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GDR - establishing Communist rule > Unit 2: The development of the East German state 1961-85 > Flashcards

Unit 2: The development of the East German state 1961-85 Flashcards

1
Q

Background

2a - stabilisation of E.G after 1961

A
  1. Berlin Wall built.
  2. Guaranteed labour supply.
  3. Advances towards Communism could begin.
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2
Q

The GDR’s economy after 1961

2a - stabilisation of E.G after 1961

A
  1. Mid-60s to the mid-70s, there were improvements in living standards.
  2. But housing shortages began after it was built, as the mass migration alleviated the problem before.
  3. Problems reaching 100% employment.
  4. SED had no scapegoat
  5. OPEC crisis resulted in problems. As did NES and NSS.
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3
Q

The end of mass emigration

2a - stabilisation of E.G after 1961

A
  1. End of mass migration was abrupt.
  2. 136 were killed trying to cross the Wall while it was erected.
  3. No real opposition in the GDR. Some remembered the results of the 1953 uprising.
  4. There was some support for the Wall. Border-crossers were hated in the GDR.
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4
Q

The NES, 1963-8

2a - stabilisation of E.G after 1961

A
  1. Launched by Ulbricht, directed by Mittag

2. Not political, purely economic.

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5
Q

The aims of the NES, 1963-8

2a - stabilisation of E.G after 1961

A
  1. Government maintain economic planning
  2. Directors lower down in economy given more autonomy
  3. Profit introduced as measure of economic performance
  4. Workers received bonuses and higher wages for those with higher level skills
  5. Focus on scientific and technical innovations in optics and chemicals.
  6. Industry-university links made
  7. Allowed as an experiment by Khrushchev
  8. Create competitiveness between the FRG and the GDR
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6
Q

Problems with the NES, 1963-8

2a - stabilisation of E.G after 1961

A
  1. Managers given new powers often did not have the financial skills to balance books and turn profits
  2. Resources still scarce and managers had hard time getting what they needed
  3. Some saw it as deviation from Marxism-Leninism. They did this by taking extended sick leave or working slowly.
  4. The higher wages were often useless, no goods to buy.
  5. It didn’t remove the central planning – therefore inefficiencies compared to West Germany.
  6. Reparations went on, and Ruhr was in the West – structural inefficiencies that could not be fixed with economic system
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7
Q

Why the NES ended, 1963-8

2a - stabilisation of E.G after 1961

A
  1. USSR wanted to centralise central planning throughout Eastern Bloc
  2. Brezhnev ousted Khrushchev in 1964. Was a hardliner, and was worried about the effects of experiments in the Bloc.
  3. The Chairman of the State Planning Commission, Apel, shot himself in response to Brezhnev’s criticism.
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8
Q 
The ESS (Economic System of Socialism) 1968-71
(2a - stabilisation of E.G after 1961)
A
  1. Centralisation put back.
  2. Extended central planning to agriculture and trade.
  3. Restored price subsidies to promote key industries like computers, chemical and plastics.
  4. Higher planned production
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9
Q

Problems with the ESS (Economic System of Socialism) 1968-71

2a - stabilisation of E.G after 1961

A
  1. Difficult to maintain desired progression in research and development
  2. GDR still didn’t have resources to equal the west
  3. Between 1968 and 1971 there was an average growth rate of 5.7%
  4. Productivity never reached FRG levels
  5. Centralised control stifled efficiency and innovation
  6. Consumer goods neglected
  7. Ended when Honecker ended it while Ulbricht was on holiday
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10
Q

Positives of the ESS (Economic System of Socialism) 1968-71

2a - stabilisation of E.G after 1961

A
  1. GDR replaced Poland as USSR’s main trading partner
  2. Got into top 10 trading nations in the world
  3. Achieved while reparations were still being paid to the USSR and Marshall Aid money was never taken.
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11
Q

Increased econ production

2a - stabilisation of E.G after 1961

A
  1. SED recognised need to increase consumer goods production
  2. Televisions, fridges and washing machines were all best in Eastern Bloc
  3. Chocolate, shoes, coffee and fruit, however, was poor compared to the West
  4. SED often avoided blame. These problems often blamed on the USSR and the division of Germany
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12
Q

Consumer Socialism and Better Welfare

2a - stabilisation of E.G after 1961

A
  1. SED thought that a contented workforce would work harder
  2. Called “Unity of Social and Economic Policy”
  3. 1972 saw every single private and semi-private enterprise nationalised, even though these industries made up 11% of GDR production
  4. Nationalisation ended in 1976
  5. Industry grew at average of 5% each year through the 70s
  6. By 1980, almost all the households had a television and a fridge
  7. 85% had washing machines
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13
Q

Intershops

2a - stabilisation of E.G after 1961

A
  1. Intershop was chain of state owned stores in the GDR
  2. Sold foreign goods and only took foreign currency
  3. They provided stark contrast to East German stores who had poor quality goods
  4. Didn’t cause as much discontent as Delikat and Exquisit stores.
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14
Q

Delikat and Exquisit

2a - stabilisation of E.G after 1961

A
  1. Government run stores.
  2. Took East German currency
  3. Sold Western Goods
  4. Out of reach for majority of the E.G. population, resulted in resentment.
  5. Party officials used it a lot.
  6. Sold goods like Dresden China
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15
Q

Problems from the Unity of Social and Economic Policy

2a - stabilisation of E.G after 1961

A
  1. Problems arise from mid-70s onwards. Problems undermined ability of the government to provide consumer goods
  2. OPEC crisis of 1973 suddenly raised oil prices
  3. GDR had very few natural resources
  4. Lots of money spent on oil resulted in little money to spend on imports
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16
Q

The Deal between the SED and FRG

2a - stabilisation of E.G after 1961

A
  1. 1982, GDR found it difficult to secure credit. A liquidity crisis occurred
  2. Secret negotiations between the two groups
  3. 2 billion DM deal in 1983 and 1984
  4. GDR’s oil use reduced
  5. Things taken out of stores to sell to the West – Easterners noted ‘a thousand little things’ disappeared from stores
17
Q

Problems of economic planning

2a - stabilisation of E.G after 1961

A
  • Exemplified in two ways
    1. Robots
  • SED wanted to increase efficiency through use of robots in industry.
  • Factories simply reclassified vacuum cleaners and lifts as robots being used to create goods!
    2. Trabant
  • Low quality, plastic car
  • Planners deliberately lowered production, as they wanted people to use public transport
  • People joked rear heater was to warm people’s hands as they were pushing it
18
Q

Membership with COMECON

2a - stabilisation of E.G after 1961

A
  1. Membership in 1950
  2. 76% of all trade with the USSR and the Eastern Bloc
  3. As the West overtook the GDR in most areas, trade with the East became increasingly important.
  4. 70s, GDR dealt with labour shortage by getting workers from Cuba, Vietnam and Angola along with other socialist counties.
  5. USSR bought East German goods at below market prices.
  6. Sheltered GDR during first OPEC crisis. Second, they didn’t help.
  7. 80s, total crisis was averted by trade with the FRG, not the USSR
19
Q

Background

2b - Honecker and the creation of a distinct identity

A
  1. Ulbricht argued there was one German nation in two states, and eventually these two states would be united under socialism
  2. Honecker came along and was more realistic – he didn’t see reunification happening.
20
Q

The Development

2b - Honecker and the creation of a distinct identity

A
  1. Demarcation begun
  2. Propaganda portrayed FRG as Americanised.
  3. Exports labelled “Made in the GDR” rather than “Made in Germany”
21
Q

Mass media - Newspapers

2b - Honecker and the creation of a distinct identity

A
  1. Neues Deutschland was main paper of SED, many people bought it to look conformist then never read it.
  2. Honecker approved front page
  3. Only one news agency
  4. All funded by government, never advertising.
  5. Western Communist Party papers allowed into GDR
  6. FRG problems like homelessness and drug problems were accentuated
22
Q

Mass media - Radio

2b - Honecker and the creation of a distinct identity

A
  1. 70s, there were several stations including Radio DDR 1, 2. Radio DDR 2, Berliner Rundfunk. 1964 saw the addition of DT 64, a youth station.
  2. Western radio stations were not easily jammed, so Radio Free Europe got though.
  3. In 1985, there were 6.6 million licenced radios.
23
Q

Mass media - Television

2b - Honecker and the creation of a distinct identity

A
  1. Televisions owned by almost all households in the GDR
  2. State television company was DDR-FS
  3. Colour programming in 1969
  4. Popular programmes aired at same time as the news in the FRG to put people off watching.
  5. Black Channel was the key propaganda programme
  6. Took snippets of FRG news and explained them with Marxist-Leninist context
  7. Most citizens claimed not to watch it, but did, in sheer shock at host Von Schnitzler’s style
  8. The Sandman was a favourite of children. It was a cute little animation with a tune just before bedtime for children, and showed a folk creature sending the children of Germany to bed. 9. The programme lasted longer than the GDR itself, it was so loved.
24
Q

Other examples of demarcation

2b - Honecker and the creation of a distinct identity

A
  1. Supermarkt in the GDR known as a kaufhalle (buying hall).
  2. The job description of ‘secretary’ was never used outside the SED. They were called ‘skilled worker for writing technology’
  3. The capital of the GDR was written ‘Berlin, capital of the GDR’.
    West Berlin was run together as Westberlin, to give the impression of a totally different city.
  4. Russian terms, like Kollectiv were used.
25
Q

Sports as a mass participation activity

2b - Honecker and the creation of a distinct identity

A
  1. All sporting organisations controlled by the SED
  2. Not overtly political, good way to bring everyone into the control of the Party
  3. 1982, 3.3 million East Germans belonged to a sports club
  4. All clubs under the umbrella of The German Gymnastics and Sports Association (DTSB)
  5. Survey by the DTSB found that 80% participated in sports because it was fun
  6. Poorly maintained facilities often closed for repairs (especially swimming pools) dampened enthusiasm.
26
Q

International sport

2b - Honecker and the creation of a distinct identity

A
  1. 1964 Olympics, GDR and FRG were represented by an all-German team
  2. GDR performance at the Olympics was frequently spectacular.
  3. Moscow Olympics in 1980, GDR won 11/13 gold medals available in women’s swimming
  4. Koch, set world records at 100, 200 and 400 metres. The Women’s 400 metres record is unlikely ever to be beaten
  5. Reinisch won three gold medals, all with new world record times, at the Moscow Olympics.
  6. Achievements were possible because SED put great focus on identifying athletes at a young age and nurturing them
27
Q

Women’s sports

2b - Honecker and the creation of a distinct identity

A
  1. Before 1988, you had to be amateur to be in the Olympics

2. Worked against women in most states, but not the GDR, they were fully funded by the state. Resulted in more successes

28
Q

Doping

2b - Honecker and the creation of a distinct identity

A
  1. Systematic programme of doping was used.
  2. Sometimes without knowledge of the athlete
  3. Kreiger was a woman given steroids to fundamentally change her body, adding muscle mass.
  4. Since 1997, Krieger has lived as a man due to the fundamental changes to his body which occurred during his years as a sportsperson in the GDR
  5. 70s onwards, most people knew about the doping. After reunification, these suspicions were confirmed.
29
Q

Background

2c -FRG relations between 1961-85

A
  1. FRG lead by Christian Democratic Union chancellors from 1949 up to 1969
  2. CDU supported Hallstien Doctrine, which said only FRG represented the whole German nation. GDR not a legitimate state.
  3. Stopped diplomatic relations with any country bar the USSR for the GDR, as it was the USSR who recognised the GDRs existence. FRG referred to GDR as ‘a zone’
    This helped sustain the division.
    Ardenaur, a CDU chancellor, didn’t visit West Berlin until 10 days after the wall was built!
30
Q

Rise of Brandt and the Social Democratic Party (SPD)

2c -FRG relations between 1961-85

A
  1. Brandt elected in ‘69. Attempted to improve relations between the 2 German states
  2. Late ‘60s saw Détente develop between USSR and USA. Changes also between FRG and GDR – time of good developments, when families were able to meet
  3. Critics despised it as a time of working with an authoritarian country who abused its own people.
  4. Building of Berlin Wall has awful effect on the West’s mayor at the time, Willy Brandt. He successfully negotiated families being able to visit in Christmas ‘63
31
Q

Ostpolitik

A
  1. Name given to Brandt’s policies after ‘69
  2. Continued by GDR chancellors until the fall of the Berlin Wall
  3. Aimed to improve relations
  4. Brandt saw that the Hallstien Doctrine failed to have a negative effect on the GDR – closer links and trade has the best chance of undermining the state in the long run.
  5. Brandt met with Stoph, the leader of the Council of Ministers in Efert, March ‘70
  6. First visit to GDR by FRG politician. Many held up Y posters in support for Willy Brandt rather than Willi Stoph
32
Q

Human terms - Success of Ostpolitik

A

Visits to East Germany from West Germany up from 1.25 million to 1971 up to 6 million in 1973
Telephone calls up six fold between 1971 and 1976
Policy popular with GDR and FRG citizens
GDR gained desperately needed funding from the FRG
Free trade between the GDR and the FRG made the GDR an unofficial member of the European Economic Community (the precursor to the European Union)

33
Q

Dilema of Ostpolitik

A

On one hand, it presented significant economic and diplomatic advantages for the GDR. SED also feared, however, that closer ties with the FRG could destabilise the GDR, as the states ideology could be undermined by the undermining of the propaganda that the FRG was a poor state.

34
Q

emphasis of difference of 2 states

A

‘United Fatherland’ line dropped from national anthem of GDR
Article 6 of the ’74 constitution said the GDR was ‘forever and irrevocably allied with the USSR”
This highlights the argument that Ostpolitik actually maintained the formal division by accepting the situation and prompting the GDR to highlight the differences between the two.
On the other hand, Brandt saw the policy as a way to keep the FRG as a rival interest to the USSR in the GDR – GDR received DM15 billion in loans from the FRG
This meant the GDR had to lean towards the West during the late 80s crisis.

35
Q

Agreements of 1970-72

A

Ostpolitik marked a general improvement in relations, manifesting itself in a number of agreements between the two Germanys, as well as Eastern Bloc states and the USSR
1970 Treaty of Moscow – FRG and USSR agreed no territorial claims against each other
1970 Treaty of Warsaw – FRG accepted GDR/Poland border.
1971 Four Powers’ Agreement: West Berliners could visit East Berlin and secured Soviet acceptance of this. Made Berlin Blockade Mark II impossible.
1972 Basic Treaty: FRG and GDR recognise each other! Disputes settled without force, threats.
Difference in outlook – GDR treated FRG as a separate country, with Foreign Ministry dealing with FRG. FRG dealt with GDR though ministry of intra-German affairs

36
Q

relaxation of travel restrictions

A

During 60s, visits from West Germany limited to Christmas and urgent family business.
SED allowed OAPs out, as they weren’t concerned if they come back – they are economically pointless. Most did come back, however.
Many West Germans could travel freely to the east, but day-trippers had to return by midnight.
Freidrichstrasse Station, a common crossing point was known as the palace of tears due to its emotional goodbyes
In 1971, phone calls between East and West Berlin were resumed. By 1988, 40 million calls were being exchanged
Honecker announced that those who had left the GDR for the FRG could visit without fear of prosecution
For West Germans, there were 4 motorways into the GDR
West Germans had their cars checked, with mirrors put underneath, in order to stop smuggling

37
Q

Sale of political prisoners

A

The GDR sold political prisoners for cash since ’63. While still secret, the process intensified.
By ’77, FRG was paying DM 96000 for each prisoner. DM 5400 was being paid for families to see each other anyway! By ’89, FRG paid DM 3 Billion to buy 34,000 prisoners, reunite 2000 children and facilitate 250,000 cases of family reunification.

GDR - establishing Communist rule (3 decks)

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