FDJ - Free German Youth Flashcards
when was the FDJ founded?
march 1946
who founded the FDJ?
honecker and krenz
what was the age range of the FDJ and why was this significant?
- 14-25 year olds
- ideological conditioning of the youth:
directed their attention to state controlled activities and channeled youth in a politically specified direction (communism)
why was membership bumpy/fluctuating through the 1950s?
it was after the 1953 rebellion - political and economic instability
membership was not compulsory but…
it was difficult to gain advancement within GDR society without being involved
what happened in 1959
many young people considered emigrating to the west
what did the FDJ proclaim was the aim of the organisation?
to provide enjoyable activities that will bring young people together
why did the FDJ emphasise the participation of both boys and girls?
to fulfil communism (marx women quote) + to distant themselves from hitler youth
why did the FDJ put a great deal of effort into providing social activities?
because they could compete with western cultural influences
failure to join the FDJ or participate in their activities resulted in …
discrimination
why were most young people in the GDR willing to participate in the activities of the FDJ?
in order to get by and have a stable/successful future
what happened to young Christians in the GDR?
they were actively discriminated against
what was jugendweihe?
a youth ceremony developed to replace the religious traditions of confirmation
when did jugendweihe happen?
the “jugendweihe” (youth “consecration”) happened at the age of 14 as a step from childhood to adolescence
what percent of GDR youth participated in jugendweihe by the 1980s?
90 per cent
