1.1c How successful was the GDR's management of the economy? Flashcards
How many soldiers did the USSR lose in WW1?
20 million
How did the USSR take reparations out of the GDR?
Dismantled factories and rebuilt them in the USSR
What proportion of the GDR’s railways was taken to the USSR?
50%
What was the initial aim of the government in the GDR?
To abolish private ownership with central planning
Why was the GDR so economically hindered? (3 ways)
1) The USSR were taking 25% reparations
2) The GDR continued to lose citizens through migration
3) The GDR lost access to materials from the Ruhr as it was now part of the FRG
What was the name of the area of land that the GDR lost when Germany split up that contained many factories and resources?
The Ruhr
What was the emphasis of the first 5 year plan?
Heavy Industry
What 2 things caused worker dissatisfaction at the first FYP?
Long hours
Lack of consumer gooods
The production of what 2 things fell below target during the first FYP?
Coal and Steel
What was there an increase in the production of during the first FYP?
Lignite (brown coal)
Who was the main piece of propaganda during the first FYP and what did he do?
Adolf Hennecke
Increased his output by 400%
Why did the focus on heavy in the 1st FYP industry fail?
Lack of resources
What was done during the first FYP to centralise state planning and abolish private ownership?
Nationalisation of industry into ‘State Enterprises’
What percentage of industry became ‘State Enterprises’?
75%
What was the title of the second FYP? (MMA)
Modernisation, Mechanisation and Automation
What was the focus of the second FYP?
Consumer Goods
What new technology was discovered during the second FYP?
Nuclear Energy
How did the government accelerate the nationalisation of industry during the second FYP?
Offered a 50% partnership incentive for people to make their businesses ‘State Enterprises’
Why was the second FYP abandoned?
Because Ulbricht suggested that the GDR needed to overtake the FRG
What year was voluntary collectivisation introduced?
1952
___ of the GDR’s farmland was redistributed to ______ people
1/3 of the GDR’s farmland was redistributed to 500,000 people
Who was there resentment towards during collectivisation?
The Junker people
Why was there resentment towards the Junker people during collectivisation?
They were seen as having played a large role in the rise of the Nazis
What was the most popular reform during collectivisation?
Junker people with over 100 hectares of land had to forfeit it
What was the aim of collectivisation?
To increase output by feeding the workforce
Why did collectivisation actually lead to a decline in output?
Because they lacked technology and experience
Within _ years, only ___ of the GDR’s farmland was collectivised
Within 6 years, only 1/3 of the GDR’s farmland was collectivised
How many farmers emigrated to the FRG during collectivisation?
15,000
What did collectivisation do to larger farms?
Alienated them
What was the ‘Socialist Spring’?
The second attempt at collectivisation
What policy was introduced during the ‘Socialist Spring’?
Rationing
By how much did crop yields fall under the ‘Socialist Spring’
30%
Why was there increasing discontent in the GDR? (3)
1) Housing shortage
2) Rationing
3) Lack of consumer goods
Why was taxation increasing?
Due to the cost of guarding the border
What group of people voiced their concern over popular discontent?
Church leaders
What was the government response to Church leaders voicing their concern over discontent?
The SED reduced their propaganda and travel restrictions
What was the main reason for some people still preferring the GDR to the FRG?
The FRG was seen as a haven for Nazis
Give 2 advantages of living in the GDR
1) Free education
2) Everyone granted employment
What was the trigger for the June 1953 uprising?
Ulbricht demanding a 10% increase in productivity
How did the June uprising start?
300 builders working on Stalinallee went on strike
How was the message spread of the June uprising?
Western radio stations
Give 2 successes of the 1953 uprising
1) The 10% demand was removed
2) There was an increase in some small concessions
Give 2 failures of the 1953 uprising
1) Led to Ulbricht using more hardline policies
2) Increase unlikeliness of reunification
How did the GDR deal with the June uprising?
Brought in USSR military and tanks to suppress the rebellion
