Life in DDR Flashcards
when were schools officially opened
1 October 1945
how many teachers dismissed
80%
what were main feature of DDR welfare
free health care
what was problem w/ accommodation
dresden + berlin bombed
how was accommodation problem solved
peaked 1952 at 100,000 houses per year - soviet style blocks
why did soviets want to change school system
mirrored bourgeois social classes - had contributed to rise nazis
main aims of soviet system school
equal opportunities / extend technical +practical sklls
what law was put into effect to reform skls and when by who
law for democratisation german schools 1946 SMAD and SED
what did law for democratisation german schools do
-abolished selective schools - grundschule - new skl 6-14
what did soviets want to do in higher education
increase social mobility + egalitarianism –> no academic hierarchy polytechnic education
main features of DDR skl
Polytechnic Upper Schools POS - 10 yr system compulsory + centralised
downsides of education
-no self expression - pupils protest at skl in werdau against voting lit imprisoned for 2-15yr
how did skls become effective tool to influence ppl to conform
-skl admin could block career admin - had to commit to political system to reach UNI
comparison GNP on skl
7% in DDR but 5% BRD
evidence of increased social mobility
% uni students from working class from 19% to 36% 1949
how did DDR become victim own success
over qualified graduates - POS skl reduce drop outs
positive changes in schools - investment and evidence of success
7% GNP to education -working class kids 19% to 36% 1946-49
negative changes in schools
-no self expression - pupils at skl of Werdau imprisoned 15 years for protest against voting list of volksammer
what process began in skills October 1945
purging of nazi values 80% teachers dismissed
what did the FDJ become in 1957
only youth organisation in DDR
what was FDJ
based on marxist Leninist
FDJ membership 1950
3 million - ppl join to not be discriminated against
BUT success of FDJ limited
young East Germans led 1960’s ‘rocknroll’ lifestyle - ‘double life’ due to old fashioned Komsomol nature
what was the Komsomol
USSR youth group - FDJ replicates
main feature of BRD welfare
free healthcare + pensions
perceived success of welfare in DDR
1959 100,000 homes built per year
but dismiss perceived success fo welfare homes
in style of soviet flats = dreary
how many religious ppl in DDR 1950
90% christian
what department was set up to wither away religion
department for ecclesiastical affairs
evidence of churches being restricted
Stasi placed IM in congregations + junge gemeinde (protestant youth group) prevented from skl + uni 1953
1952 evidence of suppression of clergy
50 clergymen arrested
CA to suppression of churches
1970 half population professed christians
what was jugendweiche
atheist imitation ceremony 1955 - all youth had to do
what can be said about women in DDR
perceived gender equality but really only achieved in parts due to economic necessity of time
evidence of women succeeding in DDR
1949 constitution proclaim men + women equal
BUT dismiss consituin
1947 pensions of widows repealed due to economic diffcilutlies
evidence of negatives for women
abortion not allowed until 1972
CA to thesis on women of school
DDR above BRD in skl 1961 25% women in uni
BUT dismiss CA on woken in skl
equality not enforced in workforce - not until 1966 family law aided women
so overall women in ddr
changed only in small parts - women join workforce due to economic necessity and no aid w/ maternity life
decieving evidence of success in DDR standard living
31% own fridges 1966
CA to success of DDR standard living
HO shops overpriced luxury good - 12 marks for kg sugar but worker owns 345 marks a month
evidence of success for trade unions in DDR
DDR more classless and fairer society
BUT disadvantages of DDR in workers
FDGB ( trade union) regularly purged to be loyal instrument to SED
what did Gunter gas refer to eats German society as
‘niche society’ - ppl lead parallel lives with private niches (e.g. church) and work for state
