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GDR 2b.1 Flashcards

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1
Q

stasi - name + when formed

A

Ministry for state security
1950

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2
Q

Yalta conference

A

Feb 1945
end of WW2 US, UK, France+ USSR would each be allocated a sector of Germany + Berlin

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3
Q

Potsdam conference

A

July 1945
each power would be able to take reparations from its zones of occupation

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4
Q

30th Aril 1945

A

Ulbricht group (German communists led by Ulbricht who had been exiled to Moscow throughout the Third Reich) arrived in Berlin.
wanted to ensure the KPD had the most power however, the SPD was more popular

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5
Q

Ernst Thalmann

A

previous leader of the KPD
Shot dead at Buchenwald concentration camp 1944 - Hitlers orders

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6
Q

SED creation

A

Socialist Unity Party
April 1946 - 600,000 KPD + 700,000 SPD members merged to form SED

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7
Q

when was the first edition of Neus Dutchland released

A

the day after SED was formed in April 1946

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8
Q

By 1950 how many SPD members were arrested + why

A

5,000
for supporting pre-ww2 SPD

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9
Q

Bizonia

A

January 1947
US + UK merge their german zones

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10
Q

Tuman Doctrine

A

March 1947
Containment
Provide political + economic support to nations under threat of communism
Stable + prosperous Western Europe

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11
Q

Marshall plan

A

1948
$13 billion given to various Western European states to make sure they don’t faulter to communism

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12
Q

Deutschmark (DM) introduction

A

June 1948
New West German currency introduced by UK + US
essential to successfully boost trade, increase industrial production + eradicate black market.

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13
Q

what did soviets think of the introduction of the Deutschmark

A

Soviets saw this as an act of aggression - trying to undermine soviet zone + disrupt economic unity.

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14
Q

Berlin Airlift
23rd June 1948

A

23rd June 1948 - USSR severed all rail, road and canal links to west germany from western zones.
Food, fuel, medical supplies and more cut off for 2 million people

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15
Q

Berlin Airlift
26th June 1948

A

26th June 1948 - Airlift began
aircraft landed in WB every 90 seconds delivering 8,000 tonnes of supplies each day.

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16
Q

Berlin Airlift
May 1949

A

May 1949 - after 322 days
over 277,000 flights
over 5 million packages of charity donations from US public
Stalin called off blockade

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17
Q

NATO

A

created in 1949 due to the Berlin airlift to unite members for security against USSR.
West Germany joined in 1955.

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18
Q

creation of the FRG

A

May 1949
Federal Republic of Germany
Konrad Adenauer (leader of the CDU) elected the first chancellor in the summer.

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19
Q

creation of GDR

A

October 1949
German Democratic Republic
Ulbricht first secretary of the SED
referred to as “the zone” within the FRG

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20
Q

The Stalin ‘Note’

A

April 1952
Stalin put forward the idea of a united Germany to the Western powers
West dismissed the note and within a month the GDR began to develop its own armed forces
Viewed by some as a missed opportunity for reunification + by others as a propaganda tool

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21
Q

what was head of state replaced by

A

Staatsrat (council of state)
replaced in 1960

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22
Q

Head of state

A

purely ceremonial role
Wilhelm Pieck - only ever head of state from 1949-60
When he died head of state was abolished + replaced by Staatsrat (council of state - chaired by SED leader)

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23
Q

1949 constitution

A

elections to be held every 4 years

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24
Q

Volkskammer
(peoples chamber)

A

First Volskammer elections 1952 - the 500 members were chosen beforehand.
Each party able to put forward candidates- outward appearance of democracy but no competition as all seats predetermined by the SED. (SED largest party in Volkskammer)
Also included representatives of mass org. eg: FDJ
Election turnout always over 90% - compulsory voting
passed legislation - approved laws already decided by the Politburo.
Only met a few days each year
lower house

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25
when was the first volkskammer elections
1952 all members chosen beforehand
26
Johannes Dieckmann
First president of the volkskammer Liberal Democratic Party 1949-69
27
Landerkammer (States chamber)
represented 5 historic German states made up of representatives from the assemblies of each lander representatives chosen from different parties but predetermined + SED dominant upper house could suggest new laws and veto any laws approved by Volkskammer (did not use this power as it acted as a rubber stamp for politburo) 5 Lander abolished in 1952 replaced by 14 Bezirke (districts) each under control of an SED officer 1958 Landerkammer abolished
28
when was the 5 lander + landerkammer abolished
5 lander abolished in 1952 replaced with Bezirke Landerkammer abolished in 1958
29
Party Congress
Only 4 party congresses from 1950-63 Representatives for party congress elected by party members in local + regional branches elect members to central committee
30
how many party congresses were there between 1950-63
4
31
The Central Committee
80-130 members In theory main decision-making body of SED considered to be too large to function effectively - power delegated to Politburo therefore only met periodically
32
The Politburo
12-25 members Key decision making body of the SED referred to by the general population as 'council of gods' democratic centralism chairman of council of ministers + president of volskammer members of Politburo
33
3 main party organizations
Free German youth (FDJ) - 75% of youth joined German Gymnastics and Sports Association (DTSB) - 2.8 mill members by 1970 (17mill pop.) Democratic Women's Federation (DFD)
34
% of youth in the FDJ
75%
35
how many members in the DTSB by 1970
2.8 million
36
Walter Ulbricht
First Secretary + chairman of Politburo 1949-71 mass purges 1951 + 1956-58 to suppress those with different views. developed a cult of personality although he had little charisma + was seen as inflexible and unlikeable. 1950 - Ulbricht had tomatoes thrown at him by a football crowd in Dresden.
37
what did waler ulbricht say about the soviet union
"To learn from the soviet union is to learn victory."
38
USSR seizure of reparations what did they take, what was their reason
USSR had lost around 20 million lives Around 1,500 entire industrial plants + half of all east german railway tracks. 25% of all GDR industrial goods until 1950
39
USSR's announcement to end reparations
1953 USSR annouced they would end reperations from 1st january 1954.
40
First 5 year plan: years + aims
1951-55 rapid industrialisation peoples enterprises (nationalised factory run by gov, organised by workers brigades) made to take over industries expansion of heavy industry
41
First 5 year plan: sucesses
75% of industrial sector formed into peoples enterprises Adolf Hennecke - role model, miner, daily coal output of nearly 400% Iron - 1955 target (1,250) vs actual (1,500) Cement - 1955 target (2.500) vs actual (3,000) overall success
42
First 5 year plan: failures
expansion of heavy industry not fulfilled due to lack of tech + equipment workers - immense pressure + long hours lack of consumer goods - widespread dissatisfaction insufficient investment to modern tech
43
Second 5 year plan: years + aims
1956-59 "modernisation, mechanisation and automation" aimed to increase consumer goods + living standards develop nuclear energy expansion of peoples enterprises
44
Second 5 year plan: outcomes
first nuclear reactor in GDR activated in 1957 50% partnership incentives given to firms to join people's enterprises 1960- private enterprises controlled 9% of industrial production production cooperatives - group of craft workers encouraged to work together under state direction - 1/3 of craft workers under state control by 1960 (8% in 1958) Plan was abandoned - GDR wanted to focus on overtaking the FRG
45
7 year plan: years + aims
1959-65 overtake FRG align more closely with soviet economy ambitious targets - increase manufacture of consumer goods by 200%
46
7 year plan: outcome
living standards neglected by attempting to increase worker productivity by 85% targets unrealistic and not achieved Plan was abandoned
47
Junker
wealthy german aristocratic landowners seen as having played a significant part in the rise of the Nazis + exploiting workers.
48
reform against the Junker class
Junker landowners with over 100 hectares had to forfeit their land + redistributed amongst peasants - 1/3 of GDR farmland reallocated to over 500,000 beneficiaries.
49
why was agricultural collectivisation suggested
lack of machinery + livestock lack of experience by those given land led to farmers abandoning their land. 1952 - 3% of farmland collectivised 1960 - 84% pf farmland collectivised
50
voluntary collectivisation of agriculutre
1952 - voluntary collectivsation by 1958 only 1/3 of farmland was collectivised
51
socialist spring
early 1960 denying reluctant farmers access to collectiive machinery farmers opposing SED arrested + land taken
52
% of farmland collectivised 1952 compared to 1960
1952 - 3% 1960 - 84%
53
no. of farmers who emigrated to FRG during early 1950s
15,000
54
% of failing crop yeilds 1960-61
30%
55
June 1953 uprising why did it happen
Ulbricht announced industrial productivity needs to increase by 10% + workers wages will remain the same.
56
June 1953 uprising what happened
17th June - 300 builders working to develop GDR's Stalinallee strike. Builders marches to gov house of ministers + joined by thousands of other workers next day - srtikes spread throughput GDR (West berlin radio stations also added fuel to fire) as well as reduction to 10% increase some were chanting for removal of SED + release of political prisoners, some set fire to soviet flag. Ulbricht appealed to soviets - 20,000 soviet soldiers + 600 tanks - 21 demonstrators killed
57
June 1953 uprising impact
allowed Ulbricht to consolidate his power 20 protestors executed, 500 recieved prison sentances, + many hundreds sent to siberia. Ulbricht used this to justicy purge of SED - 20,000 SED funtionaries replaced SED blamed western interference in sept economic planning will give priority to consumer goods + food rationing will end.
58
who suggested: "if the gov did not like the demands of the workers, then perhaps it should elect another set of workers" (regarding rising of June 1953)
Bertolt Brecht
59
year emigration from GDR to FRG was illegalised
1952
60
2.5 million east Germans-
-emigrated to the FRG 1949-1961
61
population of GDR 1949-61
decreased 18.5million -> 17milllion
62
Why was the Berlin wall built?
mass emigration mostly young, skilled and educated citizens eg: doctors emigrated to the west - badly strained their economy, lack of skilled workers
63
What types of people did the GDR allow special privileges to during the emigration crisis 1950s + what privileges
doctors and skilled workers right to travel abroad their children obtain preferential uni places
64
operation vermin
1950s (1952/53) 5km wide restricted zone created on GDR/FRG boarder entire villages destroyed + watchtowers created special passes required for access to the zone
65
Khrushchev ultimatum
1958 demanded the western troops withdraw from their sectors of berlin within 6 months
66
Paris summit
meant to happen May 1960 US U-2 spy plane caught in soviet airspace + shot down by soviet missile
67
no. of emigrants 1961 jan-august
155,000
68
1953 emigrants
331,000 influenced by 1953 uprising highest number of emigrants per year
69
lowest no. of emigrations what year
144,000 1959
70
"no one intents to _____ __ ____" said by who + when
"no one intents to build a wall" Ulbricht announced on 15th June 1960
71
3-5th August 1961 what decision was made
decided at the meeting of the eastern bloc states to close east berlins boarder with west berlin
72
Operation Rose
13th August 1961 by 6am eastern sector of berlin completely blocked off from west berlin Telephone lines cut Only East German troops used protection from imperial aims of the west GDR promoting international peace
73
Khruschev's reaction to operation Rose
feared military confrontation no retaliation from the west followed therefore permanent concrete wall built around the entirety of West + east berlin
74
Impact of berlin wall
solution to urgent economic crisis flood of people emigrating stopped overnight SED could make plans for the future as they had a stable workforce now standards of living improved in 1960s (GDRs economy strongest out of comecon) separated people from their families, work + schooling
75
Grenzverletzer
border assailants most common way - hide on trains, smuggling in boots of cars + digging tunnels under wall + even hot air balloons over 5,000 caught trying to escape + min 136 killed at the wall
76
Ida Siekmann
first Grenzverletzer to die at the wall 22nd August 1961 Tries to jump out of the window of her third floor apartment onto the street of the FRG. fell on GDR sidewalk + severely injured died shortly after - first of 136 victims
77
Peaceful coexistence
Khrushchev's foreign policy avoid nuclear war cooperating with the west on mutual interests
78
Khrushchev's interpretation of Berlin "the _______ of the west"
"the testicles of the west" when he wanted to put pressure on the west, he gave them a squeeze
79

GDR (4 decks)

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