The GDR under Ulbricht

The GDR under Ulbricht

1. Economy & Industry

   • Industry
     • 25% of all industrial goods until 1950 in reparations to the USSR
     • 213 SAGS (Sowhetische Akitengesellschaftern) were set up to produce goods for the USSR as part of East Germany’s reparations.
     • VEBS were nationalised firms that accounted for 76% of industrial production by the 70's.
     • 5 year plan launched based on soviet model in 1952 - later followed up by the next 5 year plan of 1956 and then the 7 year plan of 1959
       • First 5 year plan was intended to double the industry output of 1936
         • In 1951 COMECON was formed and trade was directed toward the other East German members - this was incorporated into the plan and accounted for in it
         • The plan was stopped after the 1953 due to the death of Stalin and the riots, where more emphasis was placed on consumer goods
       • Second 5 year plan was drafted but was quickly abandoned in 1956
         • First 7 year plan was introduced in 1959 and it had high requirements and expectations for the production of chems, energy and development of engineering
           • Ulbricht wanted production to be increased by such an extent that by 1961 the GDR socialist economy would overtake that of the FRG’s democratic one with a higher capita consumption of foodstuffs and also most customer goods.
     • 1963, the neues Okonomisches system (new economic system) was launched.
       • It attempted to remove some of the centralisation in the GDR in favour of a stronger economy, stronger decision making at middle levels and more quality over quantity.
         • it was abandoned after the Prague spring of 1968 and more centralisation was favoured instead
     • Economic growth was at 3% per year in 1960 - still less than the FRG however at 8% per year
   • Agriculture
     • Land reforms 1945 - Broke up the land holdings and the junker's land, made it into agricultural farms for the workers
       • Establishment of cooperatives in 1952 meant farmers had to borrow governmental tractors and equipment
         • Collectives held their machinery and livestock held 'in common'
       • Collectivisation waves 1952 and 1960
         • 85% of agriculture collectivised and nationalised by 1960
     • Lack of food supplies during 1953 and 59-60 made many farmers and townsfolk flee to the west. Agriculture lacked fertilisers leading to a shortage of cheese, butter and meat.
       • Rationing of butter, meat and sugar was introduced in 1961
       • Fat consumption was 50% of 1932 in the 50's.

2. Social structure

   • Imposition of state socialism
     • Adolf Hennecke from Zwickau was groomed to exceed his norm in one shit by 250%, ending up achieving 387%.
     • Not working was considered asocial and was punishable by law
       • The border had to be reinforced by 1952 and the wall was created in 1961 to contain the flow of workers leaving the country
     • The state preference for the lower bracket of the social structure was relaxed in the 60's, however there was still a huge bias toward the lower class compared to the middle or upper classes.
       • Communist movement allowed more mobility for the lower class but it heavily repressed the middle and upper classes
   • Youth and education
     • Youth groups were established by the state to enforce the idea of communism and to indoctrinate them at a younger age
       • FDJ benefits from ages 14-25 were essential if the youth wanted to advance in education or further employment from school
       • The JP (Junge Poinere) Young pioneers were a group for ages 6-14 and by 1960 all children in the country were members of this organisation
       • In 1954 the Jugendweihe, was established as an alternative to religious conformation.
       • Membership take-up was almost universal, and the ones who didn't join did so for religious reasons
     • East German schoolchildren were educated in Leninism-Marxism and as such were given a new socialist identity
       • Private schools were abolished and religious institutions disappeared by 1946
       • Marxism Leninism was a compulsory subject for all students after the education and curriculum reform in 1959
       • Universities were viewed as vehicles for bringing more skilled workers into the economy as technicians, and managers for industry or agriculture
   • Women
     • Equality of the sexes was a goal of the communist society
       • Right to work and equal pay - revised constitution of 1968 stated work was a duty not a right
       • Although it was an aim it was not successful in implementation, as women were often placed in low paid unskilled jobs.
       • Granted one household day a month
         • Many women had to manage working and household chores - very harsh environment for women
       • Nearly no women made it into the political heirarchy

3. Culture in the GDR

   • Social realism was the main inspiration for arts and literature
     • Western art and music were viewed as decadent and irrelevant, and an offense to the state to endorse in listening or viewing of such material
       • Censorship of the newspapers was heavy, as they were either written by SED puppet parties or were subjected to heavy censorship of their content
     • Bitterfield conference 1959 tried to encourage relations between writers and workers by encouraging them to take up each other's roles
   • Most culture was merely propaganda
     • Culture was aimed at promoting socialist values and the greatness of the USSR.

4. The church

   • Ulbricht tried to remove influence from them by banning religious schools and youth groups
     • Churches still had influence however as they ran childcare facilities, old people's homes, hospitals and other essential services
       • The state and the church eventually agreed that while the chuch had to respect the decision of moving towards socialism the state had to accept the freedom to have individual beleifs

5. The wall's establishment

   • The wall was established in 1961
     • Ulbricht appealed to Khrushchev unsuccessfully multiple times until there was no alternative and he grudgingly approved the building of the wall
       • The wall was made and was patrolled by armed guards, with around 107 casualties from those who failed to escape