Wall which did help to stabilise the workforce as it prevented movement to the West.
• When was the Seven Year Plan abandoned?

  1962, in 1963 the New Economic System for Planning and Direction was introduced. It brought greater flexibility and offered workers some input, allowed them to share profits which raised production levels and placed an emphasis on quality rather than quantity.
• Workers in the DDR were economically better off than other Soviet dominated Eastern bloc countries but...

  the failure to develop consumer industries meant that many believed the situation in the West to be much better and therefore went 'next door' which explains the drain of refugees up to the building of the wall.
• What did the growth rates of the economy mean?

  It was better than other Eastern bloc countries, by 1960s it was ranked 10th in world for economic production. But its economy had been adapted to match the Soviet Unions meant it was impossible to develop and balanced economy which would sustain high levels of growth.
• What also added to the problems?

  Poor planning and mismanagement meaning despite growth the economy could have done better and promoted drain to the West.
• When did schools reopen?

  October 1945, nearly all teachers had to be dismissed however because of their Nazi past and emergency teacher-training was required. Young-working class East Germans cold join those schemes giving them social mobility.
• What happened to the existing school system?

  It was abolished as it had bourgeois views and replaced with one that would build up a socialist society.
• What were the aims of the new school system?

  -All children given equal opportunity

  -Emphasis on technical skills

  -development of close links with factories or sport

  -the provision of practical work
• What was required for this transformation?

  In 1946 'The Law for the Democratization of German School's was introduced
• What did this provide for?

  -Abolition of private and religious schools

  -Expansion of pre-schools

  -A centralized curriculum

  -Abolition of selection and intro of co-educational comprehensive school for those aged 6-14 and further post-14 schools for the more able
• What was the most significant changes to the education?

  Introduction of 'polytechnic education' after 1956
• What did the 'polytechnic education' include?

  -establishment of polytechnic upper schools from ages 6-16 with the opportunity of 2 further years of schooling

  -curriculum emphasized science and technology also ideological indoctrination.

  -compulsory practical work 1 day per week

  -Sport and paramilitary training to raise fitness levels

  -Encouragement of adult education for those who left school without qualifications