2.2 Honecker and the development of a GDR identity

What led to the fall of Ulbricht in 1971?

The failures of the New Economic System and Economic System of Socialism from 1963-70 led to his forcible retirement and he was then replaced as First Secretary in 1971 by Erich Honecker with the Soviets approval.

While the opposition was still low they were still met with some, by who and how?

Still some opposition on a local unofficial strike level → usually to do with work norms, poor equipment, health and safety and low pay rates.

The protest took the form of defacement of posters, mass whistling, covering their ears and getting drunk, very petty forms of protest

• However many were scared to protest because they recalled the consequences of the 1953 revolt.

Who was Erich Honecker?

In 1971 Honecker would replace Ulbricht as Secretary-General of the GDR and essentially the leader of the GDR too.

How did Honecker’s aims differ from Ulbricht’s?

Honecker wanted to create a national identity, this included ‘demarcation’ which was reduced contact with the FRG.

• He wanted to extend ties to communist allies

  • He saw the GDR and FRG as too different for rapproachment

He built this idea by:

• Media attacking the West

• Selective interpretation of German History

• Propaganda, parades and rallies

• Creating national pride, done through sport success and promoting athletes to role models

What were the main aims of the GDR media?

The biggest concern of the GDR authorities was the existence of the FRG, Ostpolitik did not stop the fact that the GDR was becoming more financally deoendent on the FRG so they intended to attack the West through media.

How did the SED use the media to attack the West?

Propaganda was used to portray the FRG in a negative light, however the GDR citizens could choose to watch their TV

• The Black Channel - made with the intent to disgrace the West and FRG in particular.

• Was shown for 30 years, people only watched as they were fascinated by their lies fabricated in it.

What were the main newspapers in the GDR and what were their main feature? How much control did the SED have over them?

Neues Deutschland: It was the central organ of the SED, it was the most important newspaper and often would be its mouthpiece for the party’s opinions on politics and economics - sometimes referred to as the "‘German Pravda’ due to it’s alignment with Soviet doctrines.

Junge Welt: Daily newspaper for the Free German Youth (FDJ) organisation, had the highest circulation

The Allgemeiner Deutscher Nachrichtendienst (ADN) also known as the General German News Service had state monopoly on the production of news and news media, it would supply news to newspapers and news broadcasters.

What were the radio stations in the GDR and what were the main features? How much control did the SED have over them?

Radio in the GDR was a state-controlled monopoly operated by the Rundfunk der DDR (Broadcasting of the GDR) under the strict supervison of the ruling SED.

• Berliner Rundfunk: Initially was known as ‘Berlin I’, it was a major channel focused on East Berlin - station from the capital for the republic

• Radio DDR 1: Primary station for information, news and daily life - it would often incorportate entertainment.

What were the television channels in the GDR and what were the main features? How much control did the SED have over them?

It was not only propaganda that was published.

In 1965, most of the screen time was given to entertainment

• With it rising from 1274 hours to 3651 hours in 1989

The news was not only propaganda with the ‘Current Camera’ made in 1952 being used to broadcast politcs, economy and culture - survived the demise of the GDR.

GDR programmes were usually well received.

How were all the above undermined by the press and television/radio stations from the FRG and the West?

The GDR was competing with the attention of the FRG, this led to Honecker commanding that programmes should avoid ‘a certain boredom’ in 1971.

How and why did GDR leaders try and reinterpret German history? How did this change over time?

The GDR leaders wanted to make it as though the foundations of the GDR was the logical outcome in history. They made sure to place a particular focus on the class struggles like the 16th century peasants revolt and the class struggle during the industrial revolution.

This was taught at school and organisations, even going as far as to teach that the FRG was associated with militarism, nazism and a ‘false Germany’

This led to confusion among the GDR as citizen were confused on why history was changed and re-changed again and again.

Why did the GDR encourage sport? How did sport help fufill some of its national aims?

The GDR encouraged sport to improve health, productivity and at an elite level it would aid in increasing prestige and a sense of national identity.

They wanted to help their identity on a national scale so to do this they hoped to produce elite, disciplined communist athletes who could demonstrate the superiority of communism in both sports and outdside of it.

They were to appear as role model s so more would follow the regime and this would hopefully strengthen their national identity.

What programmes did the GDR use to promote sport?

Programmes to encourage sport at a local level and elite level.

The elite would be identified at a young age, this was done throughscouts and enrollment in special schools - these would emphasise development in skills, discipline and political education.

These institutions would go on to grow from 4 in 1952 to 5 in 1989 with over 10,000 pupils attending.

Many of the elite clubs that the graduates joined were affiliated with the Stasi or the Military so they were given secure jobs to maintain an amateur status whilst training.

How successful was the GDR in Olympic sports?

In 1964, The East German Olympic athletes won 23 medals in an all-German team.

In the 1968 Olympics, the GDR came third in the medal table.

In 1976-1986, the GDR won more medals than any other country

1988 Seoul Olympics, the GDR had 102 medals whilst the FRG only had 40 medals.

What did Ulbricht nickname GDR Olympic athletes, and what did he mean by this?

They were nicknamed ‘Diplomats in tracksuits’. This indicates their purpose as aiding in the increase of national identity.

How was the GDR’s Olympic success later shown to be problematic/false?

Doping was the culprit of the GDR skyrocketting to sporting success, they became synonymous with doping in sport.

As early as 1964, the athletes were given steroids and performance enhancing hormones

The doping programme was known as ‘State plan 14.25’ - it cost around 400 million Ostmarks by 1989

How successful were the GDR female athletes?

Women ahletes were hugely successful on the surface and in 1980, they accounted for 36% f the TV and won 46% of the GDR medals.

International women’s sports were easily dominated due to its early development.

Steroids were more effective in developing muscle in women - women were given Oral-Turninabol which was a fast steroid.

What price did the women athletes pay for this success? What were the long term impacts physically, mentally and emotionally of the doping that women endured?

Women would have deeper voices, increased hair growth and bulging muscles unusual in bodybuilders.

Many women were left both physically and mentally scarred, one even got a sex change.