How did the DDR create a fairer society?

Question 1

What was a the worker state?

Answer 1

-the DDR developed a system of control and suppression to establish socialism

Question 2

What were the DDR’s aims in creating a fairer society?

Answer 2

-give equality to all, making women equal to men in the law
-close the disparity between the rich and poor through housing and living conditions
-give state guaranteed employment for all
-ensure everyone had access to basic food through state subsidies
-give all children equal opportunities in education

Question 3

What did the DDR do when trying to create a fairer society?

Answer 3

-any youth that rebelled against the system had university opportunities threatened
-the GDR was de-Christianised through removing financial support from the state and clergy were tightly controlled by the Stasi
-female emancipation (freedom) was slow to be achieved
-Trade Unions were blocked and SED intelligentsia directed the workforce

Question 4

By what year was the welfare system compulsory and centrally controlled by the SED?

Answer 4

1956

Question 5

By 1962 how many new homes were built per year?

Answer 5

100,000

Question 6

What was a positive about the welfare system?

Answer 6

-Strong welfare system->centrally organised and protecting citizens of East Germany
-pensions for all men over 65 and women over 60
-unemployment was not an issue

Question 7

When did housing become a priority?

Answer 7

1959

Question 8

What were the negatives about welfare and housing?

Answer 8

-accommodation had been a problem due to war damage eg Dresden & Berlin->it was not until 1959-1962 that housing took off
-impressive numbers of new homes but they were Soviet style tower blocks (unappealing)

Question 9

Overall did welfare and housing suggest a fairer society?

Answer 9

Overall yes, the people were provided for by the state to ensure that they were protected through insurance/medical care/pensions, alongside a clear focus on generating housing to prevent homelessness.

Question 10

What were the positive changes in education?

Answer 10

-old Weimar textbooks were introduced and emergency teacher training classes were reintroduced
-technical and practical skills were taught in school and students could fill caps during worker shortages
-abolishment of private/religious schools->introduced a national curriculum with set textbooks
-’polytechnic education’->students had to do practical work once a week after 14 years
-pupil opportunities were limited if they didn’t conform to the state’s ideology

Question 11

How did pupils attending school for 8 years change?

Answer 11

-average length of education increased from 16% of pupils attending school for 8 yrs in 1951 to 85% in 1970

Question 12

What were the aims for Youth Groups?

Answer 12

-indoctrinate the youth with a socialist education (taught tales of communist resistance and had to swear an oath of allegiance to the state)
-fight against Western capitalism
-give military training (learned to shoot, radio skills, surveillance)
-organise recreational activities (mainly sports)
-support community projects (to build socialist consciousness)
-train future leaders of the GDR

Question 13

What was a negative about trying to control Youth groups?

Answer 13

-there was the appearance of conformity but most young people led a double life by rebelling against state expectations through lifestyle

Question 14

What were the 2 only officially recognised groups that taught communist ideology? What was the membership like by 1950 and was it compulsory?

Answer 14

-Free German Youth (FDJ)
-Young Pioneers (JP)
-had over 3 million members by 1950
-not compulsory

Question 15

How successful were they at controlling the youth?

Answer 15

-Youth was indoctrinated->oath of allegiance to the state
-Many youth resisted through their lifestyle

Question 16

Overall did education and youth groups create a fairer society?

Answer 16

-somewhat->poorer children had a chance to have education however, the USSR wanted to indoctrinate children and topics that they implemented had made people reminisce of Nazi control, which caused fear

Question 17

What did the DDR do to churches to try and create a fairer society?

Answer 17

-the GDR was de-Christianised
-RE was abolished in schools and ignored by the media
-No financial support was given to churches from the state so it was difficult to maintain religious buildings

Question 18

How many clergy were arrested?

Answer 18

50

Question 19

What happened to young people who didn’t conform to the religious changes?

Answer 19

-young Christians who didn’t conform and remained strong Christians were pressured by schools and universities

Question 20

How did they control the clergy?

Answer 20

-Stasi were used to tightly control the clergy, IMs were placed in the congregation->1952-3 50 clergymen and youth leaders were arrested

Question 21

When was the Youth Dedication service introduced and what was it?

Answer 21

-1954
-seen as an alternative to Protestant or Catholic confirmation

Question 22

What was Jugendweihe?

Answer 22

-1955->this atheist initiation ceremony with a pledge to the GDR and socialism was introduced when youth turned 14 and received identity papers

Question 23

What happened if people didn’t take part in Jugendweihe?

Answer 23

-would face consequences in their careers->some Christians saw this as incompatible with their faith

Question 24

Overall did the changes made to religious create a fairer society?

Answer 24

-No->religious people who didn’t accept communism ideology were shunned, the church was not supported financially and were pressured by schools and unis to follow communist ways - to further support this 50 clergy were arrested and those who didn’t take part in the pledge would face consequences in their careers

Question 25

What positive things were there for socialist women?

Answer 25

-a shortage of men led to an increase in women’s labour
-the state offered financial support to working mothers, childcare and crèches

Question 26

What were still negatives about socialist women?

Answer 26

-women were restricted and not equal to men
-pensions of widows were repealed to combat the economic crisis
-female student attendance was not equal to men

Question 27

Overall does the role of socialist woman suggest a fairer society?

Answer 27

-somewhat - although the USSR offered financial support there was still a divide between the genders equality

Question 28

What were the negatives about standard of living?

Answer 28

-Rise in poverty, many not being able to pay for goods
-shortages in stores or small supermarkets of the ‘economic power’->reason for this was the planned economy which resulted in a rather inefficient production and lots of red tape

Question 29

What was a positive about standard of living?

Answer 29

-the GDR did produce many high-quality products and was the most economically developed member of the Eastern bloc

Question 30

What became a loyal instrument of the SED for the worker’s state?

Answer 30

-the FDGB (Free German Unions’ Association)

Question 31

What did the Free German Unions’ Association administer for workers?

Answer 31

-the social insurance program and provide holiday centres and packaged holidays for workers
-workers had access to discounts, clubs and libraries during holidays

Question 32

How many ‘holiday homes’ for workers were there and what was the capacity of in 1984?

Answer 32

-1,163 “holiday homes” with a capacity of 135,889 beds

Question 33

Who did the Free German Unions’ Association cooperate with to instil what?

Answer 33

-schools and enterprises to instil in the worker an appreciation of the social value of work and an awareness of the social duties incumbent upon a worker

Question 34

What was a negative about the worker’s state?

Answer 34

-real democratic participation of workers and trade unions was blocked->the SED formed a privileged bureaucratic intelligentsia who directed the workforce

Question 35

Overall does the standard of living suggest a fairer society?

Answer 35

-somewhat - this is because workers had greater access to discounts, clubs and libraries during the holidays which would have increased quality of life. However, there was a rise in poverty and people not being able to pay for goods