GDR

Question 1

When was the SED created

Answer 1

1946

Question 2

What event marked the formal division of Germany after WWII?

Answer 2

The division of Germany into four zones by the allies in 1945

Question 3

What was the SED

Answer 3

a merger of the communist party and the Social Democratic Party

Question 4

what was the soviet zone in post war Germany?

Answer 4

the area of eastern Germany controlled by the USSR

Question 5

Whos guidance was the SED under

Answer 5

Communist

Question 6

Why was the SED created?

Answer 6

-To merge 6000 KPD members and 7000 SPD members under soviet influence
-consolidated control over Eastern Zone

Question 7

What growing division emerged among victor powers?

Answer 7

Tensions between USSR and Western Allies over political and economic policies for Germany

Question 8

When was the GDR created?

Answer 8

1949

Question 9

When was the cold war

Answer 9

1947

Question 10

What did the cold war lead to?

Answer 10

breakdown of cooperation between the Allies

Question 11

When was the Berlin Blockade?

Answer 11

1948

Question 12

What was the aim of the Berlin Blockade

Answer 12

force Western allies out of Berlin

Question 13

How did the Berlin divisions formalize?

Answer 13

Western zones merged to become FRG
Soviet Zone became GDR

Question 14

When was the FRG and GDR created?

Answer 14

1949

Question 15

Who became leader of the GDR?

Answer 15

Walter Ulbricht

Question 16

What was Ulbricht’s main aim?

Answer 16

building socialism under soviet influence

Question 17

What was the Volkskammer

Answer 17

-Peoples Chamber
-Elections heavily controlled
-Functioned as a rubber-stamp body for the SED policy

Question 18

What is the Landerkammer

Answer 18

-States Chamber
-represented the federal state

Question 19

How did the SED assert its political dominance?

Answer 19

-Politburo and central committee were key decision making bodies
-prevented significant opposition in the party

Question 20

What Truman’s policy of containment?

Answer 20

foreign policy after WWII to prevent the spread of communism

Question 21

Who was the first head of state of the GDR

Answer 21

Wilhelm Pieck

Question 22

What was the USSRs policy on reparations in East Germany?

Answer 22

USSR seized industrial equipment and resources from East Germany as war reparations

Question 23

What is meant by socialist economics?

Answer 23

An economic system based on state ownership and central planning

Question 24

How did industrial development occur in the GDR?

Answer 24

Through the nationalization of industries and the implementation of Five Year Plans

Question 25

What was agricultural collectivization in the GDR?

Answer 25

The process of merging individual farms into long, state-controlled collectives.

Question 26

What opposition arose to socialist economics?

Answer 26

Resistance from farmers and workers who opposed forced collectivization and strict state control

Question 27

What was the June 1953

Answer 27

A workers revolt against increased work quotas and poor economic conditions

Question 28

What was the impact of socialists economies in the GDR

Answer 28

-economic stagnation -shortage of consumer goods -dissatisfaction among citizens

Question 29

Why did emigration from the GDR increase in the 1950s

Answer 29

Many East Germans fled to West Germany to escape political repression and economic hardship

Question 30

What was the impact of emigration on the GDR

Answer 30

skilled workers and professionals left the country- lead to a 'brain drain'

Question 31

What was the crisis of 1960-61?

Answer 31

escalating emigration and economic struggles threatened the stability of the GDR

Question 32

When was the Berlin Wall built

Answer 32

1961

Question 33

Why was the Berlin Wall built?

Answer 33

To stop mass emigration of East Germans

Question 34

How did Khrushchev influence the GDR

Answer 34

supported the construction of the Berlin Wall -promoted soviet-style socialist policies

Question 35

What was the importance of the Berlin Wall?

Answer 35

symbolized the cold war division between East and West and stabilized the GDR

Question 36

What role did Yalta and Potsdam conferences play in Germanys division?

Answer 36

determined the Allied control and occupation zones and laid the groundwork for Germanys split

Question 37

How did the marshal plan accelerate divisions in Germany?

Answer 37

USSR rejected it being given to the GDR and therefore deepened the two sides economic division

Question 38

What was the Stasi?

Answer 38

Est German secret police

Question 39

How did collectivization affect rural communities

Answer 39

Disrupted tradition farming practices and cause food shortages

Question 40

What was COMECON?

Answer 40

the council for mutual economic assistance, tied GDR economy to Soviet bloc

Question 41

What were the GDRs Five Year Plans?

Answer 41

economic programs that focused on heavy industry and collectivization in order to build a socialist economy

Question 42

What was the role of propaganda in maintaining the SEDs dominance

Answer 42

promoted socialist ideology and loyalty to SED

Question 43

How did the USSR respond to the 1953 uprising?

Answer 43

deployed tanks to crush the protest and reassert control

Question 44

What was the economic impact of reparations in the GDR?