The beginning of the Cold War in 1946-1947 and the growing confrontation between the USSR and the Western powers made it impossible to recreate a unified German state. The differences in the approach of the USSR and the USA to solving the German problem turned out to be insurmountable. The USSR advocated the reunification of Germany, its demilitarization and neutral status. The United States opposed the neutral status of a united Germany. They sought to see Germany as a dependent ally. As a result of the USSR's victory in the war, the countries of Eastern Europe came under its control. Power in them gradually passed to local communists loyal to the USSR. The United States and Western states, in opposition to the USSR, sought to maintain West Germany in their sphere of influence. This predetermined the state split in Germany.
Western states decided to create a special West German state in those territories that were under their occupation control. For this purpose, an Economic Council was established in Frankfurt from representatives of the Landtags of the states. He resolved financial and economic issues. The Economic Council had a majority of the CDU, CSU and FDP parties, which advocated a social market economy. In 1948, by decision of the Economic Council, monetary reform took place in the three western occupation zones. A stable German mark was introduced into circulation, and price controls were abolished. West Germany embarked on the path of creating a social market economy, and its economic revival began.
In 1948, to develop and adopt a draft constitution for the West German state, a special Parliamentary Council was convened - the Constituent Assembly, elected by the Landtags of the West German states. The draft constitution was developed in committees of the Parliamentary Council with the participation of German jurists and approved by military governors. In May 1949, the Parliamentary Council adopted the Basic Law. It received ratification and approval from the Landtags of the West German states, except for Bavaria, but is also valid for it, and came into force. This is how the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) came into being. It covered half of the former territory of the country and two-thirds of the Germans lived there. Western states adopted an occupation statute in 1949. He limited the sovereignty of Germany in the area foreign policy, defense, foreign trade until 1955. Germany is still occupied by American troops.
The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Germany is officially called the Basic Law, since when adopted, this act was considered temporary until the unification of the German lands into a single state, after which it was planned to develop a constitution for a united Germany. According to the Basic Law, Germany was open to the annexation of the remaining German states. After German unity is achieved, the Basic Law applies to the entire German people and ceases to be valid on the day when a new constitution comes into force, which will be adopted by the free decision of the German people. The Constitution of 1949 was also called Bonn - after the name of the new capital of the Federal Republic of Germany - Bonn.
In the Soviet zone of occupation, that is, in the eastern part of Germany, in October 1949, its own constitution was adopted, created on the Soviet model, and the German Democratic Republic (GDR) was proclaimed. As a result, a long forty-year period of existence of two independent German states began. They did not remain neutral, but entered military-political alliances opposing each other. In 1955, Germany joined NATO, and the GDR joined the Warsaw Pact.
The GDR included five German states. Soon, in 1952, the lands on the territory of the GDR were legally abolished and fourteen territorial districts were formed. The Chamber of Lands was abolished in 1958. The parliament of the GDR - the People's Chamber - became unicameral. The GDR, established as a federal state, became a unitary state.
I don’t remember the GDR at all, although as my mother told me, I was born in a military town north of Berlin, where my father, a Soviet officer, served at that time.
I became an independent person quite early and, having left my parents, I never took long heart-to-heart conversations seriously, considering them dense conservatives.
Now, of course, I understand that I was wrong and now, of course, I have a lot of questions for them, but alas... I can’t get an answer.
What do I remember about the GDR?
I don’t remember the GDR at all, although I spent some time there. But not being an independent traveler, but a baby doll with a pussy in the foreground - judging by b/w old photos
Already at a thinking age, “from how old to school,” I remember a beautiful accordion - dark red and with mother-of-pearl.
I remember German songs from a reel-to-reel tape recorder (Chord?), which my father loved to listen to and therefore I suspected him of sympathizing with the Nazis and shared my suspicions with my mother.
There was also a Madonna set, which my parents were very proud of.
Seeing no reason to be proud, I simply looked with curiosity at the fleshy half-naked women depicted on the cups and saucers
By the way, I now remembered that my baby tooth was kept in a milk jug (it was not used in the family). Some of...
There was also a Leipzig store on Leninsky, where the most beautiful toys were sold and there was a toy railway - the ultimate dream of that time
And there was a TV program on the box “Mom, Dad and I are a sports family”
In general, it is clear that I did not know about the GDR and was not there
Therefore, I was interested in visiting those places where I might have been carried in a stroller
Where do the accordion songs I heard as a child come from?
And it turned out very well and almost according to tradition: on my birthday I went to travel along lakes and canals in Europe. This time to the land of a thousand lakes - Mecklenburg, Vorpommern
It is north of Berlin, no more than 100 km
Why did you write this?
I wrote a review, and in fact an online report, during our journey:
And in this note I want to write about my impressions of the people in this part of Germany. We are traveling more and more in Bavaria, since from there it is closer to the Alps, to the skiing area
Well, now, while checking key phrases for search engines, I came across some nonsense written in the Russian media about how poorly former GDR members live and how they want to live again behind the Iron Curtain with their brotherly people in an embrace.
What surprised and touched
The first thing that surprised me about people was their complete, almost complete lack of knowledge of the English language.
As well as he is known in the villages and towns of Bavaria, he is not known and does not want to be known in Vorpommern
How to communicate with the Germans here?
And here is the second surprise: many people remember Russian. Many - almost all
Remember does not mean they speak fluently. No. But they are trying - it’s clear that they are delving into the closets of their memory and proudly saying: Hello! Please!
And they understand even better
I don’t know what it was like in the GDR before reunification, but now I don’t see the difference between a village in eastern Germany and western Germany
The same houses, beautiful flowers in pots and small fences
Soviet “Khrushchev” buildings look somewhat dissonant against the backdrop of a pastoral picture of calm and serenity, but even they are in complete order: neatly painted, windows replaced with double-glazed windows, flowers, flower beds, flowers in front of the entrances
East Germans dress the same as West Germans or Poles or Lithuanians
Cars... ordinary German, Korean, French cars - globalization... Wait a minute though:
It’s a pity - I didn’t have a camera with me - in one of the towns where we stopped I saw a cherry-colored Zhiguli 2103 in the parking lot near a house.
Treshka, as it was called. With chrome radiator grille.
Clean, well-groomed, without any flashing lights or red mudguards... Well, these are the Germans! - I said
How do they treat Russians?
How do they treat Russians?
Friendly and a little naive: in one place I ordered beer. The owner learned from a mixture of English, Polish, Russian and Hyundai that I was from Russia and immediately took a bottle of Putinoff vodka from the refrigerator and poured a stopar of vodka for my beer.
Those who barely remember the Russian language enjoy practicing its reproduction
And in one small town, in the very center of it, I discovered a cemetery - it was a long-standing (from World War 1) burial place of German soldiers, local residents, and right there the graves of Soviet soldiers and a monument with Russian inscriptions.
Clean and well-kept graves, although the tombstones themselves have already faded and it is difficult to make out what is written on them
Do the Germans want to former GDR bringing back the past?
I didn't ask.
It never occurred to me to ask such a question: firstly, it’s not tactful, and secondly, I don’t want to be considered crazy.
Of course, there are warm feelings about the past - like any feeling of nostalgia for the times of childhood and youth.
Memories in which only good things are remembered.
But I am sure that the East Germans will never erect a monument to Honecker (although he seemed to be a harmless guy)
State structure
Education October 7, 1949 German Democratic Republic was an act of national self-help by democratic forces Germany. This was their response to the split Germany, the expression of which was the creation of the Federal Republic on September 7, 1949, carried out contrary to the principles of the Potsdam Agreement accepted by the four great powers. Under these conditions, the proclamation of a peace-loving, democratic German state became a matter of vital importance for the German people.
While creating GDR it was about thwarting the attempts of the Western powers to transfer all Germany into the hands of the then resurgent German imperialism and provide the democratic forces Germany a solid state foundation. Therefore, state formation GDR relied on a broad popular movement that embraced all strata of our people.
GDR- a state in which the working class, in alliance with the class of cooperative peasants and other sections of the working people, implements political power and leads the cause of socialism to victory. Workers are the masters of the economy and the state. They direct the political economic development in accordance with the will and interests of the majority of citizens. Essential Tools production - factories, minerals, means of transport and large estates - belong to the people.
Workers and peasants exercise power through popular representations, government, bodies government controlled, judicial authorities, police authorities, etc. The workers' and peasants' power relies on the forces of the National Democratic Front Germany, which nominates candidates for popular representation and maintains constant communication between the state apparatus and the population. In addition, citizens have broad rights that allow them to directly participate in government activities.
A prerequisite for victory in GDR Socialist and democratic forces saw the unity of the working class, which found its most vivid embodiment in the creation of united trade unions and, first of all, in the unification on April 21, 1946 of two parties of the working class - the Communist Party Germany and the Social Democratic Party Germany- to the Socialist Unity Party Germany.
German Democratic Republic - a sovereign state that decides independently, at its own discretion, its internal and external affairs and respects the rights of other states and generally recognized norms international law. Thanks to the full participation of the population in solving all political and economic problems, thanks to the influence that the population has on legislation, government bodies and justice, in GDR for the first time in history Germany the people exercise their sovereign rights.
TERRITORY AND POPULATION
Territory German Democratic Republic is 107,834 square kilometers. In the north it is washed by the waters of the Baltic Sea; in the east, the Oder and Neisse rivers form the world's border with the Polish People's Republic. In the West GDR borders Western Germany; in the south the Ore Mountains connect GDR and the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic. The length of the land borders is 456 kilometers in the east, 1,381 kilometers in the west and 430 kilometers in the south.
Elbe (1112 km) and Oder (861 km)- the most long rivers GDR. The highest mountain peaks are the Fichtelberg in the Ore Mountains (1243 l*) and the Brocken in the Harz (1142 l*). Southern and southeastern part GDR occupy medium-high altitude mountains, turning into a hilly foothill strip in the north and then into the North German Lowland. Numerous lakes located in the area Berlin and to the north of it, give the area a special flavor. Territory GDR covered by a dense modern network of automobile and railways and cut through by internal waterways. At the same time, air traffic provided by the state organization Deutsche Luft-Hansa is becoming increasingly important.
IN GDR 17.3 million people live (as of December 31, 1959). The population density is cohabitants per square kilometer. Capital GDR is Berlin. In a democratic Berlin 1.1 million people live. Territory GDR divided into 14 districts: Potsdam, Frankfurt an der Oder and Cottbus in Brandenburg; Neubrandenburg, Rostock and Schwerin in Mecklenburg; Magdeburg and Halle in Saxony-Anhalt; Erfurt, Suhl and Gera in the state of Thuringia; Dresden, Leipzig and Karl-Marx-Stadt in Saxony. Districts unite 24 cities district subordination and 192 rural areas with 9556 communities. 213 communities have more than 10 thousand inhabitants each, and 11 cities - Berlin, Leipzig, Dresden, Karl-Marx-Stadt, Halle (Saale), Magdeburg, Erfurt, Rostock, Zwickau, Potsdam and Gera - have more than 100 thousand each. GDR- a highly developed socialist industrial country. The share of industry, trade and transport in the total volume of the aggregate social product is 90.1 percent, agriculture and forestry - 9.9 percent. 68 percent of all workers are employed in industry, trade and transport, and 18 percent in agriculture and forestry.
POLITICAL FRAMEWORK
What is the basis of the socialist system?
The socialist system means that the exploitation of man by man is eliminated and the working people themselves decide their own destiny. Monopolists and landowners were expropriated, their enterprises became the property of the people, and the land belonged to the peasants. Therefore, monopolists and landowners can no longer dictate what the wages should be and what the length of the working day should be, who should be hired or who should be thrown out onto the street. The labor of millions of workers no longer serves to increase the personal wealth and power of individual monopolists. The results of labor are made available to the workers themselves and their society; the growth of production serves to increase personal and social wealth. Those who work are honored and respected, and work is also a measure of remuneration.
One of the decisive prerequisites of the socialist system is that the most important enterprises belong to the whole people and are led by representatives of the working class. In 1960, the share of people's enterprises in total industrial output GDR was 89.1 percent. In agriculture, cooperative production achieved a complete victory in 1960.
Such transformations are possible only in conditions when power is in the hands of the people. The leading role is played by the working class, led by its party - the SED. In popular representations, in the state apparatus, in the justice and economic bodies, in scientific, cultural and educational institutions, leading positions belong to representatives of the working class and peasantry, intelligentsia and other working strata.
This alignment of political forces guarantees systematic development, which is reflected in national economic plans covering all economic, political and cultural life. The plans, for example, establish what share of the income of people's enterprises is allocated to the construction of new industrial facilities, to raising the living standards of workers, to the construction of housing and cultural institutions, to social security, etc.
Of course, in a country with a socialist system, domestic and foreign policies are characterized by a desire for peace and the well-being of all people. Therefore, the People's Chamber, the State Council, the government GDR turned to West German government bodies with a number of proposals serving the cause of maintaining peace. However, as long as the monopolists profiting from the arms race and the instigators of the policy of aggression try to destroy this new socialist system, the socialist states will be forced to maintain armed forces equipped with excellent technology to protect their peoples.
Is the GDR a legitimate state?
GDR- not only the legitimate state, but also the only legitimate German state. This fact arises from many circumstances, rooted partly in history, partly in modern times. The most important circumstances are:
IN GDR the only correct conclusions have been drawn from the past. The arms manufacturers and junkers responsible for starting two world wars were expropriated. Along with them, the militarists also lost power. State power has since been in the hands of workers and peasants, who have entered into a strong, reliable alliance with other working sections of the population. Here, therefore, the democratic principle “All state power comes from the people” was first implemented. The state is headed by political figures who - being workers themselves - spend their entire lives fighting for the interests of the working people.
The principles of the anti-Hitler coalition, enshrined in the Potsdam Agreement, for the implementation of which millions of people in many countries of the world gave their lives in the fight against German militarism and fascism, became GDR reality. The struggle to preserve peace is the main content of politics GDR. This is evidenced, for example, by the address of the Chairman of the State Council GDR Walter Ulbricht to the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany, December 18, 1960. In this appeal, the Bonn government was asked to reach an agreement with GDR about maintaining peace initially for 10 years. This would create the preconditions for peaceful reunification and for pursuing a peaceful policy of a united Germany. So thanks to his peaceful policy GDR instills confidence in every German that it is a reliable stronghold< мирного будущего для него и его детей. Уже одно это делает GDR the only legitimate German state. Legality GDR is also expressed in its sovereignty. The republic resolves all its internal and external issues independently, without outside interference. In the territory GDR there are no occupying forces, while in Western Germany they have extremely broad rights. Participation in the Warsaw Pact does not in any way affect sovereignty GDR. Therefore, the republic was able to make 150 proposals aimed at peaceful reunification Germany. And the West German government is prohibited by the Bonn and Paris agreements from any independent actions regarding reunification. That's why GDR- the only German state that has a real reunification program and pursues a national policy.
Development GDR corresponds to the democratic principles of international law, and its policies comply with the UN Charter.
Chairman of the State Council GDR Walter Ulbricht noted in a policy statement of the State Council made in the People's Chamber on October 4, 1960:
"He who doubts the legitimacy GDR, also doubts the legitimacy of the people’s struggle against the bloody regime of Hitler’s fascism, the policy of which is continued by the anti-democratic state of Western Germany».
The situation is different with the Federal Republic, whose government claims to be the only legitimate state. But how can a state in which the dark past has come to life again be considered legitimate? Germany and in which international law is violated?
The same forces that once supported Hitler's regime, are now located in Western Germany economic power, which increased even more during this time. They once again dominate the state apparatus, using figures such as Strauss and Schröder as proxies. More than a thousand members of Hitler's emergency and military courts are in charge of the justice authorities, the Bundeswehr is headed by 140 Hitlerite generals, command posts in the police are occupied by SS and Gestapo thugs. The old, outdated rules again in Western Germany. Therefore, basic rights are violated, democratic parties and organizations are prohibited. The population, contrary to the constitution, is deprived of the right to express their opinion on such vital issues as universal conscription and equipment of the Bundeswehr atomic weapons etc. National polls on these issues were prohibited. ^
International legal principles of the Potsdam Agreement on peaceful, anti-militarist development Germany betrayed in Western Germany oblivion; liquidation of monopolies, agricultural, administrative, judicial, school reform, cultural reforms were not put on the agenda at all or were sabotaged at the first attempt to implement them.
The purge of the West German state apparatus from Brown Shirts is being sabotaged. Revanchism flourished in full bloom. The leadership pursues the same aggressive goals as Wilhelm II and Hitler. At present, the policy of the German government is entirely subordinated to plans for atomic weapons, which threaten the lives of the German people and the peoples of Europe.
The Bonn government chose the atomic weapons of the Bundeswehr over peace and security. Having concluded the so-called “ General agreement", it thereby transferred the matter of reunification Germany into the hands of the Western powers. Now it openly seeks to seize GDR. For this reason, it rejected all proposals GDR to ease tensions and peaceful reunification. West German citizens wishing to exercise their right to self-determination and advocating peace and reunification Germany on democratic principles, are persecuted and thrown into prison. Thus, Western Germany- a state that threatens the lives of the people and betrays national interests cannot claim to be considered legitimate.
Is there only one party in the GDR?
IN GDR there are five parties, namely: Socialist Unity Party Germany(SED), Peasant Democratic Party Germany(CMR), Liberal Democratic Party Germany(LDPD), Christian Democratic Union Germany(CDSG), National Democratic Party Germany(NDPG).
Individual parties represent the interests of certain classes or segments of the population. The SED is a party of the working class. The CMR represents primarily the interests of cooperative peasants. Christians who advocate peace and progress are united mainly in the HDSG. The LDPD consists of members of craft production cooperatives and progressive representatives of the petty and middle bourgeoisie.
The NPD also appeals to various circles of the middle class and to former military personnel who have broken with their past.
Why is the SED the leading party?
The SED is a party of the working class, the class that creates the largest part of the material values necessary for life. As the party of the largest, most progressive and most consistent class in the struggle for peace and democracy, it has a leading role in political life GDR. And in terms of the number of its members and supporters, it is the most powerful party. Along with the workers, who make up the overwhelming majority of SED members, this party includes representatives of all other sections of the working people. Members of this party lead many decisive sectors in the state, economic and cultural fields.
Unlike the major West German parties, the SED carried out its 1946 program. Under her leadership, the working class, peasantry, intelligentsia and other layers of working people accomplished greatest revolution in history Germany- transition from capitalism to socialism. Major economic, social and cultural reforms in GDR were mainly carried out on her initiative. At the suggestion of the SED, the most important measures in economic, cultural and social construction were carried out GDR. The SED has developed, for example, projects for successfully completed five-year plans and the current seven-year plan, proposals for further democratization public life and by systematically raising the living standards of the population.
At the Fifth Congress of the SED in July 1958, the directives of the seven-year plan were presented to the public. The implementation of this plan will prove the superiority of the socialist economic system GDR over the monopoly-capitalist system of Western Germany. Today there is no doubt that by fulfilling this plan, the working people will ensure the victory of the cause of socialism in GDR.
As a Marxist party, the SED personifies the best traditions of the German working class, systematically implementing the old testaments of the socialist labor movement. Under her leadership, as well as with the participation of the other four parties, trade unions and other mass organizations in GDR Socialism is being built. At the same time, the policy of the SED is aimed at involving all layers of workers and private entrepreneurs in the cause of socialist construction through persuasion and demonstration of successes. As a result, every citizen GDR sees a reliable prospect in socialism.
The SED is also a party that has put forward numerous important proposals aimed at general controlled disarmament, concluding a peace treaty with both German states and to the reunion Germany in peaceful way.
The remaining parties and organizations recognize the leading role of the working class party and, being independent, independent organizations, closely cooperate with it.
Were parties banned in the GDR?
No in GDR not a single party was banned. On the contrary, the SPD, whose activities were authorized in 1945 in the then Soviet zone of occupation, decided to unite with the KPD after a democratic vote of its members. The KPD also made a similar decision to unite with the SPD. Thus, the working class learned from the past the lesson that the threat of fascism and militarism can be eliminated and a new socialist system can be created only if the workers act in unity.
Since the unification congress held in April 1946, GDR there is a Socialist Unity Party Germany as a united party of the working class. IN Berlin The full unification of the KPD and SPD was prevented by the right-wing leadership of the SPD, which acted at the behest of the imperialist occupying powers against the will of the SPD members. - The overwhelming majority of SPD members spoke in favor of cooperation or unification of the two working class parties. Therefore, the SED and SPD exist in both parts of the divided capital and have in all areas of the Greater Berlin their boards *.
Of course, the creation of militaristic and fascist organizations opposing the peaceful coexistence of peoples, in GDR forbidden.
What should be understood by the policy of the Democratic Bloc?
The Democratic Bloc's policy means a joint decision common tasks with the participation of all peace-loving and democratic forces GDR. It is an expression of the cooperation of all segments of the population under the leadership of the working class in the construction of socialism in GDR, in solving the national problems of the German people.
The Democratic Bloc was created on July 14, 1945 by the decision of the parties that existed in the then Soviet zone of occupation: the KPD, SPD, CDU and LDPG. Subsequently founded parties and the most important political organizations joined the bloc, so that now it includes: Socialist United Nation Germany(SED), Christian Democratic Union Germany(CDSG), Liberal Democratic Party Germany(LDPD), Peasant Democratic Party Germany(CMR), National Democratic Party Germany(NDPG), the Association of Free German Trade Unions (FGTU), the Union of Free German Youth (FGY) and the Democratic Women's Union Germany(JSG).
The unification was dictated by the desire to overcome
Let go of the fragmentation of democratic forces, which had such fatal consequences for Germany in 1933. On the other hand, it was necessary to solve the difficult problems of the post-war period. Over the past period of time, this union of parties and organizations has so far justified itself that it now belongs to the most important political institutions. GDR and has an ever-increasing influence in all areas of the life of the state.
The bloc meets before all major decisions of the government or the People's Chamber on issues of domestic and foreign policy and discusses their future policies. Decision making is based on the principle of unanimity. This means that the discussion of all issues continues until agreement is reached on the fundamental provisions. This ensures the participation of all politically active forces in joint creative activities. The pinnacle of the Democratic Bloc's activity was the creation of the State Council German Democratic Republic in September 1960.
What is the National Front for Democratic Germany?
National Democratic Front Germany- is a broad movement, not associated with any one party, covering the entire Germany. It unites in its ranks citizens of Eastern and Western Germany, representatives of all segments of the population, regardless of their worldview, members of a wide variety of parties and organizations whose goal is the reunification Germany on a peaceful, democratic basis. Since such goals contradict the intentions of the ruling circles of the Federal Republic of Germany, the federal government and the governments of the Western states Germany this movement was banned. Supporters of the National Front were and are being persecuted by the judicial authorities of the western zone.
The National Front has existed since January 1950: it arose - with a simultaneous expansion of tasks - on the basis of the then people's committees of the struggle for unity Germany and a fair peace treaty. The governing bodies of the National Front are
The National Council, re-elected in 1958 by the Third Congress of the National Front, and the Presidium of the National Council. The chairman of the presidium was again the laureate of the national award professor dr. Erich Correns.
The National Front is not an organization, but a movement of patriotic forces; it does not keep records of members and does not accept membership fees. Its activities are financed by donations from the public. In the territory GDR There are 15 district, 219 district and about 17 thousand local, city, district, block and village committees of the National Front, in which citizens of all segments of the population are represented. In the election committees of the National Front in GDR Currently, about 300 thousand people work.
In Western Germany The activities of the National Front, despite the illegal ban, extend to a wide variety of segments of the population. This is evidenced, in particular, by the participation in meetings of the National Council of such prominent political figures of Western Germany, as Münstersknilprofessor Dr. Hagemann (former member of the CDU), members of the Landtags from SDG1G Scheperkötter (North Rhine-Westphalia) and Berg (Hamburg).
What are the goals of the National Front?
The National Front stands for the conclusion of a peace treaty with the two German states, the peaceful reunification of our fatherland and for the democratic development of the whole Germany. The appeal of the National Front in connection with the elections to the People's Chamber and district assemblies of deputies held on November 16, 1958 (the appeal was adopted by the Third Congress of the National Front in September 1958) said:
"National Front for Democratic Germany calls on you, citizens German Democratic Republic, to the struggle for national revival Germany as a peace-loving, democratic state."
Thus, the National Front introduces the population of both parts Germany with the problems of disarmament, peace treaty and reunification. He supports the actions of the West German population against remilitarization, fascisation and atomic weapons.
IN GDR The National Front supports the construction of socialism, because it sees the goal of its activities as ensuring that the working people live in conditions of peace and prosperity. In order for the construction of socialism to develop even more successfully, the National Front calls for voluntary assistance in this matter. Thus, the ruins of neighborhoods destroyed by air raids during the Second World War have been cleared, green spaces are being planted, sports fields, outdoor swimming pools, children's playgrounds, etc. are being built.
In 1960, the National Front carried out work worth more than 447 million marks. If the total cost of the work performed is divided by the entire working population (from the age of 15, including pensioners), then for each person there will be 32.64 marks. This is the voluntary contribution of the population to the construction of capital construction projects. If we take into account all the voluntary assistance provided to agriculture and industry, it turns out that 157 million hours were worked voluntarily.
Of particular importance is the fact that the National Front plays an important role in holding elections to the People's Chamber and local people's representatives. Together with a bloc of democratic parties and organizations, it nominates candidates for deputies, holds meetings at which candidates for deputies meet with voters, and deputies and administrative staff report. He organizes discussion evenings at which the population expresses their opinions and makes proposals on planned events of the People's Chamber and the government. Thus, in 1956, more than 4.5 million citizens took part in the discussion of the draft law on further democratization (Law on Local Government Bodies of January 18, 1957) GDR, who made 10 thousand proposals to improve the work of government bodies. These figures were significantly exceeded during the discussion of the draft new labor code, held at the end of 1960 - beginning of 1961, mainly through trade unions.
How carried out the right of the population to participate in government state and the economy?
Population GDR enjoys not only broad rights to participate in the management of all areas of public life, but also the right to active participation in the management of the state and the economy. IN GDR The slogan is being put into practice: “Plan, work, manage together with everyone else.” Citizens can exert a decisive influence on the development of all social life through parties, trade unions and other organizations in which they belong, as well as through the National Front for Democratic Germany. There, at meetings and discussions, for example, important government bills are discussed. In particular, the draft law on the socialist development of school affairs and the draft Labor Code were subject to such discussion. This means that citizens can express their opinions and make proposals to change the projects under discussion, thereby influencing the final wording of laws.
The most important form of participation in government is popular representation. The People's Chamber has 466 deputies. Local people's representative offices employ 270 thousand citizens who are deputies or deputy deputies. Consequently, every fiftieth citizen who enjoys the right to vote takes a direct part in governing the state. As representatives of the entire population, deputies bring up their wishes and wishes for discussion proposals of voters. Each voter can contact his deputy and, with his help, influence state and administrative bodies.
Workers and employees of national enterprises take an active part in the management of production. Important form Their participation in the management of the enterprise is constant production meetings as elected bodies of the factory trade union organization. They actively participate in the development of production plans and monitoring their implementation, express critical comments regarding the organization of production and present proposals aimed at achieving the highest production performance. Such real participation of workers in the management of enterprises could have developed due to the fact that, under conditions of national ownership, there is no antagonism between the interests of the enterprise administration and the interests of workers and employees.
Can citizens of the GDR express their opinions openly and freely?
The right to freely express their opinions is guaranteed to all citizens in accordance with Article 9 of the Constitution GDR. This article categorically prohibits prosecution of citizens for exercising such a right. IN GDR Therefore, it is unthinkable that a citizen who criticizes, for example, the work of his boss or minister, reveals certain shortcomings in the work of an institution or management, etc., would lose his place or even be arrested. Moreover, openly expressing an opinion about existing shortcomings is not only the right, but also the duty of citizens. For only in this way can we reveal shortcomings and quickly eliminate difficulties, and thereby speed up socialist construction. In this case, it does not matter what a citizen is guided by when expressing and defending his opinion - Christian responsibility, liberal views or a Marxist worldview. All citizens have the opportunity to assemble for this purpose.
There is only one limitation: the opinions expressed and meetings held must serve the cause of peace and democracy. Incitement against a democratic state and its institutions, incitement to murder of political figures and other persons, manifestation of religious, racial and national hatred are prohibited by Article 6 of the Constitution.
The population is protected from militaristic and military propaganda by the Peace Protection Law. It is impossible for revanchists, militarists and SS men to gather and demand the establishment of a “new order” in Europe, as is the case in Germany. Such persons in GDR would be immediately arrested and punished by law.
CHAMBER OF THE PEOPLE
Does the House of the People have all the rights of a sovereign organ of popular representation?
The highest state body of the Republic is the People's Chamber. Its deputies are elected by citizens through universal, equal and direct elections by secret ballot.
Of all government bodies, the People's Chamber has the most broad and comprehensive rights. No other body has the right to give instructions to this highest body of popular representation or interfere with its activities. Moreover, for all other government bodies, the decisions of the People's Chamber are binding. All other bodies are subject to control by the People's Chamber.
IN GDR There is no so-called separation of powers, which places the judicial or administrative bodies outside the control of the parliament elected by the population. No court has the right to review the laws of the People's Chamber, as is the case with the laws of the Bundestag in Western Europe. Germany. The House of the People is sovereign.
The competence of the People's Chamber includes a wide variety of tasks. Thus, the People's Chamber has the right to: establish the principles of government policy; approve the composition of the government, control its activities and, if necessary, deny it powers;
supervise local people's representatives and direct their activities; legislate;
make decisions on the state budget, national economic plan, loans and state credit of the Republic, ratify international treaties;
elect members of the State Council and, if necessary, recall them;
elect members of the Supreme Court and the Prosecutor General and, if necessary, recall them.
Thus, this parliament chosen by the people has the most extensive rights ever
in history Germany was vested in Parliament. The People's Chamber represents a unified state power.
How does the People's Chamber work?
The People's Chamber makes all important decisions at its plenary sessions. To prepare these decisions and to better organize its work, the People's Chamber forms commissions. These commissions, however, do not have the right to act independently, replacing the plenum of the People's Chamber. Their decisions need to be approved at a plenary meeting of the People's Chamber.
Legislative activity is consistent with democratic character GDR. Bills can be introduced by the government or deputies of the People's Chamber. As a rule, two readings are held, between which the bill is discussed in the relevant sectoral commissions of the People's Chamber. Often, before its adoption by the People's Chamber, a bill is discussed at thousands of public meetings, as was the case in the spring of 1961 when discussing the draft Labor Code. At the same time, all proposals for the bill made by citizens are carefully considered and, of course, if they are useful, taken into account.
This allows us to understand why the broad legislative activity of the House of the People expresses the interests of the population and is an example for a future peaceful, democratic, united state. Germany. Thus, in particular, laws were adopted that, reflecting changing economic and political conditions, expand the democratic rights of citizens. These include, first of all, the Labor Code, which guarantees the right to work, the right to the creative participation of workers in the management of production and provides for the constant improvement of the material and cultural living conditions of workers and employees. Back on January 19, 1957, the People's Chamber adopted the Law on the Reduction of Working Time, which introduced a 45-hour workday throughout industry. work week no salary reduction. Other important decisions of the People's Chamber are: the Law on the Rights of Youth, the Law on the Protection of Mother and Child and on Women's Rights, guaranteeing full equality of women in all areas of public life, and, last but not least, the Law on the Protection of Peace.
From international treaties ratified in last years The People's Chamber should primarily be called the Warsaw Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance of May 14, 1955, on the basis of which all socialist countries guarantee security GDR against aggression. A number of agreements on the provision of legal assistance, as well as consular conventions, have been concluded with various countries. Recently, numerous trade and shipping agreements have been concluded, in particular with the People's Republic of Bulgaria, the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic, the People's Republic of China, as well as an agreement on cooperation in the field of social security with the USSR.
At any period of its existence, the People's Chamber was aware of its national responsibility. Time and again she addressed the West German Bundestag with proposals aimed at eliminating the split Germany. On July 6, 1961, the People's Chamber discussed the peace plan of the German people, aimed at a peaceful solution to the German and West Berlin issue through the conclusion of a peace treaty. After its adoption by the People's Chamber, it became the basis of national policy GDR. However, all these efforts undertaken in the interests of reunification Germany, did not meet with support from Bonn.
Does the People's Chamber exist?
division into government and opposition parties?
All five parties existing in GDR, and politically influential mass organizations are represented in government GDR and are therefore government parties. This provision is legally enshrined in the Constitution, which establishes that all political associations represented in the People's Chamber by at least 10 percent of deputies must share the responsibility of the government. Therefore, the central place in the activities of the government is occupied by a serious business conversation between all responsible factions. Joint discussion, which does not exclude criticism and the struggle of opinions when opposing points of view are brought together, forms the basis of their work. This method is in the best interests of the business and, therefore, the population. Therefore, in the People's Chamber, as in the parliaments of imperialist states, there are no ostentatious political battles designed to fool the ordinary voter.
It goes without saying that the VL of the party is united by a common political goal. For GDR such a common goal was formulated in the decisions of the bloc of democratic parties and mass organizations (see pp. 17 et seq.), in which, after 1945, all anti-fascist, democratic parties and organizations united. In subsequent years, such cooperation, serving the benefit of the population GDR, justified itself in the best possible way. It is based on: a policy of peace, rapid economic growth, constant improvement of the financial situation and, last but not least, numerous proposals aimed at peaceful reunification Germany. Establishment of socialist social order guaranteeing people prosperity, peace and faith in the future - this is the common goal of all parties GDR.
Only imperialist and militaristic forces could act as opposition to this progressive policy, which meets the interests of the people, but with them in GDR it's over. Their ideas of preparation for war, criminal incitement, etc., are devoid of nutritious soil in GDR.
How are elections held in the GDR?
Deputies of the People's Chamber and local people's representatives are elected, in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution, through general, equal and direct elections by secret ballot for a period of 4 years. All citizens over 18 years of age have the right to vote. Every citizen who has reached the age of 21 has the right to be elected.
It is important to emphasize that the nomination of candidates for deputies already takes place with the decisive participation of voters. At first, democratic parties and mass organizations united on the basis of a jointly developed program in the National Democratic Front Germany, identify candidates for deputies from all parties and mass organizations. Candidates are required to personally meet with their voters and tell them about their past activities and their future work as deputies. At the same time, voters have the right to ask questions to parliamentary candidates and reject those candidates whom they do not trust.
Such nomination and verification of candidates for deputies by voters is a fundamentally new phenomenon in the development of German electoral law. Voters, therefore, no longer cast their votes for candidates proposed to them, who in most cases are unknown persons, but decide for themselves who will remain on the lists of parliamentary candidates. This method ensures that deputies in GDR are true representatives of the people.
The elections themselves are held on democratic principles. Each voter votes secretly. However, such a casting of votes on election day has a completely different meaning than, for example, in bourgeois-capitalist countries. It represents the completion of a long democratic election process, with the approval by the voter of a list of parliamentary candidates whom he had previously vetted and approved.
The next elections to the People's Chamber took place on November 16, 1958. The election results showed that citizens GDR the overwhelming majority accepted the programmatic demands of the National Front as their own. 98.89 percent of the total number of voters participated in the elections. Of these, for candidates for parliament from the National Democratic Front Germany 98.87 percent cast their votes.
To whom are deputies responsible?
Since the deputies GDR are elected by the people, they are obliged to carry out the will of their voters and are directly responsible only to them. It follows that they must maintain constant and close communication with their constituents in order to know their opinions, explain to them the policies and laws of the state and involve them in active participation in solving public problems.
Deputies are obliged to regularly receive voters, listen to them, and quickly and conscientiously consider their orders and advice. They must also report periodically to the citizens of their constituency on all their activities. When reporting, they must, in particular, report on the implementation of the orders of voters and on the fate of the proposals and complaints of the population. Therefore, in GDR It is unacceptable for deputies to make empty promises before their election that they will not fulfill later. Voters can constantly monitor their MPs. Having discovered that the representative they have elected does not justify the trust placed in him or does not fulfill his deputy duties, they can demand his recall at a meeting of voters.
Who is included in the People's Chamber?
The People's Chamber consists of 466 deputies. 400 deputies are elected in constituencies GDR. Capital GDR, Berlin, sends 66 deputies to the People's Chamber.
At its first meeting, the People's Chamber elects a presidium, which, headed by its chairman, presides over the meetings of the People's Chamber.
The Chairman of the People's Chamber is Dr. Johannes Dieckmann (LDPD). His first deputy is Hermann Matern (SED). The Presidium of the People's Chamber includes, furthermore, as deputy chairmen of the People's Chamber: August Bach (CDSG), Friedrich Ebert (SED), Ernst Golldenbaum (CDM), Greta Gro-Kummerlöw (OSNP), Heinrich Homann (NDPD), Wilhelmina Schirmer-Pröscher (JSG).
Members of the People's Chamber are not professional parliamentarians. They all work in one position or another. To exercise their rights and duties as elected representatives of the people, deputies have the necessary time, which is provided to them by the relevant enterprises and institutions.
The composition of the People's Chamber according to the affiliation of deputies to parties or mass organizations, according to their social origin, age groups The floor looks like this (as of January 1959):
Faction affiliation
52 German Kulturbund
Social background
53 29 29 18 12
SED LDPG CDSG NPD CMR
Workers 286 Peasants 36 Employees 57 Representatives of the intelligentsia 41
Craftsmen
Priests
Entrepreneurs
42 2 2
Up to 25 years old From 26 to 30 years old From 31 to 40 years old
Age groups
22 From 41 to 50 years 27 From 51 to 60 years 117 Over 60 years
There are 95 women among the deputies of the People's Chamber, that is, almost a quarter of the total number of elected people. The number of young deputies representing youth interests is also higher than in any capitalist country.
The composition of the People's Chamber indicates that in the German Democratic Republic state power - in contrast to the Western Germany- is in the hands of the working class, acting in alliance with the peasantry and other sections of the working people.
STATE COUNCIL AND GOVERNMENT
Why was the State Council created in the GDR?
The establishment of the State Council is a completely new phenomenon for Germany. As the first president of the German workers' and peasants' state until
Until his death, there was the respected Wilhelm Pieck, who headed the state of workers and peasants - the German Democratic Republic.
Since the entry into force of the constitution in 1949, the territory GDR fundamental changes have occurred. During this time, the republic turned into a socialist state. The principles of governing a socialist state are different from those of bourgeois states. One of these principles reads: >to build socialism together and govern the state together. In other words, representatives of various parties and mass organizations - workers, employees, peasants, intellectuals and artisans, Christians, liberals and socialists - cooperate in a spirit of unanimity at all levels of government. With the election of the State Council, this principle also extended to the highest body of state power. Members of all parties and mass organizations, representatives of all segments of the population work in it with a full consciousness of responsibility.
The creation of the State Council was also dictated by another consideration - the need to introduce the principle of collective leadership. Everywhere in government bodies and institutions, leadership should be carried out by boards, taking into account the responsibility of each individual person. The collective knowledge and experience of several individuals allows the best decision to be made, taking into account all the circumstances of the case. A group of people knows and sees more than one person. The principle of collegiality has been applied in all areas of public life for a number of years. That is why the People's Chamber, at its meeting on September 12, 1960, decided to abolish the post of president of the republic and create a State Council.
Are the powers of the State Council only of a representative nature?
The principle of collective leadership of the state was consistent with the provision to the State Council GDR broader powers than the usual functions of representation vested in the president.
Article 106 of the Constitution, as laid down in the Law establishing the Council of State of September 12, 1960,
sets:
“The State Council of the Republic calls elections to the People's Chamber and convenes its first meeting after the elections;
may conduct a national poll; ratifies and denounces international treaties German Democratic Republic;
appoints and recalls authorized representatives German Democratic Republic in foreign countries;
accepts credentials and letters of recall from diplomatic representatives of foreign states accredited to him;
provides a generally binding interpretation of laws; issues decisions that have the force of law; makes fundamental decisions on issues of defense and security of the country;
approves the fundamental orders of the National Defense Council German Democratic Republic;
appoints members of the National Defense Council German Democratic Republic;
sets military ranks, diplomatic ranks and special ranks;
awards the Order and others high awards and assigns honorary titles; exercises the right of pardon." State Council GDR has the right to make important political decisions, for which he, however, is obliged at any time to report to the People's Chamber as the highest body of popular representation.
Who is on the State Council?
The State Council consists of 24 people. It consists of a chairman, six deputies, 16 members and a secretary.
Chairman - Walter Ulbricht, First Secretary of the Socialist Unity Party Germany. Deputy Chairmen:
Otto Grotewohl, Chairman of the Council of Ministers German Democratic Republic, member of the Politburo of the SED Central Committee;
Dr. Johannes Diekmann, Chairman of the People's Chamber, Deputy Chairman of the LDPD;
Gerald Götting, Member of the People's Chamber, Secretary General of the HDSG;
Heinrich Homan, Deputy Chairman of the People's Chamber, Deputy Chairman of the NPD;
Manfred Gerlach, Member of the People's Chamber, Secretary General of the LDPD;
Hans Ritz, member of the People's Chamber, head of the main department of the CMR board.
Among the members of the State Council are the famous worker Louise Ermisch, a leading peasant woman, member of the Agricultural Industrial Complex Irmgard Neumann and the famous scientist - professor Dr. Erich Corrence. So the State Council GDR represents the cohesion and growing moral and political unity of our population. Members of the State Council are elected for a term of 4 years. The Chairman, his deputies, members and the Secretary of the State Council may be recalled by the People's Chamber to which they are accountable. And this provision, enshrined in law, is another evidence that the highest body of people's representation is the main body of state power, vested with extensive powers.
Is the government elected by parliament?
Yes. According to the Constitution, the largest faction in the House of the People nominates a candidate for the post of chairman of the Council of Ministers, which then forms the government. The People's Chamber approves the composition of the government. Members of the government take an oath to the Chairman of the Council of State that they will act in accordance with the Constitution. The government must enjoy the trust of the People's Chamber, to which it is accountable. In accordance with democratic principles, the People's Chamber can refuse confidence in a minister or several members of the government - and not just the chancellor, as in Germany - and force them to resign.
To ensure the participation of all democratic forces of different political directions in the management of state affairs, all factions of the House of the People, numbering at least 40 members, must, according to the Constitution GDR, are represented in the government in proportion to their number by ministers or secretaries of state.
Who is in the government?
The government includes: the chairman of the Council of Ministers, his deputies, the chairman of the State Planning Commission, the chairman of the Council National economy, ministers, State Secretary for Higher and Special Education, State Secretary for scientific research and technicians and chairman Central Commission state control.
In accordance with the nature of the State, the Government consists of representatives of the workers. All parties are represented in it GDR. Most government members come from working class backgrounds. Other layers exercising power in alliance with the working class are also represented in the government. Government composition GDR reflects the entire set of parties and organizations represented in the National Democratic Front Germany.
The government includes figures such as the Chairman of the Council of Ministers, Otto Grotewohl. A printer by profession, he participated in the labor movement for many years and was a member of the Reichstag from the Social Democratic Party. After 1933, while underground, he fought against fascism, and after 1945, as chairman of the Central Board of the Social Democratic Party, he actively advocated the unification of the two parties of the working class.
Paul Scholz, Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers, was a former agricultural worker. He was arrested for his underground anti-fascist activities. After 1945, he worked as deputy editor-in-chief of the newspaper Der Freie Bauer. In 1948 he participated in the creation of the Peasant Democratic Party Germany.
Here is the current composition of the Council of Ministers GDR:
Chairman of the Council of Ministers Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers for Coordination and Control Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers and Minister of Health Deputy Chairman of the Council
Ministers Deputy Chairman of the Council
Ministers Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers and Minister of Foreign Affairs Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers for coordination of fundamental issues of the national economy Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers for trade, supply and Agriculture Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers for Culture and Education Chairman of the State Planning Commission and Minister Chairman of the People's Council
Economy and Minister Minister of the Interior Minister of Finance Minister of National Defense
Minister of Foreign and Internal Affairs
Mansk Trade Minister of Trade and Supply Minister of Agriculture and Forestry
Economy and Procurement Minister of Transport Minister of Post and Communications Minister of Construction
Otto Grotewohl
Willy Stoff
^.Max Zefrin Dr. Max Zurbier Paul Scholz
Dr. Lothar Boltz Bruno Leuschner
Dr. Greta Witkowski
Alexander Abush
Karl Mevis
Alfred Neumann Karl Marohn Willy Rumpf Army General Heinz Hoffmann
Julius Balkow Kurt-Heinz Merkel
Hans Reichelt Erwin Kramer Friedrich Burmeister Ernst Scholz
Minister of Culture
Minister of Public Education
Minister of Justice Minister state security
Stats -Secretary for Higher and Special Education Affairs State Secretary for Scientific Research and Technology (Secretary of the Research Council) Chairman of the Central Commission for State Control
Hans Bentzius Prof. Dr. Alfred Lemnitz
Dr. Hilda Benyamipe
Erich Mielke Dr. Wilhelm Girnus
prof. Dr. Hans Fruauf
Hans Jendrecki
How are the tasks of the governments of the two German states different?
Tasks of the Council of Ministers (i.e. government) GDR more extensive and versatile compared to the tasks of the Bonn government. He is the highest level of government GDR. He is charged with the responsibility of conducting government affairs. The Council of Ministers, on the basis of and in execution of laws and decisions of the People's Chamber and decisions of the State Council, manages the work of socialist construction in the political sphere; economic and cultural areas. It directs, checks and improves the activities of government bodies, ensuring a harmonious combination of central planning and management with the broadest participation of workers in the management of the state and the economy. The Council of Ministers represents the Republic in the field of diplomatic relations with foreign countries. It ensures the maintenance of peace and order within the country and the protection of socialist achievements workers from the attacks of internal and external enemies. For this purpose, it has at its disposal the People's Police, the State Security Organs and the National People's Army.
In accordance with the peace policy pursued GDR, the Council of Ministers is primarily entrusted with the task of ensuring the peace and future of the nation. Therefore, he has already repeatedly addressed the West German government with numerous proposals regarding negotiations on issues of disarmament, reunification Germany and the conclusion of a peace treaty. Bonn rejected all these proposals.
Of particular importance are the tasks of the Council of Ministers in the economic, cultural and social fields, which are fundamentally different from the functions of previous governments in Germany and the Bonn* government. The socialist state carries out planning and management of the entire national economy and development in the cultural and social fields. It became for the government GDR possible because the main means of production are in the hands of the people.
Based on the national economic plan adopted by the People's Chamber, the Council of Ministers outlines specific measures for the development of the economy, culture and social security and determines the general line in raising the living standards of the population. For this purpose, it has at its disposal the State Planning Commission, the National Economic Council, ministries and other economic, cultural and social institutions.
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According to the Constitution, the Council of Ministers has the right to submit bills to the People's Chamber. In addition, the Council of Ministers itself can issue resolutions that do not go beyond the laws and decisions of the People's Chamber.
New regulations on the tasks and operating procedures of local people's representatives and their bodies, developed as a result of a comprehensive exchange of experience with all segments of the population and government bodies and adopted on June 28, 1961, consolidate the best methods of public administration. The activities of all local bodies are now developing on their basis.
Education of the GDR. After the surrender in World War II, Germany was divided into 4 occupation zones: Soviet, American, British and French. Berlin, the capital of Germany, was divided in the same way. In the three western zones and the American-British-French West Berlin (it is surrounded on all sides by the territory of the Soviet occupation zone), life was gradually improving on the basis of democratic principles. In the Soviet zone of occupation, including East Berlin, a course was immediately set for the formation of a totalitarian communist system of power.
Between the former allies in the anti-Hitler coalition, " cold war“, and this most tragically affected the fate of Germany and its people.
Blockade of West Berlin. I.V. Stalin used the introduction of a single German mark into circulation in the three western zones (currency reform on June 20, 1948) as a pretext for the Blockade of West Berlin in order to annex it to the Soviet zone of occupation. On the night of June 23-24, 1948, all land communications between the western zones and West Berlin were blocked. The supply of electricity and food products to the city from the Soviet occupation zone stopped. August 3, 1948 I.V. Stalin directly demanded the inclusion of West Berlin in the Soviet zone, but was met with rebuff from his former allies. The blockade lasted almost a year, until May 12, 1949. However, blackmail did not achieve its goals. Supplies to West Berlin were ensured via an air bridge organized by the Western Allies. Moreover, the flight altitude of their aircraft was beyond the reach of Soviet air defense systems.
The creation of NATO and the split of Germany. In response to the open hostility of the Soviet leadership, the blockade of West Berlin, the communist coup in Czechoslovakia in February 1948 and the build-up of the Soviet military presence in Eastern Europe in April 1949, Western countries created the military-political bloc NATO (“North Atlantic Treaty Organization” ). The creation of NATO influenced Soviet policy towards Germany. In the same year, it split into two states. The Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) was created on the territory of the American, British and French occupation zones, and the German Democratic Republic (GDR) on the territory of the Soviet occupation zone. At the same time, Berlin also found itself split into two parts. East Berlin became the capital of the GDR. West Berlin became a separate administrative unit, receiving its own self-government under the tutelage of the occupying powers.
Sovietization of the GDR and the growing crisis. In the early 1950s. Socialist transformations began in the GDR, which exactly copied the Soviet experience. Nationalization of private property, industrialization and collectivization were carried out. All these transformations were accompanied mass repressions, with the help of which the Socialist Unity Party of Germany strengthened its dominance in the country and society. A strict totalitarian regime was established in the country, a command and administrative system for managing all spheres of public life. In 1953, the policy of Sovietization of the GDR was still in full swing. However, at this time, economic chaos and a drop in production, and a serious decline in the standard of living of the population, had already clearly begun to manifest themselves. All this caused protest from the population, and serious dissatisfaction with the regime on the part of ordinary citizens grew. The most serious form of protest was the mass flight of the population of the GDR to Germany. However, since the border between the GDR and the FRG was already closed, the only way remained was to move to West Berlin (this was still possible) and from there move to the FRG.
Forecasts of Western experts. Since the spring of 1953, the socio-economic crisis began to develop into a political one. The Eastern Bureau of the Social Democratic Party of Germany, located in West Berlin, based on its observations, noted the widespread dissatisfaction of the population with the existing system, the growing readiness of East Germans to openly oppose the regime.
Unlike the German Social Democrats, the CIA, which monitored the situation in the GDR, made more cautious forecasts. They boiled down to the fact that the SED regime and the Soviet occupation authorities controlled the economic situation, and that the “will to resist” among the East German population was low. It is unlikely that "East Germans will be willing or able to carry out revolution, even if called for, unless such a call is accompanied by a declaration of war from the West or a firm promise of Western military assistance."
The position of the Soviet leadership. The Soviet leadership also could not help but see the aggravation of the socio-economic and political situation in the GDR, but they interpreted it in a very unique way. On May 9, 1953, at a meeting of the Presidium of the CPSU Central Committee, the document prepared by the Soviet Ministry of Internal Affairs (headed by L.P. Beria) was considered. analytical report about the flight of the population from the GDR. It acknowledged that the fuss raised on this issue “in the press of the Anglo-American bloc” had good grounds. However, the main reasons for this phenomenon in the certificate are reduced to the fact that “West German industrial concerns carry out active work to lure away engineering and technical workers,” and the leadership of the SED was too carried away by the tasks of “improving their material well-being,” without at the same time paying due attention to the nutrition and uniforms of people’s police officers. The most important thing is “the Central Committee of the SED and the responsible government bodies The GDR is not fighting actively enough against the demoralizing work carried out by the West German authorities." The conclusion was clear: to strengthen the punitive authorities and the ideological indoctrination of the population of the GDR - although both of them already exceeded all reasonable limits, precisely becoming one of the reasons for mass discontent. That is, the document did not contain any condemnation domestic policy leadership of the GDR.
Molotov's note. The note prepared by V.M. on May 8 had a different character. Molotov and sent it to G.M. Malenkova and N.S. Khrushchev. The document contained sharp criticism of the thesis about the GDR as a state of the “dictatorship of the proletariat”, which the First Secretary of the SED Central Committee W. Ulbricht spoke on May 5, emphasizing that he did not coordinate this speech with the Soviet side and that it contradicted the recommendations given to him earlier. This note was considered at a meeting of the Presidium of the CPSU Central Committee on May 14. The resolution condemned the statements of W. Ulbricht and contained an instruction to Soviet representatives in Berlin to talk with the leaders of the SED with a view to stopping the campaign to create new agricultural cooperatives. If we compare the documents addressed to the Presidium of the Central Committee L.P. Beria and V.M. Molotov, then we can perhaps come to the conclusion that the latter reacted to the situation in the GDR more quickly, sharply and meaningfully.
Order of the Council of Ministers. On June 2, 1953, Decree of the Council of Ministers of the USSR No. 7576 “On measures to improve the political situation in the GDR” was issued. It contained a condemnation of the course of the East German leadership towards “accelerated construction” or “accelerating the construction” of socialism in East Germany. On the same day, a SED delegation headed by W. Ulbricht and O. Grotewohl arrived in Moscow. During the negotiations, the leaders of the GDR were told that the situation in their country was in a dangerous state; they must immediately abandon the accelerated construction of socialism and pursue a more moderate policy. The Soviet NEP, carried out in the 1920s, was cited as an example of such a policy. In response, W. Ulbricht tried to justify his activities. He stated that the fears of the “Soviet comrades” were exaggerated, but under their pressure he was forced to promise that the course of building socialism would become more moderate.
Actions of the leadership of the GDR. On June 9, 1953, the Politburo of the SED Central Committee adopted a decision on the “new course”, which was in accordance with the “recommendations” of the USSR Council of Ministers, and published it two days later. It cannot be said that the leaders of the GDR were in a particular hurry, but they did not consider it necessary to explain to either ordinary party members or the leaders of their organizations the essence of the new program. As a result, the entire party and state apparatus of the GDR was paralyzed.
During negotiations in Moscow, Soviet leaders pointed out to East German leaders that it was necessary to carefully investigate the reasons for the transfer of GDR workers to West Germany, not excluding workers of private enterprises. They proposed taking measures to improve the situation of workers, their living conditions, to combat unemployment, violations of labor protection and safety regulations, especially in overpopulated industrial areas and on the Baltic coast. All these instructions remained empty words.
Back on May 28, 1953, by order of the GDR authorities, a widespread increase in production standards at industrial enterprises was announced. In fact, this meant a sharp decrease in real wages. Thus, it turned out that the workers of the GDR turned out to be the only category of the population that did not gain anything from the “new course”, but only felt the deterioration of their living conditions.
Provocation. Some foreign and Russian historians believe that such a strange feature of the “new course” proves deliberate sabotage on the part of the leadership of the GDR of Soviet recommendations. The course towards abandoning “barracks socialism” in the GDR, towards rapprochement with the Federal Republic of Germany, towards compromise and German unity threatened W. Ulbricht and his entourage with loss of power and withdrawal from political life. Therefore, they were apparently even ready to take the risk of far-reaching destabilization of the regime, just to compromise the “new course” and save their monopoly on power. The calculation was cynical and simple: provoke mass discontent, riots, then they will intervene Soviet troops, and of course there will be no time for liberal experiments. In this sense, we can say that the events of June 17, 1953 in the GDR were the result not only of the activities of “Western agents” (its role, of course, cannot be denied), but also of a deliberate provocation on the part of the then leadership of the GDR. As it turned out later, the scope of the popular movement went far beyond the intended anti-liberal blackmail and quite frightened the provocateurs themselves.
