GDR Flashcards
Consolidating communist rule
When was the SED created
1946
What event marked the formal division of Germany after WWII?
The division of Germany into four zones by the allies in 1945
What was the SED
a merger of the communist party and the Social Democratic Party
what was the soviet zone in post war Germany?
the area of eastern Germany controlled by the USSR
Whos guidance was the SED under
Communist
Why was the SED created?
-To merge 6000 KPD members and 7000 SPD members under soviet influence
-consolidated control over Eastern Zone
What growing division emerged among victor powers?
Tensions between USSR and Western Allies over political and economic policies for Germany
When was the GDR created?
1949
When was the cold war
1947
What did the cold war lead to?
breakdown of cooperation between the Allies
When was the Berlin Blockade?
1948
What was the aim of the Berlin Blockade
force Western allies out of Berlin
How did the Berlin divisions formalize?
Western zones merged to become FRG
Soviet Zone became GDR
When was the FRG and GDR created?
1949
Who became leader of the GDR?
Walter Ulbricht
What was Ulbricht’s main aim?
building socialism under soviet influence
What was the Volkskammer
-Peoples Chamber
-Elections heavily controlled
-Functioned as a rubber-stamp body for the SED policy
What is the Landerkammer
-States Chamber
-represented the federal state
How did the SED assert its political dominance?
-Politburo and central committee were key decision making bodies
-prevented significant opposition in the party
What Truman’s policy of containment?
foreign policy after WWII to prevent the spread of communism
Who was the first head of state of the GDR
Wilhelm Pieck
What was the USSRs policy on reparations in East Germany?
USSR seized industrial equipment and resources from East Germany as war reparations
What is meant by socialist economics?
An economic system based on state ownership and central planning
How did industrial development occur in the GDR?
Through the nationalization of industries and the implementation of Five Year Plans
What was agricultural collectivization in the GDR?
The process of merging individual farms into long, state-controlled collectives.
What opposition arose to socialist economics?
Resistance from farmers and workers who opposed forced collectivization and strict state control
What was the June 1953
A workers revolt against increased work quotas and poor economic conditions
What was the impact of socialists economies in the GDR
-economic stagnation
-shortage of consumer goods
-dissatisfaction among citizens
Why did emigration from the GDR increase in the 1950s
Many East Germans fled to West Germany to escape political repression and economic hardship
What was the impact of emigration on the GDR
skilled workers and professionals left the country- lead to a ‘brain drain’
What was the crisis of 1960-61?
escalating emigration and economic struggles threatened the stability of the GDR
When was the Berlin Wall built
1961
Why was the Berlin Wall built?
To stop mass emigration of East Germans
How did Khrushchev influence the GDR
supported the construction of the Berlin Wall
-promoted soviet-style socialist policies
What was the importance of the Berlin Wall?
symbolized the cold war division between East and West and stabilized the GDR
What role did Yalta and Potsdam conferences play in Germanys division?
determined the Allied control and occupation zones and laid the groundwork for Germanys split
How did the marshal plan accelerate divisions in Germany?
USSR rejected it being given to the GDR and therefore deepened the two sides economic division
What was the Stasi?
Est German secret police
How did collectivization affect rural communities
Disrupted tradition farming practices and cause food shortages
What was COMECON?
the council for mutual economic assistance, tied GDR economy to Soviet bloc
What were the GDRs Five Year Plans?
economic programs that focused on heavy industry and collectivization in order to build a socialist economy
What was the role of propaganda in maintaining the SEDs dominance
promoted socialist ideology and loyalty to SED
How did the USSR respond to the 1953 uprising?
deployed tanks to crush the protest and reassert control
What was the economic impact of reparations in the GDR?
