propaganda and censorship Flashcards
in which ways would the SED engender support for the regime?
Through propaganda: such as sporting successes, parades, literature, theatre, media…
why did the GDR flag appear everywhere?
as it was a symbol of pride and success and if people saw it frequently enough there would be a sense of belonging there to the regime, thus supporting it
What did officials notice about participants of parades during the 1950s?
little in number and often unenthusiastic
what would parades do?
APPLAUDE THE REGIME
Who were the main communist heroes applauded during parade celebrations?
Rosa Luxembourg and Karl Leibknecht
In which instance could a parade been opportunity for protest?
Olafe Palm Peace protest of 1987
What was the FDJ’s newspaper called? Was it controlled by SED?
Junge Welt
No
What % of GDR’s newspapers controlled by SED?
66%
What was the name for the main paper of the SED?
Neues Deutchland, one million circulation daily
International news was under scrutiny of which cabinet?
Chairmen of Ministers
After international news was through the Chairmen of Ministers, what agency was it then channelled through?
ADN
How many books were purged in 1952?
8 MILLION, saved three of each copy so could be read by top SED members
Why were people reading less?
Because the work that was being published/ was still allowed to be read was generally dull
Which foreign languages were discouraged to learn?
French and English
What slogan was used to get people learning Russian as a MFL?
Russian
‘Learn the language of our friends!’
Why were GDR shops still allowed to sell foreign magazines and newspapers?
As it was assumed that people could not read them
Art had to follow what movement?
Socialist realism
What famous artists work was banned?
Kaethe Kollwitz as workers depicted looked too miserable
In 1952 Grotewohl said what?
Why was this important?
Art and culture was subordinate to politics
It was an issue because some work that was banned under Nazi’s became banned again, negative as it suggested that socialism akin to nazi politics
The socialization of theatre nicknamed?
‘Production Literature’
Famous example of a play gone wrong?
singing about improving railway timetables and was called ‘The heart is a meeting place’
Why is it difficult to judge the extent of popular support? Where did people escape to?
As many people would place more emphasis on their private lives and outwardly conform. Allotments popular as a place to escape political pressures.
Why is there little hope for stasi accuracy on reports of people’s lives?
As questions asked were usually poorly developed or loaded, the Stasi could easily have intimidated people into writing what they thought the stasi would want to hear and the stasi could interpret reports however they liked and reported it inaccurately.
Statements were often?
Vague and they were generally asking about socialist ideals not questions about whether or not citizens travel more freely
What was a statement given to children?
‘I am proud to be a member of our Socialist State’- 5% disagreed, hard to judge if kids understood
In 1976 a survey was taken part in, what percentage believed that social security was better in the GDR over the FRG?
75%
In January 1990 (after demise) how many people were satisfied with their childcare and housing?
childcare- 61%
housing-60%
What percentage of people satisfied with social security and work?
social security - 58%
Work - 59%
20% of people felt what? (relationship with USSR)
GDR too close to USSR
USSR taking advantage out of GDR
