EAST GERMANY 1949-63

Question 1

Voting system of the DDR

Answer 1

Multi-party system

General elections based on PR

Question 2

How did the DDR give the appearance of democracy in the constitution?

Answer 2

Allowed a degree of party pluralism

Question 3

SED transformation- ‘_________ _________’

Answer 3

‘democratic centralism’

Question 4

How many SED members did Ulbricht remove in the first 2 years?

Answer 4

150,000 (mainly ex-SPD)

Question 5

What was set up to watch over right wing ideological attitudes?

Answer 5

Party Control Commission

Question 6

Which parties did SMAD establish in 1948 (which were just instruments for the SED)?

Answer 6

NDPD and DBD

Question 7

Role of the NDPD and the DBD

Answer 7

Exert influence in rural areas

Question 8

How did SMAD use the FDJ and FDGB?

Answer 8

Exert influence- mass integration into the ‘national front of the GDR’

Question 9

By 1950 __% of public prosecutors were members of the SED

Answer 9

86%

Question 10

SED control through judiciary (6)

Answer 10

86% of public prosecutors members of SED by 1950
‘Retraining’ of new judges
Adapted criminal law
Around 200,000 prosecuted for politcial crimes
Use of Stasi

Question 11

How many people were prosecuted for political crimes over the 40 years?

Answer 11

200,000

Question 12

How many members of the secret police by end of regime?

Answer 12

175,000

Question 13

Alienation through economic policies (3)

Answer 13

High taxation displeased middle classes
Farmers resented low prices and collectivisation
Workers- food shortages and low wages

Question 14

Cause of 1953 workers uprising

Answer 14

10% rise in productivity and working hours

Question 15

% of the workforce in the 1953 uprising

Answer 15

7%

Question 16

Consequences of the 1953 uprising (4)

Answer 16

Exposed the GDR for not being democratic
Strengthened Ulbricht’s regime
Purge
Attack on west- ‘facist putsch’

Question 17

How did the 1953 uprising strengthen Ulbricht’s regime?

Answer 17

About 1300 put on trial- eliminated opposition

Question 18

Refugees by 1952

Answer 18

171,000

Question 19

Economic disadvantages of the Soviet zone (5)

Answer 19

Shortage of raw materials
Loss of province to Poland
Dislocation of population
Nationalisation
Land reform

Question 20

Which treaty facilitated trade with the West?

Answer 20

1951 Berlin Treaty

Question 21

When did the GDR join Comecon?

Answer 21

Sep 1950

Question 22

What did Comecon do?

Answer 22

Economically integrated the GDR into the Eastern bloc

Question 23

By 1954 / of of foreign trade was conducted with socialist bloc countries

Answer 23

3/4

Question 24

Limitations of Comecon membership (3)

Answer 24

Industry geared towards USSR demands
Seven Year Plan (1958) formed within USSR guidelines
Bad prices from USSR- unprofitable

Question 25

Successes of the First Five Year Plan (1951-55)

Answer 25

Industrial production doubled- expanded economy

Question 26

Shortcomings of the First Five Year Plan (1951-55)

Answer 26

Over-dependence on heavy industry - low production of consumer goods Quantity at expense of quality Pressure on workforce- temptation of West

Question 27

Second Five Year Plan (1956)

Answer 27

Aimed to combine product of capital and consumer goods

Question 28

1958-59 economy grew __% per annum

Answer 28

12%

Question 29

When did ration cards stop?

Answer 29

1958

Question 30

At which point was there a low level of refugees to the West?

Answer 30

Late 1950s

Question 31

Shortcomings of the Seven Year Plan (1959-65)

Answer 31

Unrealistic- increase in refugees

Question 32

Successes in agriculture

Answer 32

2/3 of agricultural lands still with small farmers

Question 33

Shortcomings in agriculture

Answer 33

Lack of modern machinery New refugee farmers had little experience Small farms struggled for profit

Question 34

Successes of collectivisation

Answer 34

Long term efficiency

Question 35

Shortcomings of collectivisation (3)

Answer 35

1961 refugees peaked Decline in food production 1961 rationing reintroduced

Question 36

Three main factors as to why the GDR's economy was so inefficient

Answer 36

'Brain drain' Effect of Cold War on trade Ideological inflexibility

Question 37

Welfare (3)

Answer 37

Free healthcare Pensions for men (65) and women (60) Free accident insurance

Question 38

__,____ homes built per year

Answer 38

100,000

Question 39

__% of teachers dismissed

Answer 39

80%

Question 40

Education

Answer 40

Equal opportunity Extend technical and practical skills Strong commitment to socialism

Question 41

How did the GDR aim for equality in education?

Answer 41

Abolished private schools New centralised curriculum Polytechnic

Question 42

Successes in education

Answer 42

Raised educational standards | Percentage of uni students rose 17% in 2 years

Question 43

Failures in education (2)

Answer 43

Did not encourage individual self expression | Entry to university dependent on political commitment

Question 44

Aims of FDJ (2)

Answer 44

Indoctrinate youth with socialist ideology | Military and paramilitary training

Question 45

Success of youth groups

Answer 45

Membership of over 3 million by 1950

Question 46

Failures of youth groups

Answer 46

Some found it repressive | Early 1960's influence of Western style

Question 47

Churches (3)

Answer 47

Abolished religious education in schools Gave no financial support to churches Jugendweihe

Question 48

Jugendweihe

Answer 48

Every 14 year had to pledge to GDR and socialism

Question 49

Benefits for women (2)

Answer 49

1949 constitution proclaimed men and women equal | Increase in female employment

Question 50

Disadvantages for women (2)

Answer 50

Equality had little short term effect due to war | 1947 thousands of pensions repealed

Question 51

Benefits for family (2)

Answer 51

State offered financial support for working mothers, childcare and improved healthcare Abortion limited until 1972

Question 52

The Berlin Fuse (3)

Answer 52

Khrushchev's ultimatum The GDR Seven Year Plan Forced collectivisation