society

• women given equality by law, contrast to women in England who only got this by 1974. by 1980's East Germany had more women in UNI than men
• East Germany had free childcare however expectations of gender roles within society had not changed
• by 1956 the GDR had developed system which gave free healthcare, pensions for men over 65 and women over 60, free accident insurance and unemployment benefits were not needed as work was found for everyone.
• in 1950s over 100,000 houses built a year
• however not all goods always available and became 12 marks for a KG of sugar
• GDR had 'free elections' which people thought created proportional representation however it was based on bloc parties
• average standard of living was lower and poor quality of houses; however practical and for many better than war years
• 15 million protestants and 1 million Catholics by end of war however SED did not want religion and tried to decrease influence.
• law for democratisation of schools 1946 abolished religious teachings
• media never mentioned church to reduce influence and GDR gave no financial support
• October 1st 1945 schools re-opened and tried to eradicate Nazi ideologies; 80% of teachers had to be dismissed so new training classes for teachers created
• Nazi textbooks replaced and shortages of teachers, all children given same opportunities as old system upheld bourgeoise views while wanted communist and proletariat views
• Polytechnic education in 1956 emphasised science and technology, 1 day a week compulsory work, sport and paramilitary training to raise fitness levels and encouragement of adults who left school to re-join education
• the democratic women's league of Germany created to unite women
• from 1951-58 number of Uni's had risen from 21-56 and number of students doubled to 60,000
• by 1970 85% attended school while in 1951 only 16% (more than 8 years)
• The Free German youth in 1946 were built on 'Marxist-Leninist ideology' and controlled by party
• Free German youth aimed: indoctrinate youth, fight capitalist western influences, give military training, organise recreational activities, training ground for future leadership of the GDR
• necessary to increase female employment due to absence of men, desperate public finances in 1947 meant Soviet union repealed pensions of thousands of widows and forced women to find jobs
• many people refused to vote of join SED, listened to Western TV, adapted to American lifestyle, farmers resisted collective farms
• The June uprising 1953 causes: tightening of borders between east and west, 'building of socialism' from 1952 in GDR e.g., forced collectivisation and demands for enhanced productivity, food and fuel shortages, raised work norms and demands for workers
• June uprising events: 16th June workers demanded end to increased working hours despite no more pay. Called a general strike (300 workers) and workers demanded removal of Ulbricht and reunification with west. Ulbricht called in Soviet forces and dispersed strikers yet unrest continued
• consequences of June uprising: increase in working hours ended and more consumer goods produced to improve standard of living, SED became more worried on political unrest and increased power of Stasi, Ulbricht's power strengthened and apparent west would not help
• targets to increase industrial production by 188% and consumer goods by 177%
• in 1961 160,000 peopled fled west
• despite plan of collectivisation only 1/3 of farms collectivised making policy look weak and caused resentment
• 1960 forced collectivisation: 80% collectivised, SED and Stasi members forced people to join and if not arrested or have land confiscated
• rationing reintroduced in 1961
• in 1950s 80.6% of people evangelical protestant, 11% roman catholic, 0.7% other religion
• no more than 350 vehicles built during this period
• Sweden tried to sell to Germany there Volvo 264 TE; foreign involvement
• men do 13% domestic work
• 15% men obese in DDR whilst in FRG 16% were
• 25% women obese in DDR whilst in FRG 17% women
• citrus fruits were a rarity
• consumption of fruits 50% lower after wall built
• in GDR people eating 11,556 KJ (Calories) whilst in FRG eating 14,743kj
• 4100 marks for TV
• 0.05 marks for bread
• 8050 marks for car- Trabant P 601