Topic 3

• What was the ideological basis for the welfare system?

  Working towards the creation of a fairer and more equal society. The SED thought that this would help the population to be more loyal
• Why was housing a huge problem in the GDR?

  There had been widespread damage to housing in urban areas during World War Two
• What were houses like in the 1950s?

  Only 30% of homes had a toilet and only 22% had a bath
• What were houses like by the 1970s?

  Only 20% of homes had central heating and only 50% had a bath or shower
• What were socialist new towns?

  They were created near new centres of industry. They included health centres, childcare centres, community centres and sports facilities
• What is an example of a socialist new town?

  Halle-Neustadt, which was founded in 1967. It was built for workers at the new chemical plant
• What was the type of housing that was the norm for the 1960s onwards?

  Plattenbau housing
• How many new homes were built between 1971 and 1975?

  400,000, but housing was substandard and there was still a shortage of housing
• What were the problems with housing?

  Social inequality remained, with the Party elite living in the best available housing, while workers continued to live in run-down housing. Also, people were dependent on the state for housing, meaning they had no control over the quality of their houses and this frustrated a lot of people
• What were the three goals of education?

  1) Developing technical skills required to support the development of the economy

  2) Reinforce political loyalty to the Party and to socialism - this was more important in the 1960s with growing concerns about the spread of Western influences

  3) To transform society - Promote greater equality
• What was education like?

  The 1950s saw a move towards comprehensive education, where pupils of all abilities followed the same general curriculum. Also, for the final two years of secondary education pupils were offered an academic route or a vocational route
• When was Margot Honecker education minister?

  1963 until 1989
• What was the curriculum like?

  The curriculum was based on socialist principles. The Law on the Unified Socialist education System introduced in 1965.

  1) All pupils were required to study citizenship

  2) Russian was the modern foreign language studied

  3) Links with industry were developed
• Why were there limited University places in the 1970s?

  Due to the GDR beginning to have an overqualified workforce
• What did the fall in University places mean for applicants?

  1) Applicants needed to show they were politically loyal

  2) Those who hadn't participated in the Jugendweihe or had not opted to do military service (introduced in 1962) found it difficult to obtain university places
• What were the two main principles that formed the basis of the SED policies towards women?

  1) A need to reverse the GDR's demographic of an ageing and declining population

  2) Ideological need to work towards creating greater gender equality in the workplace and at home
• What was the Family Code?

  It was introduced in 1966 and stated that men and women should share childcare and domestic work equally. It emphasised women's equality in marriage and family
• What did the 8th SED Congress of 1971 introduce?


  A range on new social policies aimed at improving the working and living conditions of women
• When was abortion legalised?

  1972
• What happened to contraceptives?


  They became free of charge
• What welfare reforms were introduced to try and counteract the falling birth rate?

  1) Maternity leave was extended from 18 weeks to 26 weeks

  2) All mothers received a lump sum of 1000DM when their baby was born

  2) Working hours were limited to 40 hours a week for mothers

  3) Mothers received one day off a month to complete domestic duties
• What was the proportion of female employment in the GDR compared to the FRG by the late 1980s?

  Around 90% in the GDR, compared to 50% in the FRG
• What evidence is there to show that there was still gender inequality?

  1) Women made up a much higher proportion of the workforce in lower-paid and unskilled jobs.

  2) Women made up half of all teachers and doctors by the mid-1980s, but the majority of higher level positions were held by men.

  3) Women were under represented in politics. The only female minister was Margot Honecker. She was the minister of Education. However, she didn't have a place in the Politburo.
• Why was good healthcare important for the Government?


  The Government viewed good health as essential for high productivity. Minimised the attraction of the West.
• How were health-care systems provided?

  They were provided on a collective basis, with a series of polyclinics.
• What was most of the healthcare based on?

  Preventative medicine and early diagnosis.
• What happened in the 1960s and 1970s?

  The GDR was able to bring about real improvements in the health of its population and life-expectancy increased to levels comparable with the West.
• What was the quantity of healthcare products like in the GDR?

  In 1970, there were 160 doctors per hundred thousand people, rising to 242 in 1989. The number of hospital beds was comparable with that of the FRG. However, basic medical equipment was often in short supply.
• How was healthcare unequal for everyone?

  Care of the economically unproductive was less impressive than that directed at workers and mothers, especially care of the elderly and the disabled. The best hospital facilities were reserved for top Party Officials and specialised workers.
• How was the promotion of good health limited?

  It was limited by the social attitudes of many East Germans who were heavy eaters and drinkers
• What happened to the Berlin Wall during the 1970s and the early 1980s?

  Modifications to the Wall were made by creating a second wall on the GDR side. the area between the walls became known as the death strip and included watchtowers, mines and guard dogs
• How was the wall protected?

  it was guarded by GDR soldiers and border troops, who received honours and extra pay and buildings or roads named in their honour if they killed a GDR citizen attempting to escape
• How many successful escape attempts were there between August 1961 and November 1989?

  Around 5000
• How many people were shot at the border?

  Around 200
• How many people were held in GDR prisons for attempting to flee the GDR by the mid-1970s?

  Almost 5000 people
• When was the Stasi set up and why?

  1950, to defend the GDR from sabotage and to protect the GDR against the West
• How many people were employed as full-time Stasi members?

  At the beginning, there were around 1000 full-time staff and within three years this rose to around 4000
• Who was the first leader of the Stasi?

  Wilhelm Zaisser
• Who was Zaisser replaced by after the 1953 uprising?

  Erich Mielke (He remained in charge until the collapse of the GDR in 1990)
• How many full-time staff did the Stasi have by the late 1980s?

  More than 90,000