Establishing and consolidating communist rule in the GDR, 1949-61

What was the Soviet zone?

the area of Nazi Germany occupied by the Soviet Union after World War II

Who was the Soviet zone governed by, how many members were there and what were their responsibilities?

- the SMAD, a group of expert German communists
- 50,000 Soviets and German members
- military, economy, civil affairs and political questions

When was SMAD created and what was the motto?

June 1945
"Ensure Soviet zone evolves the way Stalin wants it to"

When did the SMAD govern the Soviet zone until?

the creation of the GDR

What was there lots of confusion about to do with the Soviet zone?

whether SMAD had more power than the Soviet government over the Soviet zone (it didn't → lacked ability to enforce any policies)

What was Wilhelm Pieck told (Soviet zone)?

- select 150 reliable German communists
- "has to look democratic" but everything must be under control

When did the KPD launch its manifesto and what did it do?

June 1945 and it played down communism

What was a popular KPD policy?

denazification

What did the KPD and SPD both seek?

control over the key industries and abolition of private ownership

What did Stalin have no desire for? (Germany)

a Communist republic separate from other zones

What was Stalin not sure of (Germany)?

wasn't sure Communism was compatible with the Soviet zone

What did Stalin want to see? (Germany)

a reunited Germany preferably under Communist control (something he doubted could even exist)

What did Stalin choose to create within the Soviet zone?

an "Anti-fascist democracy"

Where were German communists deployed and how was the Soviet zone run?

- in key positions in the zone
- by German communists under Russain supervision

What did Stalin hope the US would do?

withdraw from Europe just like after WWI

How were former Nazis treated in the Soviet zone?

excluded from public life (communists governed on Marxist-Leninism)

What was the population of the Soviet zone in 1939?

17 million

What was the population of the Soviet zone in 1947 and why?

19 million because of refugees

What was the ratio of women to men in the Soviet zone?

135:100

What were there lots of in the Soviet zone?

children and elderly

What was over-exaggerated after WWII and what was the reality?

- the claims of war damage
- NOT 40% reduction in industrial capacity that was claimed
- most large scale enterprise continued quickly after the war

What were there attempts at (Soviet zone)?

minimising the reparations to the USSR

How many citizens had Stalin lost (WWII), how much money did he want from the USA and what was their reaction?

lost 20 million, wanted 20 billion → USA failed to agree on a fixed sum

What was the USA reluctant to see (reparations)?

the Soviet Union recover through further damage to the Western zones

What reparation guidelines were agreed on?

- each power would take reparations from each of their zones
- Stalin could have a further 10% of industrial machinery in each of the three Western zones
→ 15% in exchange for raw materials and food from the Soviet zone

Why was the reparations meant to be a short-term strategy?

they assumed that Germany would eventually reunite

How did the Western allies and Stalin view the taking of reparations?

West - capitalist democracy
Stalin - demilitarised and neutral

What were the priorities of both the West and Stalin in Germany post-WWI?

to denazify Germany and ward off a humanitarian crisis

What did the allies agree on at the Yalta conference?

agreed to divide Germany into 4 military zones

When was the Yalta conference?

4th February 1945

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