* Social Change in the DDR 2 - youth and churches

What did the youth represent?

The future, and needed to be won over to communist views.

What did schools become?

Became comprehensive ‘polytechnic’ schools, with close links to industry or sport, and provided practical work experience.

What did the SED control regarding the youth?

Controlled youth organisations.

What improved for youth regarding education?

Scholarships were available for the disadvantaged, and university was opened up to all.

But what was a big issue for the youth?

Those from professional and aristocratic classes were often discriminated against.

Many left to study in the West.

What were not all of the youth won over by?

Not all won over by state views.

What was there some support for amongst the youth?

Was some support for Western culture, based around rock and roll music.

How did the state respond to support for Western culture?

State response varied from clampdowns to tolerance.

How religious was EAst German society?

It was still religious.

15 million Protestants, and 1 million Catholics.

What did the SED want regarding religion?

SED wanted religion to wither away and fulfil Karl Marx’s prophecy that it was only the ‘opiate of the people’.

What did the church do?

They avoided the changes brought in by the SED.

What changes did the Church manage to avoid?

• Church land was not seized.

• Ministers were not de-Nazified or removed from office.

• Churches ran their own internal affairs.

What happened in 1946 for churches?

The situation changed with the Law for the Democratisation of German Schools.

What did the Law for The Democratisation of German schools remove?

Removed religious education from the curriculum.

What happened in 1952 - 53?

There was a state campaign against Junge Gemeinde, the Protestant Youth group.

What were members of Jung Gemeinde prevented from doing?

Prevented from remaining at school, and taking their final exams and going to university.

When did the campaign against Junge Gemeinde end?

In June 1953.

What was the Youth Dedication Service called?

Jugendweihe.

What happened in 1954?

The Youth Dedication Service was imposed on the young.

What did the Youth Dedication Service involve?

Involved a commitment to Marxist views.

Why did the Youth Dedication Service cause conflict?

Because Marxist views contradicted Christian views.

What did refusal of the Youth Dedication Service result in?

Discrimination at school, and also prevented post-compulsory education or a professional career.

What were churches forced to do due to the Youth Dedication Service (Jugendweihe)?

Forced to change their view and accept that the dedication did not contradict Christian confirmation.

This forced them into a relationship with the atheist state.