How successful was Honecker in developing a distinct identity for the GDR during the years 1971-85? Flashcards
(31 cards)
Why did Honecker take it upon himself to develop a GDR identity?
Because Ulbricht had always believed the two Germanys would one day be reunited under Socialism whereas Honecker realized reunification was a bleak prospect and felt an identity would aid the maintenance of a socialist state. A seperate identity would provide a clear demarcation between the two states.
When and why did Ulbricht resign?
In May 1971, following Ulbricht losing favour with the USSR and his Politburo colleagues, Honecker, accompanied by senior GDR guards armed with machine guns, visited Ulbricht at his home at forced his resignation.
What is Abgrenzung?
Demarcation: The policy of developing clear differences between the GDR and the FRG, actively pursued by Honecker.
How did the SED control what newspapers were available?
- SED Deutschland was the Party’s main national paper and Honecker met with it’s editor everyday to approve the front page.
- Other papers were published by National bloc parties, and regional papers were also permitted but they were all subject to having their content dictated by the SED.
How many news agencies reported on international events ?
1
How did the government eliminate competition for income of circulation and advertising?
All newspapers were government funded.
How did the SED control Western newspapers before and after the building of the Berlin Wall?
Before 1961, although it was easy to get a Western paper into the GDR, it was illegal to read or display Western newspapers anywhere.
After the construction of the Wall, many Western visitors had papers taken off of them when entering the GDR. The only Western papers allowed to be published and distributed were the those from Western communist parties.
How did the SED prevent the publication of subversive material?
There were strict controls on printing machines and photocopiers.
What were the underlying messages of papers in the GDR?
All leaders were adulated, while widespread social problems in the FRG (homelessness, drug use) and anniversaries (formation of SED / of the GDR) were promoted.
What percentage of publications did the SED control?
70%
Most of the rest were papers from mass organisations such as the FDJ or trade unions, all of which followed party etiquette.
The only publications not controlled by the SED were those made by the church, but they were expected to be strictly religious and contain no controversial material.
What are four examples of radio stations within the GDR? What did they publish?
Radio DDR 1: set up in August 1953
Radio DDR 2: set up in 1958
Berliner Rundfunk: catered for the capital.
DT 64: a youth station introduced in 1964.
These stations published a variety of music, spoken word, sports reporting was particularly popular.
How many radios were there by 1985?
6.6 million licensed radios in the country, 39.9 for every 100 people.
Why was radio content a matter of concern for the regime?
Because Western stations were widely available across the GDR and they were often more popular than GDR output. There was high demand for Western music among the young and although the SED tried to jam Western stations, this was outlawed by international law and the GDR faced having their own content jammed in retaliation.
Who controlled television in the GDR?
Fernsehen der DDR (DDR-FS), a state-run company who had two TV channels by 1969, the same year colour programming was introduced.
How did the GDR attempt to combat Western TV influence?
Most homes in the GDR could access Western channels and often preferred to watch their content. The SED was careful to not show GDR news and the same time as FRG news, as people preferred to watch that of the FRG. Entertainment shows were instead broadcast at the same time as the FRG news in the hopes of discouraging viewing.
What was the output of GDR television like?
It was heavily political and often not very subtle.
E.g. Karl Eduard Von Schnitzler had a weekly programme titled Der Schwarze Kanal (the Black Channel) which involved slating the FRG and bombarding viewers with anti-Western propaganda, for example, referring to the FRG as the “Land of Wolves”. Many were shocked by the content and Von Schnitzler became one of the most hated people in the GDR.
Honecker recognised that a more subtle approach was needed by the mid-70s and there were some very successful shows such as the GDR’s version of the children’s programme The Sand Man, which is still fondly remembered.
How did the GDR use language to develop cultural differences between itself and the FRG?
- East Germans did their shopping in a Kaufhalle (buying hall) rather than a Supermarkt (FRG term)
- The capital was never referred to as East Berlin as it highlighted the division. Instead, signs read “Berlin, Capital of East Germany”
- Also examples of a tendency to Sovietise language used in the GDR e.g. Kollectiv (collective) and brigade (groups of workers). This was enhanced by the teaching of Russian as the foreign language in schools.
How did access to Western media undermine the SED? What did the SED do?
Access to Western media significantly undermined SED propaganda and made GDR citizens well aware of the higher living standards and better personal freedoms in the West.
Viewing and listening to Western programmes was illegal but was so widespread it was impossible to control. In 1974, the SED caved and Western stations became discouraged, but tolerated.
Why did the SED actively promote sport?
As well as improving the population’s health, the benefits of sport on individual’s health was seen as a means to boost productivity. It could also provide a key tool in developing pride in the state.
Why were sporting organisations an effective method of bringing the population under the control of the regime?
Because they were controlled by the SED and were not overtly political.
How many citizens were members of a sports club in 1982? Which were the most popular?
3.3 million citizens belonged to a sports club. Fishing, gymnastics and football were the most popular.
How did the SED encompass sporting clubs under regime control?
Under the German Gymnastics and Sport Association (DTSB)
How many sports festivals were there in 1980?
28,000 ranging from national to regional and even to village level. There was even the children’s Spartakaiden. These festivals attracted high participation rates as did rambling, chess, and walking.
Why was enthusiasm for sport sometimes dampened?
Due to poor investment in sports facilities, especially swimming pools which were often closed for repairs.
