Ursprings of the anti-regime Ursprings of the anti-regime protests during totalitarism 1953 protests during totalitarism 1953

and the uprising of the East and the uprising of the East German workers crushed by German workers crushed by

Soviet troopsSoviet troopsBy Martin Gradl, GMG Amberg

Contents:Contents:• 1. Background• - Increase of norms• - „The New Course“

• 2. History of the uprising• - Tuesday 16 June 1953• - Wednesday 17 June 1953

• 3. Effects of the 1953 Rebellion

Increase of normsIncrease of norms• Second party

conference of the SED (July 1952): Ulbricht decided that the process of Sovietization should be intensified and the importance of the state expanded. Farmers who owned land or small business owners were to be forced to give up their independence through raised charges.

• Walter Ulbricht, general secretary of the SED

Increase of normsIncrease of norms• The Central Committee

decided to address the economic difficulties with a package of changes, which included higher taxes and higher prices and an increase of the work quotas by 10 % („more work for the same salery“). All these changes were to come into force by 30 June 1953 (Ulbricht‘s 60th birthday).

• This decision was made on the background of the catastrophic economic situation in the country. The SED favoured the development of heavy industry at the expense of the production of food and consumer goods. It resulted in a severe crisis in supplying the public with goods.

„„Spitzbart, Bauch und Brille – sind Spitzbart, Bauch und Brille – sind nicht des Volkes Wille“ (Goatee nicht des Volkes Wille“ (Goatee

beard, belly and glasses – they are beard, belly and glasses – they are not the will of the nation)not the will of the nation)

Walter Ulbricht, Wilhelm Pieck, Otto Grotewohl

„„The New Course“The New Course“• Investment in heavy

industry was to be cut and production of consumer goods stepped up. Private businesses that had been closed down could start up again. Farmers were promised back their land. Although the „New Course“ led to certain material improvements, it did not address the productivity quotas that had been raised in May 1953.

• The New Course was initiated by the Soviet Union, but would be applied to the GDR (East Germany) under its influence.

• There were three major thrusts of the new course: improvement of consumer goods, the end of terror and a relaxation of ideological standards.

History of the uprisingHistory of the uprisingTuesday 16 June 1953Tuesday 16 June 1953

• The West Berlin-based „Radio in the American Sector RIAS“ reported the Berlin events and this probably helped to incite the uprising in other parts of East Germany.

• On 16 June 300 East Berlin construction workers went on strike after their superiors announced a pay cut if they did not meet their work quota. Their numbers quickly swelled and a general strike and protests were called for the next day.

16 June 195316 June 1953

Wednesday 17 June 1953Wednesday 17 June 1953• On improved banners

and posters the demonstrators demanded the norm rescission, price decreases, the release of fellow protestors who had been arrested the day before, and even free all-German elections. In the morning about 25000 people were gathered in front of the House of Ministries, and tens of thousands more were on the way.

• Throughout the night of 16 June and early morning of 17 June, the news of events in East Berlin spread quickly throughout the GDR. Crowds of workers began to gather in public places, and began marching towards the city center. Along with SED and FDJ functionaries, police officials tried – usually without success – to convince the marchers to return to their workplaces and homes.

Wednesday 17 June 1953Wednesday 17 June 1953• But fighting between Soviet

forces (and later GDR police) and the demonstrators continued into the afternoon and night. The original demands of the protestors, such as the reinstatement of the previous lower work quotas, turned into political demands. Eventually the workers demanded the resignation of the East German government. The government decided to use force to stop the uprising and turned to the Soviet Union for military support.

• Some demonstrators apparently managed to storm the government seat, visibly demonstrating that the 500 members of GDR People`s Police and State Security had been overpowered. Only the sudden appearance of Soviet military vehicles, and then tanks, seemed to prevent a complete takeover. Within an hour, Soviet troops had cleared and isolated the area around the government headquarters.

Wednesday 17 June 1953Wednesday 17 June 1953• In Berlin, where Soviet

troops and Volkspolizei opened fire, several people were killed by the Volkspolizei. It is still unclear how many people died during the uprising. The number of known victims is 55 – other estimates put the number of victims at least 125.

Soviet tank in LeipzigSoviet tank in Leipzig

Effects of the 1953 Effects of the 1953 RebellionRebellion

• For the Ulbricht government the result was what they called the „Third purge“ (politische Säuberung). Over 12000 were dismissed from the People`s Police (Volkspolizei ) for unreliability. The Stasi was to be made much stronger to prevent such a rebellion from happening again. Erich Mielke got the new chief of the Stasi.

• The fundamental lesson learned by the new Soviet leader Nikita Chrustschow was that the Soviet revolution imposed on the German people had not been accepted and the severe reparations were causing too much of a strain.

Thank you for your interestThank you for your interest