Untitled Flashcards Set

Yalta

-divide Germany into 4 zones

-Poland given land to compensate for the USSR keeping land from Poland in 1939

Postsdam

-denazification

-demilitarisation

-deindustrialisation= help pay reparations

-democratisation

DEFINITION

Soviet Zone popuation

TERM

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-19 million 1947

-women to men 1.35:1

-for every 100 working people 58 who were not

-lot of young and elderly people; high dependency ratio

DEFINITION

Stalin's view fro Germany

TERM

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-no desire to become a communist republic

-wanted to reunite Germany

-'anti-facist democracy' = hoping to deploy German communist under Soviet administration

DEFINITION

Soviet Military Administration

TERM

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-created June 1945

-50,000 Soviet and German members

-responsible for 4 areas : military affairs, economy, civil administration and political question

DEFINITION

Merger of KPD and SPD

TERM

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-created SED

-bigger party to win elections

-by 1948 summer 0.2 million members

-couldn't win elections in 1946 SED won less than 20% of the popular vote

DEFINITION

Eradication of Nazism

TERM

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-former party members sent to concentration camps ; 43,000 died in camps from 1945-49

-September 1945 Land reforms; 33% of useful agriculture land was taken, 2 million heaters was redistributed

-October 1945 Confiscation of property

-Education was opened up to the working class; in 1945 working class 3% of university vs 58% in 1950

DEFINITION

Reparations payments

TERM

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-54 billion Ostmarks

-dismantelling industrial plants, actual money payments

-reparations to keep Germany weak

-suffered 29% loss in wartime capacity

DEFINITION

Western zones co-operation

TERM

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-Bizonia in 1946

-Trizonia 1949

-two distinct Germany's

-March 1948 Russian representatives left ACC over plans of new currency

-FRG in May 1949

DEFINITION

Berlin Blockade

TERM

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-2,325,808 tons flown into Berlin

-blockade failed and showed how the West could not abandon Berlin

DEFINITION

System of government

TERM

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-Volkskammer, parliment, represented by proportional representation

-Landkammer represented the 5 states of the GDR and determined policy at Land level

DEFINITION

Political control

TERM

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Article 6 and 8 gave authorities full power

-Supreme Court 1949 given authority to implement article 6

-Central commission for State control set up to investigate those felt to pose any threat to the regime

-Ministry of state security 1950 = all powerful

DEFINITION

Purges in 1950's

TERM

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-stasi grew 8x 1950-52

-began arresting potential opponents; anti-semetic policy

-no show trials too close to west

-trials were in secret led to arrest and exile

DEFINITION

SED domination

TERM

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-council of ministers (Volskammer) had to comply with SED decisions

-SED dominated public sector jobs 49% by 1950 had working class backgrounds

-emphasis on ideological purity as much as administrative efficency

DEFINITION

SED's governance

TERM

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-SED was governed by Politburo; emphasis on central control

-in July 1952 Lander dissolved to be replaced by 15 regional organisations; growing centralisation in guise of greater democracy

-constitution of rights was an illusion, true power resided with the SED

-

DEFINITION

Socialist economic planning

TERM

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-1950 state planning

-drew u 5 yr plans

-government could harness economy for its perceived needs

-social rather than personal needs

-economic rules of supply and demand not considered

DEFINITION

Aim of First 5 Year Plan

TERM

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-develop heavy industry

-increase living standards

-overtake FRG living standards

-projected 60% increase in national income

DEFINITION

Success of the First 5 Year Plan

TERM

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-iron rose by 40x

-steel expanded over 2.5x

at the expense of living standards

-problem of over emphasis on heavy industry exacerbated by membership of COMECON

DEFINITION

Problems with early centeral planning

TERM

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-state deficit 700 million Ostmarks 1952

-heavy industry saw 60% increase vs 2% in consumer goods

-huge shortages beginning in 1953

-cuts to welfare budget price rises for foodstuff

-cut wages and new working norms

-April 1953 saw price rises in essential goods, workers expected to increase production by 10%

-growing emigration 120,000 in first 1/3 of 1953

-prison population grew by 30,000 from 1952-53

DEFINITION

Collectivisation increase

TERM

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1999 to 6000 from 1952-55

-promoted by tax relief and essential equipment

DEFINITION

Socialist Spring

TERM

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1959-60

-25% of arable land in 1957 to 85% in 1960

- effectively forced campaign

-led to disruption and resentment

DEFINITION

Opposition to collectivisation

TERM

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750,000 hectares unused as landowners fled

-removal of profit motive led to disincentive to innovate

DEFINITION

New Course

TERM

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-introduced 1953 after Stalin's death

-Soviet initiative to slow down socialism

-withdrew price rises, discontinuation of collectivisation

-more consumer goods

-released 4000 political prisoners in June

DEFINITION

Size of June revolt

TERM

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-373 urban centres

-497,000 workers striked

DEFINITION

Cause of June revolt

TERM

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-working norms and living conditions

-followed death of Stalin

-demands grew to free elections and resignation of the government

DEFINITION

Reasons of revolts failure

TERM

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-USSR troops = 50 deaths , showed the USSR wouldn't give up

-triggered by economic grievances the strike became political but no-coordination

-West did nothing to support

DEFINITION

Governmnet response to revolt

TERM

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-3.8 billion spent on welfare

-consumer goods production increased by 30% in 1953

-wage rises and pension rises

-1300 imprisoned and the SED was purged

by 1954 62% of local mebers elected in 1952 were purged

DEFINITION

SED post revolt

TERM

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-security tightened; paranoia breeds paranoia

-1.2 million members expelled

-1955 New Course abandoned

-stasi incorporated with Interior military grew from 10,000 to 17,400 from 1952-57

-leadership would never trust people again

DEFINITION

Economic problem 1950's

TERM

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-frequent shortages of essential stuff

-economically dependant on USSR

-FRG growth rate of 8% vs GDR industrial growth rates of 2.9%

-Ulbricht had bold agenda 1958 to overtke FRG by 1961

DEFINITION

Continual emigration

TERM

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1/4 of doctors left

young well educated people leads to poor economic growth

200,000 in 1960

shortage of skilled workers

DEFINITION

1958 Crisis

TERM

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-Khrushchev gave ultimatum to West for Berlin to become an international city

-demanded West Germany sign a peace treaty with GDR; recognising the GDR as independent

-USA responded by saying they were prepared to defend West Berlin with nuclear weapons if necessary

-Khrushchev reluctantly agreed to the wall after this

DEFINITION

Construction of the wall

TERM

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-12-13 August 1961

-all travel was banned overnight, border firmly closed

-97 miles long

DEFINITION

Significance of the wall

TERM

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-stopped border corsses who took advantage of subsidised housing and cheap goods

-many children educated in west but lived in east

-westerns took advantage of eastern prices

-family's split

DEFINITION

Cost of lost skills before the wall

TERM

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3 billion Ostmarks in lost skills

GDR paid for education for them to emigrate

common justification among border guarders

DEFINITION

Problems of the wall

TERM

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-those who worked in West lost their jobs

-restrictions on education for those who had been to school in West ; stop them contaminating classmates with western ideas

DEFINITION

Escapers

TERM

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-network of tunnels, one train driver drove his train though barriers

-223 fatalities

-shoot to kkill policy?

DEFINITION

Khrushchev's role

TERM

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-preferred SED to work harder to gain support of citizens and didn't want communism to look unpopular

-but it did provide international stability

-propaganda disaster

-scared about how the West would respond

-but after Kennedy's lack of respect or co-operation he gave the go-ahead

DEFINITION

End of mass migration

TERM

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-regime could relied on skilled people had no choice but to comply

-offered stability to companies

-retention of skilled people stimulated economy giving NES a chance

DEFINITION

Normalisation

TERM

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-people saw advantages of GDR

-provision of welfare was strong

-labour force largely reliable

-no significant opposition

DEFINITION

Opposition

TERM

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-FDGB (trade unions) reports some localised unofficial strikes over working norms

-forms of protests were petty; defacement of SED leaders

-reluctant to strike over possible consequences

DEFINITION

Aims of NES 1963-68

TERM

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-improve economic efficiency with more initiative and technology

-central planning reduced but targets, resources and prices still controlled

-profitability became the yardstick

DEFINITION

Association of National Enterprises

TERM

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-set up to facilitate improvements providing links between central bodies and enterprises

reform most valuable sectors of the economy

-facilitate R+D

DEFINITION

Opposition to NES

TERM

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-many party functionaries fears it weakened the central control

-in 1964 fears about incentives and bonus' making 'socialist millionaires'

DEFINITION

Weakness of NES

TERM

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-labour force didn't have the skills to work in this new way; lacked technical expertise

-pricing structure = tended to be way too low in essential items therefore less was produced causing shortages

DEFINITION

Aims of ESS 1968-71

TERM

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-closer ties between scientific and technology research

-Brezhnev attempted less positive about NES/ESS nonetheless Ulbricht persisted

DEFINITION

Achievements of ESS

TERM

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-national income rose index from 100 in 1950 to 310 in 1950

private consumption rose 24% from 1965-70

-TV ownership rose almost 4x 1960-70

-periodic unexplained shortages; East Germans carried 'perhaps' bags

DEFINITION

Impact of COMECON

TERM

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-joined 1950

-became dependant on USSR for 87% of it's oil

-'Sofia principal' allowed all members to access technology of others at lost cost; USSR pillaged better educated experts

-from 1954 GDR specialised in heavy plant machinery and mined brown coal from 1957

-by early 1980's USSR account for 75% of GDR trade

-led to massive foreign debts for the GDR

DEFINITION

Economic policy in 1970's

TERM

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-1974 Constitution primary goals to improve living standards

-more central controls introduced

-leadership realised it needed more consumer goods which were expensive and complex

DEFINITION

Kombinate

TERM

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-expanded enterprises into larger units called Kominate

-by 1985 132 centrally managed kominate; each employing 25,000 people

-role to manage whole production process

-hoped the productive responsibility would lie with the middle men

-collective farms expanded, number of farmers declined by 2/3 from 1960-80

DEFINITION

Growth rates in 1970's

TERM

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-4.8% growth in private consumption 1970-75 (unreliable)

- 1976-80 5 yr plan claimed 4.1% rates

-skilled workers rose from 44% to 53% 1971-75

DEFINITION

Economic problems in the 1970's

TERM

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-20% of skilled workers doing jobs incommensurate with their skills

-oil crisis in 1973 led to price price rises

-long term under-investment in water, transport and energy caused problems

-growing trade deficit

DEFINITION

How did Honecker attempt to create a national identity

TERM

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-demarcation and extend ties to Soviet Union

-used media to attack the west

-selective interpretation of German history

-propaganda, parades and rallies

-national pride through sporting success

DEFINITION

Media to attack West

TERM

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-military conscripts told FRG was the enemy

-The Black Channel = lies and fabrication but people saw through it , 30 years

DEFINITION

GDR broadcasts

TERM

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-entertainment given a-lot of screen time along with current affairs, current affairs 'Current Camera' out lived demise of GDR

-Honecker told producer to avoid boredom in 1971 as competing against FRG TV

-drama and crime series often well regarded

DEFINITION

Interpreting German history

TERM

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-emphasised class struggle to create national identity

-Honecker changed tack applauding previous German leaders because the GDR laid claim to be the heir of German development

-citizens became confused about what they were to suppose to believe

DEFINITION

Elite athletes

TERM

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-between 1976-86 GDR won most medals in 3 Olympics and 2 world championships

'diplomats in tracksuits'

DEFINITION

Doping program

TERM

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State Plane 14.25 costing 400 million ostmarks by 1989

DEFINITION

Impact of emphasis on sport

TERM

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-improve health and productivity

-strict discipline and political education; special athletes schools in 1989 25 schools

DEFINITION

Women in sport

TERM

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1989 Olympics 37% of team but 47% of medals

-avowed belief in sexual equality

-easily dominated

-more compliant with doping; long term damage

DEFINITION

Role models

TERM

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-athletes engender pride in sporting success

-emphasis in family so athletes shown as wives and mother, very feminine

DEFINITION

Mass participation in Sport

TERM

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-9 million people in sports festival 1963

-children encourage and government keen on mass participation

-but most funds channelled into elite athletes

-in 1992 Sports federation survey found 11% of sports fields were adequate for use

DEFINITION

What is Ostpolitik?

TERM

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-Brandt became FRG chancellor 1969, understood benefits from negotiating with GDR ; 'channel through convergence'

-develop a more friendly relation due to close natural ties

-restore human contact and international harmony

DEFINITION

Process of Ostpolitik

TERM

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Brandt abandoned non-recognition, 'One nation two Germany's'

-1970 Brandt visit's GDR city

-1971 Four powers treaty

-1973 Basic Treaty June; recognised each other, FRG citizens could enter GDR

-May 1974 exchange diplomats

DEFINITION

Economic dependence - post Ospolitik

TERM

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-by 1980's main trading partner (no EU tariffs)

-91 billion in financial transfers until 1989; 21 bn straight to the state = visas, exchange rate

-FRG demanded improved emigration and communication

DEFINITION

Relaxation of travel

TERM

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-from 500,000 calls between GDR and FRG to 40 million 1969-89

-West Germans could travel freely; 2 million after the basic treaty

DEFINITION

Sale of political prisoners

TERM

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by 1989 FRG paid DM3 billions to buy 34,000 prisoners

DEFINITION

Reason for Ulbricht's fall

TERM

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-ostpolitik identified with Ulbricht as people feared he was too close to West

-Brezhnev wanted to negotiate on GDR's behalf, he disliked arrogant Ulbricht

-Politburo gave go ahead in April 1971

DEFINITION

Growing international prestige

TERM

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-1973 admitted to the UN

-1974 diplomatic relations with 80 country's

-payoff of Ostpolitik

DEFINITION

Helsinki accords 1975

TERM

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-key player along with US and USSR, 4 baskets of agreements

-removed any area's of contention over borders and human rights elements

-100,000 people applied for exit visas as a result

-from 2,000 applications in 1980's to 12 thousand in 1989

-had little intention of keeping to the agreement

DEFINITION

GDR and USSR 70's

TERM

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Treaty of friendship 1975

-USSR remained it's role model

-showed GDR firmly remained in Soviet camps

DEFINITION

Relations with COMECON and Wawsaw Pact

TERM

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-fulfilled military obligations to provide troops and military equipment; highly professional army

-advocated intervention in Czechoslovakia in 1968 and against Solidarity movement in 1980

-whole heatedly followed Brezhnev doctrine

-supported specialisation of COMECON

-GDR felt loyal to the Soviet Union

-SED held international meeting of communist parties July 1976

DEFINITION

GDR and FRG 70's

TERM

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-SED internal polls in 1972 showed reduced allegiance; worried about Soviet loyalty and western idea's

-Nov 1973 doubled amount of currency FRG citizens were made to exchange, hoping to reduce the number of visitors; number of west Berliners fell by 1/3 1974

-GDR downplayed the similarities

DEFINITION

Demarcation

TERM

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-flew in face of reality

-contact was so profitable, FRG was keeping them afloat

-FRG had strong bargaining power

-173 DM 750 million in credit

DEFINITION

External developments

TERM

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-1979 USSR invaded Afghanistan

-repression of the Solidarity movement in Poland

-1981 Reagan president; 'evil empire' speech 1983

DEFINITION

State visits

TERM

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-Chancellor visited GDR in 1981 reaffirmed peach agreement

-Honecker visits FRG 1987 ; high point, most privileges of heads of state

-waited 4 years for USSR and FRG relations to thaw

DEFINITION

International prestige post 1987

TERM

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-apex of power; widespread recognition

-Honecker paid official visits to Belgium, Spain and France

-foreign heads of state from non communist party make official visits

DEFINITION

Social contract

TERM

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1971 Honecker to establish harmony, wanted popular support

-outlined at 'Main Task' committed to improve living standards in accordance with a rise in productivity

DEFINITION

Cost of social contract

TERM

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-welfare spending rose from 12%GDP to 17% 1970-79

-8500 million Ostmark's on subsidies

DEFINITION

Pensions

TERM

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-neglected by Ulbricht

-minimum monthly increase form 230 Ostmarks to 327 1975-79

-less than 1/3 of average wage

DEFINITION

Minimum wage

TERM

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raised from 350-500 1976

1/7 of workforce benefited shows comparatively low wages

-didn't improve productivity as expected

-greater job security no incentive to work harder

DEFINITION

Housing - Rents

TERM

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-no more than 4% of income

-rents didn't cover cost of repairs of older buildings

DEFINITION

Housing problems

TERM

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2/3 of housing stock n major cities destroyed during the war

most complaints to Eingarben was housing quality

Honecker saw extensive building, popular policy

-in Dresden 1980 35% were happy with older accommodation vs 76% of new housing

DEFINITION

New towns

TERM

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-new industrial development; Schwedt and Gubuen 80% of residents worked in chemical factories

-huge featureless compexes

-crime rates high, 'stone deserts'

DEFINITION

Continual problems with housing

TERM

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-1.8 million new builds 1970-90 not 3 million target

-1990 34% of housing stock predated 1919

-by 1989 800,000 waiting list for repairs, thriving black market

DEFINITION

Healthcare

TERM

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funded through national insurance scheme

doctors increase 27,000 to 40,000 1970-89

infant mortality rate overtook FRG 1959

DEFINITION

Problems in healthcare (ageing population)

TERM

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-emphasis on preventative medicine vs clinical; number of hospital beds cut by 30,00 from 1970-89

-couldn't afford the care; in 1988 30% of the equipment for heart surgery

-provision not equal and environmental pollution

DEFINITION

Education development

TERM

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-from 16% to 72% of students spent 8 years in school 1951-71

DEFINITION

Education - Schools

TERM

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1946 Law of Democratisation removed religious influence

-comprehensive system; Extended Upper Schools

-students need good political record through FDJ for university

-stasi heavily infiltrated universities

DEFINITION

Vocational education

TERM

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-work placements and training schemes

-annual 'fairs of tomorrow's masters

-links tightened between enterprises and universities particularly after ESS introduced in 1986

DEFINITION

Problems in education

TERM

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-huge pressure for ideological conformity caused resentment

-workforce became over-qualified; 20% of workers doing jobs they were over qualified for

DEFINITION

Finance problems for social welfare

TERM

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-subsidy cost rose from 16 billion to 50 billion 1980-89

-Honecker accused economists of sabotage after worrying about uncontrollable debt

DEFINITION

Investment problems for social welfare

TERM

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-investment in public projects fell from 24% GDP to 20% 1970-79

-lowest in all Soviet bloc

DEFINITION

Shortages damaging social welfare

TERM

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-15 years for a new car, 13 to be connected to a telephone

-luxuries had to wait

-system of supply unfiar, from 1974 East Germans could use hard currecny shops

DEFINITION

Living Standards

TERM

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-minimum wage and pensions increased in 70's with cheap basic foodstuff, rents and welfare

-living standards did generally improve

DEFINITION

Women and family

TERM

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-1966 Family Code put family at the heart of life; supported traditional value's

-1970's support for the family was extensive; birth allowance of 1000 ostmarks

-Kindergarten provision was extensive rose from 642-922 1970-82

-birth rate comparatively low due to pressure on women

DEFINITION

Divorce

TERM

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-nuclear family but comparatively high divorce rate in mid 1980's 30% of marriages ended in divorces

-wives initiated 69% 1989 had higher expectations vs men

DEFINITION

Women and employment

TERM

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in 1984 80% had jobs, 50% of university students were female risen from 1/4 in 1960

-equal pay was real operating via FDGB on equal terms with men

DEFINITION

Problems in female employment

TERM

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-noticeably absent from senior/managerial positions

-82% of teachers but 4% of departmental heads

-less than 1/3 of head teachers female

-12% of top positions in healthcare

-SED denied any glass ceiling for senior roles

DEFINITION

Women in politics

TERM

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-in 1984 only 19 of SED central Committee, 2/27 members in Politburo

-gender issues treaty with levity

-1961 'Women - Peace and Socialism' promote women's achievements led to nationwide debate

-abortion law in 1972

DEFINITION

Female expectations

TERM

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-official encyclopaedia in 1987 focused on fashion, home-care and cooking

DEFINITION

Women at home

TERM

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-making women act more like men in the labour force

-in 1970 24% of women through they ahead domestic roles equality

DEFINITION

National People's army

TERM

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-1956 subordinated to the Wawsaw Pact

-conscription introduced 1962

-by late 1980's 179,000 strength

DEFINITION

Border troop

TERM

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-1980's 30,000-50,000 troops

-controversy over shoot to kill

DEFINITION

Police branches

TERM

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-KVP = parliamentary police (June 1953)

-Criminal Police

-Special police

-Voluntary police = 400,000

DEFINITION

State security overview

TERM

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-formed 1950, Erich Mielke from 1957

-13 major divisions

-budget 4 billion by 1989

-files on 1/3 of the population

DEFINITION

Role of the stasi

TERM

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-suppress political opposition

-complex network of informers

DEFINITION

Surveillance methods of stasi

TERM

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-phone tapping

-video surveillance, radiation tags

-honey traps ; prostitutes

DEFINITION

Informers

TERM

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Unofficial Collaborators most common 500,000; high turnover and varying reasons

some with special duties to infiltrate organisations

DEFINITION

Prisons and integration in the GDR

TERM

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-badly treated, series of labour camps

-Hodenschonhausen in East Berlin rubbed off map

-sleep deprivation and psychological pressure

-experts in extracting information

DEFINITION

Soviet forces

TERM

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-highest concentration of USSR troops outside border

-by 1980's 400,000 ready to defend like 1953

-Brezhnev used presence to threaten Honecker

DEFINITION

Propaganda

TERM

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parades, media, sporting success

posters and banners

-flag appeared ubiquitous

DEFINITION

Parades

TERM

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-used throughout regime, FDJ particularly encouraged to participate

-impact of parades is unknown

-opportunity to protest like Ofal Palme march in 1987

DEFINITION

Newspapers

TERM

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38 newspapers, 8.3 million readers

SED directly controlled 66%

Central Committee for Propaganda issued orders to editors; Honecker sometimes got involved

SED newspaper had 1 million readers

DEFINITION

Censorship

TERM

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-all post and telephone calls censored and tapped

-foreign newspapers available but as GDR threat of collapse periodic censored

-art expected to follow 'socialist realism'

-in 1952 Otto Grotewolh stated art must be subordinate to politics

DEFINITION

Otto Groteowolh

TERM

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First Prime minster of GDR

DEFINITION

Literature

TERM

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in 1952 8 million books purged

-Leipzig Municipal Library removed 59000/69000 stock

-people read less

DEFINITION

Threater

TERM

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situation was dire , much on offer smacked boredom

'Production Literature' = work produced for a political end of socialism

DEFINITION

Popular support

TERM

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-outwardly conformed ; hobbies important to people

-GDR regularly canvased opinions; surveys vague -widespread evidence people appreciated the social welfare program

-in 1976 Institute of Public Opinion Research concluded that 75% of respondents felt social security was better in GDR vs FRG

DEFINITION

Criticisms to government

TERM

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-1976 36% of agriculture workers felt incomes better in GDR than FRG but 80% said better social security

-tolerance for the regime was shallow; made the most of it

DEFINITION

FDGB

TERM

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15 trade unions, 97% of labour force, by 1980 9.6 million members

-in 1987 FDGB employed 16,000 functionaries main role to implement SED policies

-from 1970's more involved with social welfare = pensions and social insurance

-organised package holidays in 1983 1.8 million holidays

DEFINITION

FDJ

TERM

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-Honecker head from 1947, political indoctrination

-1983 1 million members attended holiday camps

75% of 14-25 in 1980's

-athletes and future leaders identified

DEFINITION

Problems with controlling the Protestant Church

TERM

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-didn't understand the Church authorities and couldn't control individual pastors

-aim was to limit Church

-religious influence banned from schools or youth organisations

-1969 Church split from FRG

DEFINITION

3 phases of SED and Church relshonsip

TERM

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-Antagonism 1945-60

-Co operation 1969-78

-Compromise 1978-89

DEFINITION

Why couldn't communist immediately attack religion

TERM

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-15/17 million in 1845 were protestants

-many communist in Nazi concentration camps respected fellow religious inmates

DEFINITION

Antagonism 1945-69 Church

TERM

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-Law of Democratic schools 1946 outlawed religious schools

-Church youth organisation (Junge Gemeinde) seen as a criminal organisation

-from January 1951 religious schools faced discrimination

DEFINITION

Effect of desalinisation on religion

TERM

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-1953 June SED reinstated children who had faced discrimination in religious schools

-in July Junge Geminde not viewed as illegal

DEFINITION

Jungeweihe

TERM

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from 1954 a secular alternative to confirmation

17% to 90% 1954-69

not to comply was a huge disadvantage to career

DEFINITION

Fall in religious participation post war

TERM

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-seen across developed world

-new residential areas with no formal religious representation

-1969 survey 43% of children under 14 had no religious belief

DEFINITION

Rapprochement

TERM

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1957 Ministry of Church affairs formed to direct church activities in the best interest of the state

-in 1960 Ulbricht focused on common goals of peace

-1967 SED and Church celebrated 450 years of reformation

DEFINITION

Co-operation 1969-78

TERM

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-1971 Bishop spoke about ' Church within socialism'

-community work

-Church prominent in anti-nuclear movement

-toleration of Church was in keeping with Ostpolitik helped international recognition

DEFINITION

Anti-communist examples from Church

TERM

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-some pastors vehemently anti-communist, 1976 pastor set himself on fire in Zeitz against church co-operation

-church had programs to reach out to homeless and drug addicts which the socialist government ignored, acting independently to undertake work

DEFINITION

Compromise and Contention 1978-89

TERM

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-March 1978 Honecker and Church agreed concordat

-church allowed media time and new centres of worship

-SED widened the appeal of their support base

-Honecker sought to normalise relations

stasi distrusted Church; packed with informers at some synod meeting 25% were informers

DEFINITION

Church's impact on opposition groups

TERM

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-centre of opposition to regime

-common goal to embrace opposition without compromising concordat

-focused on discontent

DEFINITION

Emigration in 1980's

TERM

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-SED relaxed definition of 'urgent family matter' in 1986 573,000 people visited FRG vs 200,000 previous year

-in 1987 20% of GDR population vised FRG

DEFINITION

Probelms with emigration and travel

TERM

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-FRG was coming under pressure form the number of emigrants and advised SED to rationalise their travel

-FRG politicians didn't want emigration to become a political concern

-in 1989 SED signed document affirming freedom of every citizen

-those who didn't have western contacts began to resent those who had

DEFINITION

Popular music

TERM

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-beat music very popular, wanted to make socialism more appealing

-Ulbricht in 1964 held 'Germany Meeting' mass youth rally 1/2 million people

-new DT64 radio with 40% foreign music

-Honecker reversed this in 1965, led to protest of 25,000 young people and 267 arrests

punk became popular but was completely unacceptable

DEFINITION

Films

TERM

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in 1982 70% of cinema goers were young

-Babelsberg studio was renowned 15-20 films per year

-SED saw films as engendering support for regime

DEFINITION

Foregin films

TERM

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rarities due to suppression and licensing problems

-often appeared on TV especially if critical of US life

-GDR cinema reflect cultural life, if more liberal firms risked more

DEFINITION

Western Goods

TERM

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-care packages from western relatives

-1962 Post Office impounded 51,000 packages

-from 1974 could hold foreign currency and use hard currency stores

-SED had softened ideas by 1970's

DEFINITION

Radio

TERM

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by 1960's many people owned transistor radios so almost impossible to stop western radio

BBC respected for objectivity

DEFINITION

Televsion

TERM

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by 1971 85% of families owned TV

in 1960's FDJ asked to dismantle antennas point to west

1973 Honecker said no more attempts to prevent Western TV; Dresden was the 'valley of the clueless'

DEFINITION

Economic stagnation in 1980's

TERM

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-GDR shrank in 1980, 82, 86 and 87

-growth national debt, less favourable trading in COMECON and resource degradation

DEFINITION

Return to central planning

TERM

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Honecker returned to centralised control, demise of development of ESS

by 1972 private enterprise accounted for less than 0.1% of the goods

DEFINITION

Growing national debt

TERM

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-debt to capitalist country's grew from DM 2.2 billion to DM 46 billion 1970-89

-interest rates rose from 5% to 13% 1977-81

-they imported western capitol equipment on credit t increase productivity but it didn't

DEFINITION

Impact of USSR

TERM

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-couldn't afford subsidies to COMECON country's, subsidies cut in 1981; GDR bought 70% of raw materials from USSR

-USSR cut oil deliveries which GDR sold on for more

-emerging economies undercut GDR prices

DEFINITION

Economic relations with the FRG

TERM

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by 1982 deep economic crisis

- 2 DM 1 billion loans from FRG 1983-84

-FRG didn't want GDR destabilised at that time

-more exit permits and no shoot to kill border post

-GDR used these loans as security making banks more credit worth and 1984 credit markets reopened

DEFINITION

5 year plan 1981-85

TERM

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-reduce energy consumption, increase exports and improved production

-huge welfare and defence spending

-industrial production increase by 4%

1970's price rises of raw materials damaged growth heavily

DEFINITION

Oil exports in 1980's

TERM

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-began oil exporting with modern fuel refiners

-1/3 of GDR's export earnings

-cost was reduction in domestic investment, specifically oil related

-in 1986 when oil prices fell GDR economy was very hurt

DEFINITION

Problems in GDR economy

TERM

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-wastage of resources, dependency on raw materials, obsolete equipment, unrealistic targets and unreliable data

-State planning demanded investment in modern technology at the expense of social welfare; Honecker refused social contract

DEFINITION

High spending on Health and wealfare

TERM

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SED wouldn't reduce welfare spending as

-convinced central planning couldn't address economic problems

-improvements in social welfare would improve productivity

-members believed their own propaganda about GDR's strong economy

DEFINITION

Solutions to economic stagnation

TERM

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-Honecker wanted a communist country alliance but in 1989 experts predicted currency debt of 52.billion by 1995

-Honecker dismissed 1989 half of all industrial factories obsolete, half of transport, productivity was 35% vs FRG

DEFINITION

Gorbachev impact on nationalism

TERM

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-1989 killed Brezhnev doctrine

-stopped subsidising the satellite states

DEFINITION

SED response to reforms

TERM

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-opposition to perostroika and glasnost in 1987

-periodic censorship of Soviet news

DEFINITION

Gorbachev's popularity

TERM

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-highly popular; lucrative black market for his work

-Central institute fro youth research in Leipzig said 83% of young people supported him

-1989 40th anniversary huge crowds called Gorby

-gave impetus to reformist in GDR

DEFINITION

Role of Protestant church in opposition

TERM

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-opposition groups used church as a space to meet

-church lacked control over individual pastor

-by late 1989's groups got frustrated with the Church's caution and groups grew more diverse and polarised

-huge stasi infiltration

DEFINITION

Peace groups

TERM

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-grown since military training introduced 1978

-from 1982 Forum attracted 5000+ visitors

-1982 'Berlin Appeal'

DEFINITION

Greens

TERM

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-ecological centre set up 1989 in Wittenbery

-stasi raided 1987

-green party in final months of GDR

DEFINITION

Han rights groups

TERM

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-Gorbachev's reforms stimulated these groups

Initiative for Peace and Human Rights first wholly independent of the Church

DEFINITION

Olaf Palme Peace march 1987

TERM

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-worldwide peace protest

-SED supported but unofficial banners from peace groups appeared

DEFINITION

Rosa Luxemburg-Karl Liebknecht Parade 1988

TERM

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-annual event 2 founding communist

-many carried banners demanding reform

-authorities acted with mass arrests and brutality

Stasi influtration

-IM infiltrated everywhere; people arrested or deported to FRG

-protest seemed unstoppable

-400 people met to protest about fraudulent May 1989 elections; stasi sent buses to arrest them with alarming brutality

Declining authority of SED

-SED rejected all reform

-reform seems unstoppable, functionaries were losing confidence

-growing influence of Gorbachev, relaxation of Soviet control

Opening of Hungary's border

-Sept 1989 in 2 weeks 30,000 Germans crossed

-leadership slow to respond but banned people going to Hungary then Honecker closed the GDR border, isolated

Protests across GDR

-in almost every city

-little organisation or co-ordination

Protests in Leipzig

70,000 crowd

-Erich Miekle gave red alert to shoot to kill

-security did not fire = questions over the loyalty of the forces and they were the only way the authorities kept control via repression

Honecker's dismissal

Politburo asked him to resign in Oct 1989 after protest in Leipzig

-lost support of the party

Krenz policies

-replaced some SED old leaders with younger colleges

-30,000 protest calling for his resignation in Leipzig

-liberalised foreign travel in

-protests grew to 3/4 million on the streets

-stasi began to shred files

Opening of the Berlin wall

-press conference 9th November misread document declaring travel restrictions ended with immediate effect

-border guarders on duty ordered gates open

-12th mayors of West and East Berlin declared wall redundant

Effects of the fall of the Berlin wall

-FRG chancellor worried about sudden mass emigration on infrastructure in FRG

-numbers seeking permanent emigration was unsustainable levels

Collapse of SED government

-old-style leadership of SED collapsed ; Mielke resigned 13th, Krenz resigned 13th Dec

-power shifted from SED to Council of Ministers in Volksakammer

-General Secretary position abolished

-support dramatically fell and changed name to PDS for March elections

Elections in March 1990

-political parties in FRG involved in GDR elections

-Christian Democratic Union headed in FRG formed electoral coalition called 'Alliance for Germany'

-CPU dominated with 48%

-old GDR parties gained little votes as people sought not to return to the past

International reactions to reunification

-Thatcher welcomed the demise of communism but worried about the powerful resurgence of Germany in Europe, worried about destabilising Soviet Union

-France accepted unification if Germany tied more closely to EU; joint acceptance on EU currency

-USA informally told FRG support of collapse of wall in 1989

Kohl's attitude to reunification

-anxious to destabilise Europe but

-fall of the wall, demands inside GDR grew, USSR and USA supportive

-in January 70,000 left for FRG

-FRG parliament had 10 point plan for reunification in November; 5-10 years gradual confederation

Reunification

-under pressure form USA, Britain and France sat down with USSR and GDR representatives resulting in Four plus Two Treaties Sep 1990

--four powers status in Berlin ended, united Germany would join NATO, Russian army would withdraw

-USSR government awarded 8 bn dollars

Cost of reunification

-cost FRG 1.2 trillion euros by 2003

West Germans reaction

-disillusioned with how backwards GDR was

-in GRD 60% of homes lacked central heating

-German gov invested 17 million DM 1991-98 to subsidies wages and social service in GDR