German Democratic Republic, 1949-1971

Economy
1. Soviet reparations stripped the zone, 25% of Goods
2. Trade relied on the Soviet Bloc, 76%
3. Structure
  1. Nationalisation
    1. 76% Industry under state Control
    2. SAGs, later turned into VEBs
  2. Five-Year plan model Adopted
    1. Later Severn-Year Plans (1959)
    2. Favored heavy industry, food Shortages
    3. Policies outdated before Introduction
    4. Greater regional Specialisation
  3. New Economic System
    1. Honoured Marxist Ideas, Flirted with the Free Market
    2. Some people did benefit, many however fled West
  4. Collectivisation (1952,1960)
    1. 85% Farms in State Control
    2. Heavy machinery and livestock was owned in Common
Society
1. Stasi
  1. Controlled all cultural activities, 'conveyor belts' for Transition
    1. Censorship, banning of Western Influences
  2. Kept a close eye on all Citizens
2. Discontent
  1. 200,000 people fled west every Year
    1. Loss of skilled Labour
  2. June 1953 Riots
    1. Took place in over 400 Cities
    2. Causes
      1. May Directive
        10% Work Quotas Increase
      2. Low wages, High Taxes
      3. Fears of forced Nationalisation
    3. Ulbricht unable to deal with the Riots
      1. 28,000 Soviet Troops
      2. Upto 125 Killed
    4. Proved the GDR didn't support Communism
    5. Ulbricht relied on the USSR to keep Power
      1. Aproch became more Ruthless
        76,000 opposition Arrested
    6. 350,000 People fled West
  3. Further Trouble (1956)
    1. Strikes and Industrial Unrest
    2. Quick political and economic action saved his Position
3. State Socialism
  1. Workers Paradise
    1. Guaranteed Job, Transport, Housing and Education
    2. FDGB, Workers Protection
      1. Expense of Freedom
    3. Low Wages for All
  2. Still a split between the elite and 'Others'
    1. Government had control over Promotions
    2. Those who failed to meet quotas were Punished
  3. The Church
    1. Provided political Opposition
      1. Sketchy relations until the formation of an independent Church
4. Youth
  1. Controlled by the State, FDJ
    1. Membership voluntary but Encouraged
    2. Education system setup to compliment Organisations
  2. Private schools Abolished
  3. Emphasis on practical work skills, only those with Special Talents continued in Education
    1. Depended on Political Conformity
5. Women
  1. Women's equality vitally important from the Start
    1. Must Work
    2. Equal Pay
    3. 87% in Work
      1. Confined to low paid unskilled Jobs
  2. Still burdened with household Duties
    1. Given days off, laundries, stores and nurseries in the workplace, Equality?
Aims
1. Build a workers State
2. Remove private Ownership
3. Building of Socialism
Soviet Union
1. GDR was reliant on the Soviet Bloc
2. Warsaw Pact
  1. Response to NATO
  2. NVA, 170,000 troop Army
    1. Fight for the Workers
  3. Secured the division of Germany
3. Berlin Crisis
  1. Reasons
    1. Movement of citizens West, 2.5million (15% population) by 1961
      1. Sudden panic led 181,000 people to leave in 1961
      2. 40,000 fled on the day the wall was Constructed (12th August)
    2. Lots of East Berliners has Western Jobs (53,000)
    3. An open Cold War Front
  2. Ocured after the rejection of the Berlin Ultimatum
    1. Stated Berlin must be made Free
    2. After a second failed attempt, Khrushchev agreed to building the Wall
  3. Consequences
    1. Both parties had an 18hour face Off
    2. Some deliberately overstepped the wire, were let Through
    3. Now stood as a symbol of Division
    4. Limiting of free movement split Families
      1. Saw little point in Protesting
    5. Saved the GDR, kept there workforce and economy Alive

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German Democratic Republic, 1949-1971

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