Uprising 1953

Uprising 1953

CAUSES
1. Ulbrichts decision to accelerate socialism
  1. meant rapid industrialisation and collectivisation supported by state control
2. DDR presented a grave environment in the 50s, caused growing public dissatisfaction
3. government proposed 10% rise in 'norms'
  1. caused strikes in many cities
4. social and economic reform
5. Death of Stalin cause new leaders to quickly recommend an easing of the strict Stalinist rules
6. restrictions on civil rights
16TH JUNE
1. Building workers assemble in E.Berlin for a peaceful protest against the norms
2. Peaceful protest change into a general protest about the govermnet, the DDR and the SED Party.
17TH JUNE
1. By noon, 100,000 protestors in the streets of E.Berlin
2. Protests spread over 500 cities and towns with over 200,000-300,000 more people
  1. 5-7% of the workforce
3. Ulbricht & SED seemed helpless and feared the regime would collapse
4. Soviet tanks were called into crush the rebels, there was little resistance.
  1. the protest was spotaneous so was badly organised, and people had no real weapons or defence against the Soviets
OUTCOMES
1. Ulbrichts regime was strengthened
2. about 1300 people put on trial
3. official propaganda blamed uprising on the Western powers
4. Ulbricht's changes within the party:
  1. Two of his leading critics expelled from the SED
  2. 20,000 leading SED functionaries were removed in the months after
  3. Security forces were strengthened

Resource summary

	Created by phoebeclothier about 10 years ago