GDR

Question 1

Composition of the GDR

Answer 1

The Volkskammer 
Highest institution 
Free and secret general elections 
Proportional representation 
purpose = to represent the people

The Landskammer
Represents the interests of the 5 Lander states

In theory- a multi-party system with two chambers

Question 2

GDR Economy

Answer 2

• Less war damaged than the FRG
• Large areas of agricultural land
  But…
• There was a shortage of raw materials
• Provinces and vital coal supplies were lost to Poland
• There was a limitation of industrial development - experts had been taken to the USSR

Question 3

Positive Impacts of WWII and the division of Germany - GDR

Answer 3

• GDR was the second largest power in
  Comecon after the USSR.
• Foreign trade trebled between 1950-1955.

Question 4

Negative impacts of WWII and the division of Germany - GDR

Answer 4

• The GDR did not have the technology to
  compete with Western markets they became increasingly isolated.
• Most of the trade was geared to the demands
  of the USSR – who wanted to merge the
  two states.
• Engineering machinery was
  exchanged for raw materials but proper
  market prices were never paid for these
  goods so it wasn’t profitable.

Question 5

Agriculture - GDR Positives

Answer 5

• Four million had re-settled in the GDR so this confiscated land was divided into small holdings and distributed amongst the refugees.

Question 6

Agriculture - GDR - Negatives

Answer 6

• All owners of estates more than 100 hectares were dispossessed without compensation.
• Most of the refugee farmers had limited experience
  and subsequently by 1948 crop and
  livestock had fallen dramatically leading
  to defection to the FRG or cities

.

Question 7

Collectivisation - GDR - Positives

Answer 7

• By 1952 voluntary collectivisation was

introduced to tackle the food supply issues; agricultural production cooperatives (LPGs) were formed.

Question 8

Collectivisation - GDR - Negatives

Answer 8

By 1953 13% of agricultural land was not being farmed-

led to high number of refugees.

Question 9

Ideological inflexibility

Answer 9

Ideology dominated the GDR’s economy and it had to be run under strict controls from Stalin and USSR for the most part.

Question 10

Workers GDR - Positives

Answer 10

The later economic plans of 1958-9 focused on the production of consumer goods and so living standards improved but not significantly.

Question 11

Workers GDR - Negatives

Answer 11

Despite the promise of better working conditions and worker’ rights the productivity quotas of the plans but
pressure on the workforce.

Question 12

Reasons for workers uprising

Answer 12

• Proposed 10% increase in working hours
• Did not want to work under a Soviet government
• Significant due to the fact had the power to get rid of the government

Question 13

The failure of workers uprising

Answer 13

• Failed as it was not particularly planned
• 24 hour strike action but is put down quickly
• Soviet intervention
• Lack of intervention of the FRG

Question 14

Consequences of workers uprising

Answer 14

• Ringleaders are put on trial around 1300, most receiving long prison sentences or the death penalty
• Secures ulbricht position in the GDR and led to admission of the Warsaw Pact