EAST GERMANY 1949-63 Flashcards
Voting system of the DDR
Multi-party system
General elections based on PR
How did the DDR give the appearance of democracy in the constitution?
Allowed a degree of party pluralism
SED transformation- ‘_________ _________’
‘democratic centralism’
How many SED members did Ulbricht remove in the first 2 years?
150,000 (mainly ex-SPD)
What was set up to watch over right wing ideological attitudes?
Party Control Commission
Which parties did SMAD establish in 1948 (which were just instruments for the SED)?
NDPD and DBD
Role of the NDPD and the DBD
Exert influence in rural areas
How did SMAD use the FDJ and FDGB?
Exert influence- mass integration into the ‘national front of the GDR’
By 1950 __% of public prosecutors were members of the SED
86%
SED control through judiciary (6)
86% of public prosecutors members of SED by 1950
‘Retraining’ of new judges
Adapted criminal law
Around 200,000 prosecuted for politcial crimes
Use of Stasi
How many people were prosecuted for political crimes over the 40 years?
200,000
How many members of the secret police by end of regime?
175,000
Alienation through economic policies (3)
High taxation displeased middle classes
Farmers resented low prices and collectivisation
Workers- food shortages and low wages
Cause of 1953 workers uprising
10% rise in productivity and working hours
% of the workforce in the 1953 uprising
7%
Consequences of the 1953 uprising (4)
Exposed the GDR for not being democratic
Strengthened Ulbricht’s regime
Purge
Attack on west- ‘facist putsch’
How did the 1953 uprising strengthen Ulbricht’s regime?
About 1300 put on trial- eliminated opposition
Refugees by 1952
171,000
Economic disadvantages of the Soviet zone (5)
Shortage of raw materials Loss of province to Poland Dislocation of population Nationalisation Land reform
Which treaty facilitated trade with the West?
1951 Berlin Treaty
When did the GDR join Comecon?
Sep 1950
What did Comecon do?
Economically integrated the GDR into the Eastern bloc
By 1954 / of of foreign trade was conducted with socialist bloc countries
3/4
Limitations of Comecon membership (3)
Industry geared towards USSR demands
Seven Year Plan (1958) formed within USSR guidelines
Bad prices from USSR- unprofitable
Successes of the First Five Year Plan (1951-55)
Industrial production doubled- expanded economy
Shortcomings of the First Five Year Plan (1951-55)
Over-dependence on heavy industry - low production of consumer goods
Quantity at expense of quality
Pressure on workforce- temptation of West
Second Five Year Plan (1956)
Aimed to combine product of capital and consumer goods
1958-59 economy grew __% per annum
12%
When did ration cards stop?
1958
At which point was there a low level of refugees to the West?
Late 1950s
Shortcomings of the Seven Year Plan (1959-65)
Unrealistic- increase in refugees
Successes in agriculture
2/3 of agricultural lands still with small farmers
Shortcomings in agriculture
Lack of modern machinery
New refugee farmers had little experience
Small farms struggled for profit
Successes of collectivisation
Long term efficiency
Shortcomings of collectivisation (3)
1961 refugees peaked
Decline in food production
1961 rationing reintroduced
Three main factors as to why the GDR’s economy was so inefficient
‘Brain drain’
Effect of Cold War on trade
Ideological inflexibility
Welfare (3)
Free healthcare
Pensions for men (65) and women (60)
Free accident insurance
__,____ homes built per year
100,000
__% of teachers dismissed
80%
Education
Equal opportunity
Extend technical and practical skills
Strong commitment to socialism
How did the GDR aim for equality in education?
Abolished private schools
New centralised curriculum
Polytechnic
Successes in education
Raised educational standards
Percentage of uni students rose 17% in 2 years
Failures in education (2)
Did not encourage individual self expression
Entry to university dependent on political commitment
Aims of FDJ (2)
Indoctrinate youth with socialist ideology
Military and paramilitary training
Success of youth groups
Membership of over 3 million by 1950
Failures of youth groups
Some found it repressive
Early 1960’s influence of Western style
Churches (3)
Abolished religious education in schools
Gave no financial support to churches
Jugendweihe
Jugendweihe
Every 14 year had to pledge to GDR and socialism
Benefits for women (2)
1949 constitution proclaimed men and women equal
Increase in female employment
Disadvantages for women (2)
Equality had little short term effect due to war
1947 thousands of pensions repealed
Benefits for family (2)
State offered financial support for working mothers, childcare and improved healthcare
Abortion limited until 1972
The Berlin Fuse (3)
Khrushchev’s ultimatum
The GDR Seven Year Plan
Forced collectivisation
