Post WWII Germany Flashcards
1
Q
Examples of criticism between West - East Germany;
A
- Billboards; part of information offensive; Postdammer Platz
- Criticisms; Neue Zeitung - ‘failed copy of a socialist skyscraper’ - Webewiese
- Housing; both trying to prove that they can provide for their citizens
2
Q
Name of the ‘rental barrack’
Describe them;
A
Mietskasernen
Multistory apartment blocks
Laid out in a grid formation
Profits > Planning
3
Q
West and East had similar goals; X3
A
- destruction as opportunity
- get rid of the Mietskasernen legacy
- build a city which breaks form third reich traditions
4
Q
Berlin is a good case study to consider due to;
A
it being the location where socialist and capitalist metropolises converge
5
Q
Post WWII what proportion of dwellings in Berlin were beyond repair?
A
1/3 of dwellings beyond repair post WWII
6
Q
Population of Berlin in 1871;
A
930,000
7
Q
Population of Berlin in 1919;
A
3.8million
8
Q
When did Mietskasernen develop in berlin?
A
Late C19
9
Q
Who planned Berlin in the 1920s?
A
Wagner
10
Q
Who planned Berlin in the 1930-40s
A
Hitler / Speer
11
Q
What was Rathenau’s criticism of Germany?
A
Explosive growth in the late C19 made tradition vanish
12
Q
Who criticised Germany’s growth in the late C19
A
Rathenau
13
Q
Land mass of Germany;
1871
1919
A
1871; 22.8 miles^2
1919; 340miles^2
14
Q
Timeline of construction / housing in Germany & Berlin;
1924
1929
A
1924; RENT TAX: subsidise housing construction
1929: 80% of houses had some form of public finance
15
Q
Timeline of construction / housing in Germany & Berlin;
1931 :
1948
A
1931: Private firms which had dominated post war had lost half of their share
1948; City MUNICIPALITY SPLITS (+ as does planning commission)
16
Q
When did the East German Gov close the border on West Berlin?
A
August 13th 1961
17
Q
What is significant about orthodox cold war discourse?
A
Much suggests that there is a narrative discourse;
but actually - Berlin Wall / Nuclear Threat etc - are very real
18
Q
How can modernism be considered in terms of discourse?
A
As a response and a challenge to earlier styles
Ongoing and Evolving; modernism is not a result of discourse but is itself a form of discourse
Divisive discourse; i.e source of conflict in the Cold War
19
Q
What was a result of the WWII Siege of Berlin?
A
draws to close;
architects must divide between Cold War
Physically and aesthetically divide
20
Q
What happened at the Yalta Conference?
A
Yalta Conference 1945 -
Division of Berlin amongst the occupying powers -
No consensus over the decentralisation process
21
Q
What type of style did the West adopt in terms of modernising?
A
Neues Bauen
22
Q
When was CIAM set up, by whom?
A
Le Corbusier
1928
23
Q
What does CIAM stand for?
A
congres international d’Architecture Moderne
24
Q
What did CIAM establish in 1930s?
A
Charter of Athens 1933
25
CIAM Guidelines include on the topics of;
- zoning; single use
- motorways; fresflowing
- modern resources
Limited discussion of socio-political consequences
26
What did Pugh suggest about East and West
were reliant on one another to DEFINE THEMSELVES.
Discourse on national identity > policy change
Should not be considered autonomously
27
What did the Berlin Wall necessitate for identity?
Encouraged more concrete notions of identity
= more defined positions
Changed from an occupation zone to two separate cities
28
The identity of West and East Germany constituted more of a...
Discourse on national identity rather than a policy change
29
What is place identity?
The way people people are influenced by a place in terms of the consolidation of their own sense of identity
30
What is socially conscious architecture?
Idea that architecture could fit neatly into political categories - i.e what was / wasn't Nazi
31
West (FDR) :
Party
Federal Republic of Germany
Christian Democratic Union
32
Name for the East German State
Party
German Democratic Republic (GDR)
Socialist Union Party
33
What was the situation with East Germany and the adoption of a neoclassical approach?
Hitler was an admirer of neoclassical approach
| = GDR required much convincing that this was their best approach
34
What did GDR think of the modern, internationalist approach?
Repudiated in 1949
35
What was socialist realism?
Use of history to legitimise the present - i.e new Germany growing out of the old
36
Who was the supreme leader of East Germany?
Until When?
Who took over?
Ulbricht
Until 1971
Honecker took over
37
How was socialist realism enshrined into East German Law?
16 Principles of Urbanism became law in September 1950
38
How did the 16 Principles of Urbanism come about?
X6 GDR ministers travelled to Moscow to learn from the socialist capital and STATE STALINISM
Came back and later in 1950 the 16 Principles of Urbanism became law (Sept)
39
Names for Ulbricht
Names for Stalin
'Master builder of socialism' - Ulbricht
'Master builder of the world' - Stalin
40
What principles did socialist realism reject?
| X2
- rejection of green city
| - rejection of zoning; mixed use favoured
41
What did socialist realism think of modernism?
Considered it to be too formalist
42
What party is the SED?
What side of Germany?
Socialist Union Party
GDR (East)
43
What program did the SED launch in 1951?
SED launched 'The Battle for a New German Architecture' in 1951
44
What was significant about TBFANGA campaign?
- high profile nature; discourage dissent
| - used for Western propaganda in the cold war; east seemed to be unwilling recipients of the program
45
What did the first point of the 16UP suggest?
That cities were of the upmost importance to urban / national identity
Socialism started in the cities; C19 factories / industrialisation
As such city architecture = synonymous with national consciousness
46
Problems for rebuilding in the East; x5
1. voluntary labour / cash
2. falling behind W.G in housing
3. Morale
4. Strikes
5. Labour power
47
Evidence as to low morale in East Germany for workers;
15,000 - 20,000 each month travelling to West
48
Evidence for strikes as disruptive of urban planning in East;
1953 Strikes;
- Weberwiese workers march to SED HQ
- Next day: 30,000 join in - 15% of workforce
49
What is important to note about the past of East & West Germany?
Both share the same history and cultural heritage
50
How can architecture be considered as a weapon?
- provides political legitimacy
- radical break or connection to past
- retention or provisions for population
51
Why was the idea of the Heimat inconsistent?
- refers and ties itself to the 'past' but is in itself a timeless concept
- expresses both homogenous unity + diversity
52
What did the SED try and do with the Heimat?
How did this work?
SED tries to tie the Heimat to Anti-Fascism
Heimat was important to Nazi propaganda - so appeals counter intuitive
53
What was significant about the capitals?
Bonn - FDR
Berlin - GDR
'Berlin, capital of the GDR'
54
Discuss the identity of the FDR? in terms of their urban topography
New / technological / industrial / economic advancement
55
What was the relationship like with West / East and their respective occupying powers?
WEST: Positive relationship w/ Western occupying forces
EAST: fairly imposing influence, not as harmonious a relationship as in West
56
Which Government was the 1st to start construction?
What did this aid?
SED (EAST) : First Gov to start rebuilding
Used this for propaganda purposes - accused West of being more concerned with building up the military
57
What term means 'building up'? Who used this? What did it mean?
'AUFBAU'
SED / EAST:
'Building up the Socialist German Nation'
An attempt to convey widespread public support
58
Describe some of the housing problems (w/ evidence) in East Germany;
1970s Housing Problem
:
60%: of homes no bathroom or heating
13% of homes belong to 30% of people
59
FDR and GDR are both aesthetic and ideological antipodes; yet, have some similarities, these include;
- both being public relations efforts; attempts to establish public perceptions of their Berlin / identity
- increasingly less about the Berlin Question - more about long term identity stability
60
What does conventional history usually make of the 1960s-80s period?
Period of stasis
Instead provides an idea of how national identities are shaped
61
Term for 'Zero Hour' in West Germany
STUNDE NULL
62
Term for 'ECONOMIC MIRACLE' which was thought to have occurred in West Germany
Evidence of this occurring
Wirtschaftswunder
GNP X3 (1950-60s)
Unemployment shrunk to 10% of its value in 1950 (by 1960)
Strong currency
Advancement of technology
Symbolism; i.e Volkswagen Beetle
63
What was the goal of stunde null
goal of US occupation; re-education
although used less aggressive touches that experienced in East
64
Many West Germans aligned socially + culturally with USA ; what was this phenomenon called
Coca-colonisation
65
Did the Wirtschaftswunder really happen?
+ Aided coca- colonisation
+ Up to speed on housing construction by 1970
+ Juxtaposed to war so many have seemed less impressive
66
What has been the role of European Governments in planning?
Always played a large, involved role in urban planning
67
What was happening in Germany in the 1940s?
Rubble clearance
1st signs of normalcy
Each side fitting to retain residents
68
What were the 4 sections of Germany?
US, UK, French and Soviet
69
1950s:
CS:
Representational housing;
Although East and West still similar
CS West:
REUTER
HANSA / Interbau
CS EAST:
National Construction program
WEBERWIESE
Stalinallee
70
1960s;
CS:
relative economic prosperity
allowed leaders to embark on more grandiose plans
CS WEST:
First Urban Renewala Program
WEDDING-BRUNNENSTRASSE
CS EAST:
Leninplatz
71
1970s:
CS:
turbulent years
prioritisation of new construction
CS WEST:
Cautious Urban Renewal Programme
CS EAST:
Honecker 5 year Plan
Housing Construction Program
72
Describe the National Construction Program
Program in the East (1950)
Intended as expression of official, SED endorsed GDR identity
Served as a rejection of Western Allies;
73
Who introduced the National Construction program in East Germany ?
When?
ULBRICHT
| Supreme leader in GDR until 1971
74
National Constriction Program, 1950 - what did it intend to do with the past?
Use of the past as a tool of political legitimisation and exculpation '
SED's willingness to engage w/ history as a tool to construct national identity
75
Who designed the Weberwiese?
Where is it located?
What was significant about Henselmann?
Henselmann
Heneselmann was typically modernist - but renounced this in order to
East Germany
76
What is the Weberwiese house modelled on?
Feilner House - 1820s
77
Describe the aesthetic of the Weberwiese:
When was it built
1951 (year post 16UP in law)
- 9 storeys
- L shaped building
'Reneters palace' that replied Mietskasernen 'Renters Barracks'
Embodied socialist realism
- classical realism
- modern ornamentation
- blend of German tradition w/ Moscow
78
Full name of Weberwiese;
Houchhaus an der Weberwiese
79
What building was built in West Germany as a response to the Weberwiese?
When was it built?
Who was the architect?
Ernst Reuter-Siedlung
1954
Hinssen
80
Describe the Ernst Reuter Siedlung building
- BAUHAUS
- 14 storeys
- no ornamentation
- response to the East
- uniform white
- no mixed uses
- use of green space
81
Why were the West using Bauhaus as a way to break from the Fascist past?
Hitler hated Bauhaus - too internationalist)
A way for FDR to court Western ideals (many Western cities were using)
82
Differences between East (Weberwiese) and West (Reuter) in 1950s;
- masses could use weberwiese
- east; land could be razed and reconstructed quickly
- reuter had green space
- reuter had legal hurdles to prevent evictions; favoured legal rights > socialist needs
83
Commonalities between East (Weberwiese) and West (Reuter):
- almost identical appearance
- contrast to Mietkasernen
- dominating high-rise
- setting amongst greenery (despite East denouncing Garden Cities)
84
Planners;
Houchhaus an der Weberwiese
Ernst Reuter-Siedlung
Henselmann - Weberwiese
Hinssen - Reuter
85
Describe the Hansa District/Interbau :
Way of re-alignign Western Berlin + USA
Used to suggest Western superiority over East / USSR - method of propaganda
Use of modern buildings / scientifically and culturally advanced
Modern style
- Green Space
- Central Roadway
- Avoided previous layout
86
Who designed the Hansa district?
Le Corbusier & Aalto
87
When was the Interbau?
What did this stand for?
What did this celebrate?
Interbau 1956-57
International Building Exhibition
Celebrated the Hansa district
= proving the capacity of the West to reconstruct and reunify
Commitment to peace and prosperity
88
Describe the purpose of hosting exhibitions;
Exhibitions are explicitly political acts - they are forms of propaganda
Way of projecting a global image as an urban centre
89
When did the West introduce their First Urban Renewal Program?
1963
90
What was significant about the first urban renewal program?
What was the program a response too?
Program was the largest in Germany - intended to have modern communities on periphery
Response to;
- wall construction in 1961
- ageing & shrinking population
91
What project came out of the First Urban Renewal Program?
Wedding-Brunnenstrasse District;
X35 block area
Not as reliant on prefab as the East was - still able to show architectural style
92
When was the Leninplatz constructed?
1967
93
What was the slogan for the East in the 1960s?
'Better. Cheaper. Faster construction'
94
Describe the Leninplatz'
- turned to prefabrication as a cost saving measure
- 3 tier high-rise with variety of shaped buildings
- 250,000m^2
- Plaza dedicated to Lenin's 100th Birthday
- one of strongest attractions to E. Germany
95
Main difference between constructions in East and West Germany in 1960s;
Legal;
West: timely and costly acquisition process. Strong eviction laws.
East: comparatively easy legal process, settled quickly.
96
Main similarities between constructions n East and West Germany in 1960s;
Treated the city as identical;
+ want rid of mietskasernen
+ rebuilding from scratch
+ neither state wanted mixed land use
97
1970s; Conditions in West Germany
Gov had caught up with housing demand
Tenant Revolt
Illegal Squatters
Beginnings of grassroots movement - campus groups
Attempting to force planners to abandon Raze and Rebuild
98
Was Berlin willing to shift away from its raze and rebuild approach?
No - resistant and unwilling
Although Cautious Urban Renewal Programme (1979) was a milestone in favouring renewing> construction
99
What did West Berlin realise about raze and rebuild?
Modernist construction was more $$$ than expected - far more cost effective to favour existing stock
100
In the East what did housing units peak at?
When did they peak?
1961 Eastern housing peaks
Peaked at 92,000 units
101
When did Honecker introduce his 5 year Plan?
What did this seek to do?
1971-75
Prioritised new construction until 1980, before moving on to existing stock
102
How many units were refurbed under Honecker's plan by 1990?
What change is this most apparent in?
3million proposed to be refurbed
Change where Mietkasernen are now being embraced
= opposite to Leninplatz
103
What does the 1950s-80s period tell us about German nation building?
- just because different ideologies does not mean completely different urban planning
- life span of certain paradigms is as long as socio-political and economic conditions allow
104
When was Stalinallee constructed?
What did it represent?
Stalinallee constructed 1952
Stalinstadt represents 1st socialist city in GDR
105
Which side had more buildings which were modelled on history?
Give examples
East
i. e Weberwiese - Feilner's house
i. e Stalinallee
106
How did the Stalinallee act as effective publicity?
Acted as a symbol to citizens of the importance of German history
Using historical influence meant mitigating against the threat of influence of American values
107
What did the West use Stalinallee to characterise the East as?
OPPRESSIVE, DICTATORIAL REGIME
108
Why was the Stalinallee critiqued?
Critiqued for its monumentality being akin to Fascism
Critiqued by the West as being the product of an oppressive, dictatorial regime
109
In 1953 how many went on strike in East Berlin?
What were they striking over?
What was the consequence
300 marched to SED HQ
Striking over food and commodity shortages
Next day 30,000 march
50 dead by Soviet troops
110
When was the Housing Construction Program introduced?
West or East?
Who introduced it? What was this a change from?
1973
East Germany (GDR)
Honecker (replaced Ulbricht and his prefabrication solutions)
111
What did the Housing Construction Program do?
Placed housing's importance in parallel with the priority of housing within the economy
Included refurbishment of pre war houses from 1980
Promised 3million dwellings to be refurbished by 1990
112
In 1971 what was the state of housing in East Germany?
1/5 of buildings were without damage
60% without heating or bathrooms
13% of housing belongs to 30% of population
