The GDR

• As a communist country emerging during the cold war, the overarching aim of the GDR was to survive and stay free from capitalist influence. This was achieved during this time period, due to a series of social, economic and political aims, however initially these aims were not achieved, it was not until after the June uprising till the GDR used more effective techniques. These aims consisted of establishing a dictatorship, transforming the economy and creating an society that treats the working class as equals. 
• establishement of a dictatorship was vital in ensuring a communist country, as the state being ruled by a ruling class was an inheritatly capitalist system
• the stasi were the sword and sheild of the party
• The economy had to be transformed in order to compete with West Germany, which meant there had to be drastic societal changes, especially towards the workers. In the first five year plan, there was a profound emphasis on heavy industry, which meant there was no consumer goods or domestic market.
• This alone was enough to anger the workers, but additionally, their hours were increased and pay was decreased by 10%. This, alongside enforced collectivisation, was the driving force for the June uprising, where 100,000 workers protested. The June uprising showed that the aim of economic transformation had been a failure because welfare had not been taken into account, which meant there were no workers as they were all on strike.
• However (although it was not carried out), the 7 year plan was highly effective in transforming the economy as it paved the way for ‘New economic System for Planning and Direction’ in 1963, which lowered the controlled prices of food, increase in consumer goods and hours were reduced.
• Simultaneously, living standards improved and the economy grew by 12% per annum, due to a combination of capital and consumer production, and additionally because of the wall stabilising the workforce as workers could not leave.
•  So overall, transforming the economy was initially a failure because the was too much pressure applied to the workforce and an overdependence on heavy industry, but with the 7 year plan workers welfare was taken into account alongside consumerism, so by 1963 the GDR ranked 10th in the world for production. 
• Societal changes also had to take place to establish communist society which emphasised equality across all classes. This was done by making changes to the education system, they aimed to cleanse the system of nazi influence and provide more chances to the working class. They removed all teachers with links to the Nazi teacher league, 80% of teachers were dismissed which initially caused a wide teacher shortage for the early years of the GDR.
• They removed all teachers with links to the Nazi teacher league, 80% of teachers were dismissed which initially caused a wide teacher shortage for the early years of the GDR. The curriculum of social engineering and militarism was replaced for practical work and paramilitary training.
• Overall, the GDR was ultimately successful in achieving its aims in the period 1949-63. There were the initial failures of the five year plan and non conformity to the SED, but the June uprising marked a turning point in the political and economic aims as it caused an increase in the Stasi and caused an increase in welfare for the workers. As for their social aims regarding education, it the most successful aim as they completely purged the system of Nazi influence, and for the first time the aristocratic classes had no leverage over the other classes, it was equal. 
• The policies of the GDR successfully transformed East German society. Politically, they established a society ruled by a dictatorship. Economically, with collectivisation, they shifted land from private ownership to state ownership, therefore aligning society with socialist principles. And as for education, they transformed society by purging the system of Nazi influence and creating a state which emphasised equality across all classes 
• Politically, society was transformed into a one party dictatorship.  Ulbricht and the SED tolerated other political parties, the CDUD and the LPDP were permitted to join government in 1949, however they had no influence, and those who criticised the SED were immediately eliminated. As for elections, candidates were all government nominated - so the SED seats were predetermined
• The collectivisation policies of the GDR created a profound transformation on east German society.
• At first in 1952, collectivation was optional, but heavily encouraged, but due to lack of enthusiasm and resentment, it became mandatory in 1960. This meant that private ownership of land was abolished and the state took control over agricultural production, aligning it with their socialist economic goals.
• At first, there were organisational challenges in collective management, which led to a disruption in productivity and therefore they could not meet the quotas of the five year plan or provide sufficient food to the population.
• However overtime, productivity improved due to state support and mechanisation.
• So overall, collectivisation policy transformed east german society as all farmers were on equal wages and their produce was distributed by the state, equally, given that it was a welfare state. Additionally, it fostered a new collective identity among farmers who were now a part of a larger socialist project, which was reinforced by propaganda and education. 
• Society had to be transformed in order to emphasise equality across the classes and purge the system of nazi influence. They did this through education. They removed all teachers with links to the Nazi teacher league, 80% of teachers were dismissed which initially caused a wide teacher shortage for the early years of the GDR.
• The curriculum of social engineering and militarism was replaced for practical work and paramilitary training.
• Overall, the GDR was ultimately successful in transforming east german society. Throughout the dictatorship, collectivization and huge changes to the education system, their principles aligned with that of a socialist country. 
• In some ways, the GDR’s constitution was similar to the FRG’s because they claimed it was a provisional state waiting for reunification
• What was their parliament called

  Volkskamer
• The number of seats for each party was allocated before each election
• What was the GDR’s system based on

  Democratic Centralism
• Changes Implemented to strengthen the position of the Communist party 


  • The Lander was abolished in 1952 and replaced by smaller units, the Berzirke, which were easier to control
  • The upper house was abolished in 1958
• the SED strengthened it’s position with the creation of a ‘State within a state’ in 1950. This was with the establishment of the stasi.
• Who supported the Stasi


  • The Peoples Police in Barracks. (National Peoples Army)
  • regular police
  • Border guards
• Democratic centralism


  Decisions were taken at the centre and passed down and implemented below
• What year was the june uprising 


  1953
• what did the state announce in 1952

  the building of socialism
• a policy that emphasised increasing productivity and rapid change in 1952


  building of socialism
• What where the causes of the June uprising 


  • Enforced collectivisation
  • strict boarder controls
  • pressure for productivity
• how much were workers told productivity must rise by, whilst facing a wage decrease

  10%
• June Uprising events 


  • Workers on the Stalinallee went on strike and demanded an end to increased productivity and pay rises
  • call for a general strike, thousands of workers joined
  • they demanded the removal of Ulbricht and his policies and democratic elections
  • Uprising was crushed by soviet forces
• Concessions for the workers following June Uprising 


  • Policy of increased working hours was ended
  • more consumer goods produces
• The June uprising increased the powers of the Stasi
• LPD


  Land Production cooperatives
• what percentage of farms were collectivised by 1958


  1/3
• what percent of farms had been collectivised by 1962


  85%