2.2 how successful was Honecker in developing a distinct identity for the GDR. Flashcards
what was Ulbricht’s popularity like by the early 1970’s
give one reason for this
- not so popoular
- because of his stubborness in continuing to follow policies that were increasinly at at odds with soviet policy
what happened in may 1971
what had Honecker been responsible for
- implementing the decision to build the Berlin wall in 1961
why did Honecker feel the need to create a sense of national identity.
by early 70’s he had lost favour of the soviet union and his own collegues in the Politburo.
what was the main national newspaper
neues deutschland
- it had a large circulation
what were all newspapers given
instructions by the government on what to write
what was it illegal to do?
what happened to visitors newspaper
they were taken away from then when they entered the GDR
- the only Western newspapers allowed to enter the country or to be put on sale there were those published by Western communist parties
what were the underlying messages
- all had the same underlying messages
- SED leaders were adulated
- widespread social problems in the GDR like homelessness and unemployement and drug addiction
- anniversarries
- establishment of the GDR and formation of SED
- all these were promoted
by the 1970’s, several radio stations were broadcastng in the GDR
name 3 stations with dates
- Radio DDR 1 (August 1953)
- Radio DDR 2 (1958)
- Berliner Rundfunk for the capital
- DT 64 - a youth music station
what percentage of publications were directly controlled by the SED
- 70%
what were the rest like
produced by and tone
how many radio stations were in the country/radios per 100 people and by what date
- by 1985 there were 6.6 million licensed radio stations in the country
- 40 for ever 100 people
what did the radio stations broadcast
- a mix of music, spoken word, sports reporting being partcularly popular
why was radio a concern for the GDR
- western radio stations were broadcast across the GDR and more popular that the GDR ones.
what did the government try to do about the concerns of the radio
- attempted to jam foreign signals but FRG threatened to do the same
what did the state take care to ensure was publicised.
why
- to ensure news programmes were not broadcast at the same time as those in FRG were more popular.
what was television controlled by
how many channels did they have
- controlled by a state run company
- by 1969 they had 2 stations
how was the TV scheduling created to deter people from Western channels
- put on popular GDR shows when Western news was put on to discourage viewers
who was Karl Eduard Von Schnitzler
- regimes leading propagandist
- bomabred viewers with hostile views on the West
- referred to as Hitlers heir
why did Honecker decide on a more suitable approach to tv presenters because of the perceptions of Schnitzler
- a subtler approach mightve been more effective
what was the impact on language?
name the three differences
how was divided berlin addressed in Road maps
how was language sovietised
what would people do to portray conformity
how was the SED’s propaganda undermined?
why were sporting organisations effective for the SED
- provided a means to develop national pride
- to show the supposed superiority of socialism over capitalism
- reducing GDR’s diplomatic isolation
how popular were sporting events
name the popular and high participation sports
- football
- fishing
- gymnastics
what did surveys reveal about participants attitudes
- when asked why they paticipated in sports only 14% gave the appropriate answer
- 80% said because it was fun
what limited enthusiasm
poor investement in sports facilities, especially swimming pools were often closed due to repairs often dampened enthusiasm
what did the GDR achieve in the Olympic games in Mexico 1968
- GDR entered as separate teams from the FRG
- recieved 25 medals
- came sixth on league table
what did the GDR achieve in the Olympic games in Munich 1972
- GDR had its own flag
- had its own national anthem
- allowed them to gain recognition
What did the GDR achieve in the Moscow Olympic games 1980
- GDR won 11/13 gold medals available in woman swimming- 6 of these were new world records.
what issues arose from the SED’s “support” of sport?
