The development of a GDR identity Flashcards
Which historian should you mention when talking about national identity?
Dietrich Orlow
Dietrich Orlow’s overall argument
“nation building under the maxims of Marxism-Leninism ignored the importance of the fundamental ingredients that make up national identities”
What is a national identity characterised by?
A national identity is characterised by a connection or attachment to a personal ancestry, tradition, culture and language - and not necessarily to the state a person was born and lives in”
By ignoring the “ingredients” that make up national identities…
the citizens of East Germany were never fully convinced of their socialist system’s superiority. In contrast, they envied the West Germans and their reputedly weak and reactionary societal structure”
What did the lack of a national identity make it impossible for the GDR to do?
To preserve its legitimacy and maintain power, a long-term and systemic factor contributing to its ultimate collapse
Throughout their roughly half century rule in the GDR, the Communists worked hard to construct a new sovereign identity which was hoped to be…
“socialist, antifascist and progressive”
Orlow argues that establishing any sort of original national identity after the Second World War was an…
“all but impossible task” - in post-war Germany the extremes of Nazi hyper-nationalism had “rendered German pride and identity absurd notions”
This complex historical legacy led to…
The “cultural war”
What did the “cultural war” aim to do?
It aimed to rewrite German history in line with Leninist principles
Who did the Socialist Unity Party of Germany (SED) employ under the “cultural war”?
The SED employed historians with the job of administering the past to validate the East German version of national identity
What example does Orlow give regarding the propaganda used under the “cultural war”?
The East German government communicated that the cause of the Second World War stemmed from the monopoly capitalists succeeding in their venture to bring Hitler to power
How did the process of rewriting history under the “cultural war” lead to the fall of the GDR?
By seeking to create a distinct national identity contingent upon a selective interpretation of history, the regime inadvertently emphasised the confines of its own ideology and paved the way for the fall
Historian Daniel Smith quote about rewriting German history under the “cultural war”
“Absolution of the German people meant denying opportunities for popular self-critique, creating an atmosphere which unwittingly condoned the Romantic national myth”
Evaluate this quote: “Absolution of the German people meant denying opportunities for popular self-critique, creating an atmosphere which unwittingly condoned the Romantic national myth”
This quote illuminates the detrimental impact of exonerating the German people of their responsibility for the war and its aftermath
It hindered a comprehensive introspective analysis of their actions and obstructed a critical examination of the past - ultimately perpetuating a distorted national identity
How was the formation of a national identity in the GDR manipulated?
National identity was exhausted as a means to an end rather than a means in itself
How was national identity was exhausted as a means to an end rather than a means in itself?
The government manipulated national identity to validate their rule and strengthen the idea that socialism was the only viable political system
The concept of a Socialist national identity in East Germany was not an organic development but…
an “artificial Soviet creation” (Dietrich Orlow)
Why was national identity in the GDR an “artificial Soviet creation”?
It was not the consequence of sincere and authentic popular sentiment, but an external imposition
How did the geographical proximity of East Germany to West Germany hinder the development of a distinct national identity?
The FRG exposed GDR citizens to conflicting ideas and values that made it difficult for them to fully embrace socialism and their developing national identity
What was the most infamous propaganda programme on television in the GDR?
The Black Channel
What was Von Schnitzler’s regular opening gambit on The Black Channel?
“Poverty, unemployment, breached human rights, lies and state sanctioned murder, the FRG today”
What did West German television emphasise?
The appeal of capitalism - particularly the wide variety of enticing products to be purchased in such an economy and by criticising the regime’s human rights violations and economic woes
Why did East Germany encounter difficulties in combating West German influences?
They relied on the FRG for economic support and political legitimacy - as the country struggled to address the challenges of its underdeveloped economy and retain control over a restive population
East Germany struggled to establish a unique national identity since it was always in the shadow of…
the more prosperous and influential West Germany
The view of political scientist Anne-Marie Le Gloannec on how the GDR compromised its own national identity
The GDR compromised its own national identity and independence by surrounding their citizens with a wall and suppressing their rights - this “kept the national question afloat” which led to an increased reliance on West Germany as their exclusive gateway to the world
International success at sport was judged as…
a sure-fire way of engendering pride in GDR achievements
The GDR enrolled promising young athletes into…
special schools
What was the purpose of enrolling promising young athletes into special schools?
To produce an elite of disciplined communists who could demonstrate the superiority of communism while acting as heroes and role models for the East Germans who would therefore take more pride and identify more closely with the regime
The GDR’s avowed belief in sexual equality ensured women would be encouraged to participate in sport as much as men - although they were discouraged from taking part in what were considered…
male preserves
What are some examples of male preserves?
football and contact sports such as judo
On the surface women athletes were hugely successful - what shows this?
In the 1989 Olympics, they constituted 36% of the GDR team but won 47% of the GDR medals
