National Identity

How did Ulbricht and Honecker’s views on GDR identity differ?

Ulbricht believed the two German states would one day unite as a socialist country

Give four reasons why Honecker wanted to create a separate GDR identity.

To emphasise demarcation from FRG; recognise Germany’s division as permanent; win East German support through socialist pride; improve international reputation.

What were the main aspects of GDR identity that were emphasised?

Ties to the USSR and socialism; portrayal as the true progressive Germany; opposition to Western capitalism.

What methods were used to encourage this identity?

Mass media, sport, education/youth programmes

How was propaganda used to encourage GDR identity?

Reinterpreting German history; celebrating socialist heroes and achievements; portraying the GDR as innocent of Nazi crimes; holding parades and ceremonies.

What was the SED’s main newspaper?

Neues Deutschland (New Germany).

What was the youth newspaper called?

Junge Welt (Young World).

Give three examples of how newspapers encouraged GDR identity.

Praised SED leaders; highlighted FRG’s social problems; promoted anniversaries like the founding of the SED and fall of Nazism.

Give two examples of censorship in GDR newspapers.

Honecker approved front pages personally; SED controlled 70% of publications; banned Western newspapers and controlled printing machines.

How was literature used to support the regime?

Promoted socialist realism and communist heroes; supported loyal writers like Christa Wolf; discouraged criticism through privilege control.

What were the main radio stations in the GDR and when were they established?

Radio DDR 1 (1953)

Radio DDR 2 (1958)

DT 64 (1964) - youth music

How many radios existed by 1985?

6.6 million.

How successful was radio censorship?

Unsuccessful – Western stations were popular and could not be blocked; jamming signals was eventually abandoned.

What company controlled TV in the GDR?

DDR-FS.

Give three ways the SED used TV for propaganda.

Scheduled entertainment to compete with FRG news; political shows like The Black Channel; children’s shows like Sandman promoted socialism.

How far did the GDR prevent Western influence on TV?

Largely failed – many watched FRG or American programmes; Western living standards undermined SED propaganda.

Why did people still watch GDR broadcasts?

To appear politically conformist

How was film used to support the GDR?

1970s films promoted happiness in socialism (e.g. The Legend of Paul and Paula).

Give two examples of film or literature censorship.

1965 crackdown on liberalisation; 1976 exile of singer Wolf Biermann; later repression of critical writers like Stefan Heym.

How was history used to promote GDR identity?

Emphasised German cultural figures (e.g. Luther, Bismark)

Historians writing about militarism, idealism, not just socialism

Renovating historic building

How was language used to promote GDR identity?

Used Soviet-style or unique words (e.g. ‘Kaufhalle’ for supermarket); promoted Russian study; called East Berlin ‘capital of the GDR.’

Give three reasons the SED promoted mass participation in sport.

To improve health and productivity; build pride and unity; increase state control and surveillance.

What was the mass sports organisation called?

DTSB – German Gymnastic and Sports Association.

Give two statistics showing mass sports participation.

By 1982 3.3 million belonged to a sports club

1980 - 28,000 sporting festivals

How did the SED promote mass sport?

Via DTSB programmes

Hours playing sport at school

Sports days at work for adults

What was the impact of mass sport?

80% of citizens said in 1980 they enjoyed it for fun rather than political loyalty.

What was significant about the 1968 Mexico Olympics?

FRG and GDR entered separate teams for the first time. FRG as Germany and GDR as East Germany

What was significant about the 1972 Munich Olympics?

GDR had full recognition

Widespread doping

GDR came third (66 medals)

What was significant about the 1976 Montreal Olympics?

GDR came second with 90 medals.

How did the SED promote elite sport success?

Scouted talent early; ran elite sports schools; focused on women’s sports; implemented doping programme ‘State Plan 14.25.’

What was the impact of elite sport?

Created national heroes; reinforced independent GDR identity; encouraged female participation.

Give two examples of elite sports figures.

Marita Koch (400m world record 1985); Rica Reinisch (three swimming golds 1980); Heidi Krieger (shotput 1986

Give evidence of the limits of GDR identity in sport.

Many celebrated FRG victories too; resented athlete privileges; poor public sports facilities.

What role did the Stasi play in sport?

Spied on FRG programmes; monitored GDR athletes; escorted teams abroad to prevent contact with Westerners.

Give evidence that the GDR was a successful independent state.

Had defined borders and UN membership; Basic Treaty 1972 normalised FRG relations; recognised internationally; separate sporting nation.

Give evidence that the GDR was not a successful independent state.

Many still viewed division as temporary; economy and military dependent on USSR and FRG; needed strict borders to prevent emigration.