Internal Developments in the East and the Impact of Ostpoltik Flashcards
How bright was the future of the GDR when Honecker came to power?
- Honecker+ GDR engineered Ulbricht’s resignation on ill health grounds in May 1971
- New period of stability for the state: Closure of border allowed protection from exodus and west, and Ostpoltik acknowledged the state and allowed it to benefit fro, FRG loans
- Cultural policy of ‘no taboos’. Lutheran Church agreement 1978 would allow open air discussion meetings
- Honecker plans welfare reform (ulbricht’s had failed)
Economic change in the GDR
- ‘Unity of Social and Economic Policy’ –> Increase production to finance home building/social reform. Centralised planning but more liberal decision making process at local level
- Nationalised remaining independent firms in 1972
- VEBs replaced with combines of production/market research to make for more efficient production
- Animal/Plant specific collectives and ‘cooperation councils’ established to coordinate movement of local farms with district administrators
- Reliant on imports, 1/3 of GDR trade reliant on Western European economies in 1970s
Effect of Ostpoltik on economic change in the GDR
- Improved relations, trade barriers dismantled
- GDR could turn to FRG for credit to cover defecits ect
- GDR could turn to FRG if there was a shortage of supplies from East
How prosperous was the GDR’s economy in the 1970s?
Prosperous
- Easy loans from the FRG
- Agricultural self sufficiency, only imported grain and animal feed
- Advances in consumer production, microelectronics, electrical engineering, computer production
- Ownership of TVs, Cars and fridges grew
- Highest standard of living in Eastern block
Not so Prosperous
- Still lagged behind West
- Reliance on foreign trade: Sensitive to 1973 Oil Crisis. 1972-5 import price ^ 34 but export ^ on 17%
- -> Borrowing of raw materials from USSR at bad rates
- Increased cost of Welfare. 2* rise in national income 1971-9
- Dependence on FRG loans, owed 38.5M DM by 1987
- GDR growth halved 1984-1988
Political developments in the GDR under Honecker- Repression
- Altered constitution in 1974, policy of separation, GDR national identity. This+church tolerance+’no taboos’ suggest freedom but policy was repressive
- Wolf Biermann, East German songwriter, tours West and refused re entry in 1976. Wider policy of suppressing intellectuals/artists, deported in late 70s
- Berlin Wall, border guards + Soviet troops + People’s police to keep people in = repressive
- Stasi
Political developments in the GDR under Honecker - Stagnation
- SED domination and public compliance due to fear, political apathy, support?
- Minority attempted reform under cover of church in the late 70s/80s
- Only in 1989 that people spoke out against regime
- One leader, one party for prolonged period=passivity and unquestioning conformity
- Applications for exit Visas suggests dissatisfaction was always there
- 1989-90, 90% of members left. Votes for Western parties in March 1990 elections suggests never any real commitment to the SED
The Stasi
WHO:
-Founded 1950, secret police, surveillance corps
- ‘Shield and Sword of the (SED) Party)
-1989: 93 000 full time, 173 000 collaborators
WHAT:
-Tackled and prevented non-conformity by creating fear that ANYONE could be a stasi agent
-Coerced people/organisations into spreading propaganda
-Aimed to know everything. Complex surveillance
HOW:
-Unrestricted access to all records, bugged phones and houses
-Could blackmail and undermine anyone in any position
-Own military units, holding cells, prisons
-Smell jars from seats after interrogation for bloodhounds
CASE STUDY:
-Vera Lengsfield: Own husband/father to children was informant - interrogated, imprisoned and expelled on his testimony
Niche Society
-Niche society: people came to terms with dictatorship and carried on as best they could
- Opposition to SED rule was minor. Some against travel restriction in 1980s
- Conformist society: attended socialist organisations and enjoyed socialist holidays, joined a trade union and participated in parades, obeyed law and met work norms –> Apparent actually existing socialism
- Opposition largely individual, not regarding a collective issue…state could not have survived so long with major opposition
- Membership of socialist organisations does not show commitment. Little choice + organisations popular everywhere. 2 million members in 80s
- Learned to play the system, ignored politics and enjoyed happy life. Advancing in socialist society=outward conformity but one could oppose it privately.
Evidence against a niche society?
Non-Conformity:
- Some expression of anti SED behavior: graffiti, swastikas and propaganda leaflets all recorded by stasi
- Minority attempted reform under cover of church in 1970s/80s
Evidence that Socialist ideas truly adopted:
-Citizens applauded athletes in 1976 Olympic games and in 1974 world cup when they beat West Germany
Participatory Dictatorship
- Some degree of questioning and debate was permitted by the government
- Slogan: “Everything for the Benefit of the People”
- Party members could politely express concern to deputies
- Ordinary people could write letters of complaint (Eingaben), could change direction of policy but not ideology or SED rule. Law bound to respond
- Toleration of church
- However strikes still forbidden, and queries/complaints had to be presented in a very particular manner
Ostpoltik and Detente
- Cuban Missile crisis and other events lead to world policy of DETENTE, diffusing Cold War tensions
- Europe: Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia, student riots –> FRG chancellor Willi Brandt felt Ospoltik would benefit FRG/GDR/Europe as a whole. USSR gained too, had not made peace with US after WW2
- 1969, Brandt made chancellor, states government happy to consider recognizing GDR as a separate state
The Moscow Treaty - August 1970
- FRG accepts eastern European borders (GDR/Poland)
- FRG no longer claims to represent whole of Germany
- GDR should join UN
The Warsaw Treaty - December 1970
- FRG/Poland recognise the Oder/Neisse border
- Ethnic Germans in Poland allowed to emigrate to FRG
- FRG promises Poland financial aid/trade
Four Power Berlin Agreement - September 1971
-USSR/GDR recognised West Berlin’s FRG relationship and the right of West Berliners to visit the FRG
—> Made way for treaty to finalise FRG/GDR relations. Ostpoltik advantages outweigh benefits of reunification and Brandt beats CDU/CSU in elections + Nobel Peace Prize 1971
The Basic Treaty - June 1973
- FRG recognises GDR as independent state
- GDR citizens are German citizens and entitled to FRG citizenship if they traveled there
- Exchange of representatives not ambassadors
- Shared national identity, ‘Two German states in one German nation’, ultimate aim of reunification
- Visa: West Berliners could stay in East Berlin for one day
