Why was Germany divided into the Federal Republic of Germany and the German Democratic Republic? Education of the German Democratic Republic (GDR) What is the Federal Republic of Germany and the German Democratic Republic transcript

MOSCOW, April 1 - RIA Novosti, Anton Lisitsyn. The Bundeswehr received a directive asking what examples from the military past German soldiers should be proud of. As far as the GDR army is concerned, only those who “revolted against the rule of the SED or have special merits in the struggle for German unity” are supposed to be honored. In a united Germany there live two culturally different peoples - from the Federal Republic of Germany and the German Democratic Republic. Why citizens of the former German Democratic Republic feel “nostalgia” for the times of “totalitarianism” - in the material of RIA Novosti.

"They want to show how their parents lived"

Ostalgie Kantine - the Ostalgie buffet is located in the state of Saxony-Anhalt in the territory of the former GDR. Buffet is a conditional name. Rather, it is a park of the socialist period. There are interiors from those times, exhibitions of Soviet military equipment and “people’s democracy” cars, including the legendary “Wartburg” and “Trabant”, shelves with toys.

Manager Mike Silabecki says that 80 percent of visitors are former East German citizens. “They often come with children to show them what the GDR was like, how their parents lived. Schoolchildren are brought in classes for history lessons,” he explains.

Silabecki believes that Socialism Park is popular because many from the former GDR have “good memories of those times, of socialism and the USSR.”

From the same Saxony-Anhalt, the Mitteldeutsche Zeitung reports alarming news. In the town of Börde, the local GDR era museum is closing. The building housing a collection of artifacts from the times of socialism is being demolished.

East is east, west is west

Germany reunified in 1990. Legally, it looked like this: in August, the parliament of the German Democratic Republic made a decision (long ago agreed upon by East Berlin, Bonn and the interested powers) to join the Federal Republic of Germany. On October 3, all government bodies of the GDR and its armed forces were abolished. The German Constitution of 1949 came into force throughout the country. That is, the GDR was disbanded, its lands were included in West Germany.

The united Germans called each other diminutively - "Ossi" and "Wessi", from the German words ost and west, "east" and "west", respectively. Soon the term “ostalgia” arose - longing for the times of “people's democracy”.

In terms of economic development, the GDR lagged behind the Federal Republic of Germany, however, East Germany in the 1980s was in sixth place in terms of industrial production in Europe. Enterprises such as Robotron and ORWO operated in the republic; they produced trucks, wagons, locomotives, and cranes exported abroad. Most of the industrial potential of the "people's democracy" was destroyed in the 1990s. Vessey's business behaved like a winner on the annexed lands.

The GDR existed for only 41 years, but, as it turned out, left a deep mark on the collective German conscious and unconscious.

One of the Russian bloggers interviewed Ossi in 2015, and he described to him the economic realities of a united Germany. “About 15 years later, in 2003-2004, some managers realized the mistake: why ruin part of their own country? And get the problem of subsidies? — the former citizen of the GDR was surprised.

How much does German unity cost?

In 2014, Germany decided to calculate how much it cost to reunify the country. On the eve of the 25th anniversary of the unification, Welt am Sonntag published the results of a study by experts from the Institute of Economics: “Two and twelve zeros - German unity is currently worth two trillion euros.”

“According to the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW), the five eastern states and their populations have consumed approximately 1.5 trillion euros more than they produced themselves since reunification,” the journalists continued.

Gorbachev: The USSR did the right thing regarding the unification of the Federal Republic of Germany and the GDRAccording to Mikhail Gorbachev, everyone in the Politburo was in favor of the unification of Germany and the GDR. Various forms of unification were proposed, including a confederation, he said.

Two years later the situation has not changed much. In 2017, Berlin officially recognized that the lands of the former East Germany still lag behind Western Germany in terms of socio-economic development. The government expressed fears that the gap between the former GDR and the Federal Republic of Germany would not narrow, but widen. The volume of gross domestic product per capita in the East does not exceed 70 percent of West Germany. And, what is extremely significant, 30 companies - the flagships of the German economy, included in the main German stock exchange index DAX, do not have headquarters in the east.

"Everyday Racism"

In the German segment of the Internet, popular tests are “Who are you - Wessy or Ossie?” Sociologists record the negative attitude of citizens of the former GDR and West Germany towards each other. Thus, in 2012, it turned out that East Germans consider their Western compatriots arrogant, overly greedy, and prone to formalism. And many Vessies characterize Ossies as always dissatisfied, suspicious and fearful.

How seriously this problem is taken in Germany can be judged by the title of the sociological article - “Vessi vs. Ossie: Everyday Racism?” There are also common stereotypes - “Wessies are just using Ossies”, “But these Ossies are simply not capable of anything!”

“According to German politicians, in 1990 they hoped that they would be able to “digest” the east in five years, well, not in five, but in ten, not in ten, but in fifteen. However, twenty-eight years have passed, and politicians admit: the difference between the two parts of the country remains. One spoke directly: we still, in fact, live in two countries,” says Alexander Kokeev, a leading researcher at the Department of European Political Studies at the IMEMO RAS, Candidate of Historical Sciences. concerns politics. For example, in the former GDR, right-wing populist parties such as the Alternative for Germany enjoy greater support.

At the same time, as the expert emphasizes, this problem is not as acute now as it was immediately after reunification. Berlin solves it and treats it with the utmost care. “There is a so-called ostalgia, but it is largely irrational. The standard of living of East Germans has increased significantly, it’s just that many compare it with higher indicators in the western part of the country, and, naturally, this causes dissatisfaction among some. In addition, some former citizens The GDR, mostly elderly, feel like second-class citizens who have been put out on the stairs from their apartment and at the same time being taught how to live correctly,” Kokeev sums up.

Germany

The split of Germany into the Federal Republic of Germany and the German Democratic Republic

The geopolitical results of World War II were catastrophic for Germany. It lost its statehood for several years and its territorial integrity for many years. 24% of the territory Germany occupied in 1936 was torn off, including East Prussia, divided between Poland and the USSR. Poland and Czechoslovakia received the right to evict ethnic Germans from their territories, as a result of which a stream of refugees moved into Germany (by the end of 1946, their number was about 9 million people).

By decision of the Crimean Conference, German territory was divided into four zones of occupation: Soviet, American, British and French. Berlin was similarly divided into four sectors. At the Potsdam Conference, the basic principles of the occupation policy of the Allied states were agreed upon (demilitarization, denazification, decartelization, democratization of Germany). However, the lack of firm agreements on the German problem led to the fact that the administrations of the occupation zones applied the Potsdam principles at their own discretion.

The leadership of the Soviet military administration in Germany immediately took measures to form an obedient regime in its zone. Local committees spontaneously created by anti-fascists were dissolved. Central departments were created to resolve administrative and economic issues. The main role in them was played by communists and social democrats. In the summer of 1945, the activities of 4 political parties were allowed: the Communist Party of Germany (KPD), the Social Democratic Party (SPD), the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the Liberal Democratic Party of Germany (LDP). In theory, all permitted parties enjoyed equal rights, but in practice, the Soviet government openly preferred the KKE.

Based on the idea that Nazism was a product of capitalism and denazification implied a struggle against capitalist influence in German society, Soviet power seized the “commanding heights” of the economy in the first months of the occupation. Many large enterprises were nationalized on the grounds that they belonged to the Nazis or their supporters. These enterprises were either dismantled and sent to the Soviet Union to pay for reparations, or continued to operate as Soviet property. In September 1945, land reform was carried out, during which more than 7,100 estates with an area of more than 100 hectares were expropriated free of charge. From the created land fund, about 120 thousand landless peasants, agricultural workers and migrants received small plots. Reactionaries were dismissed from government service.

The Soviet administration forced the SPD and the KPD to merge into a new party called the Socialist Unity Party of Germany (SED). In subsequent years, communist control became increasingly harsh. In January 1949, the SED conference decided that the party should become a Leninist "party of a new type" on the model of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. Thousands of socialists and communists who disagreed with this line were expelled from the party in a purge. In general, the same model was used in the Soviet zone of occupation as in other Eastern European countries. She meant the Stalinization of the Marxist party, the deprivation of the independence of the “middle class” parties, further nationalization, repressive measures and the virtual elimination of the competitive electoral system.

Western states acted in Germany as authoritarianly as the Soviet administration in its zone. Anti-fascist committees were disbanded here too. Land governments were created (in the American zone during 1945, in the British and French - in 1946). Appointment to posts was carried out by a strong-willed decision of the occupation authorities. In the western occupation zones, the KPD and SPD also resumed their activities. The CDU was created, with which it established a “commonwealth” relationship; the Christian Social Union (CSU) was created in Bavaria; this party bloc began to be called the CDU / CSU. The liberal democracy camp was represented by the Free Democratic Party (FDP).

The US and UK soon became convinced that a revival of the German economy was vital to the recovery of Western Europe. The Americans and the British moved to coordinated actions. The first steps towards the unification of the western zones were taken at the end of 1946, when the American and British administrations agreed to unite the economic management of their zones from January 1, 1947. The so-called Bisonia was formed. The Bisonia administration received the status of parliament, i.e. purchased political rice. In 1948, the French also annexed their zone in Bisonia. The result was Trizonia.

In June 1948, the Reichsmark was replaced by the new "Deutsche Mark". The healthy tax base created by the new currency helped Germany join the Marshall Plan in 1949.

Currency reform led to the first clash between West and East as the Cold War began. In an effort to isolate their occupation zone from the influence of the Western economy, the Soviet leadership rejected both assistance under the Marshall Plan and the introduction of a new currency in its zone. It also relied on the introduction of the German mark in Berlin, but the Western Allies insisted that the new currency become legal tender in the western sectors of the city. To prevent the new brand from entering Berlin, the Soviet administration prevented cargo transportation from the west to Berlin by rail and highway. On June 23, 1948, the supply of Berlin by rail and road transport was completely blocked. The so-called Berlin crisis arose. The Western powers organized an intensive air supply (“air bridge”), which provided everything necessary not only to the military garrisons of Berlin, but also to its civilian population. On May 11, 1949, the Soviet side admitted defeat and ended the blockade. The Berlin crisis is over.

Intensifying confrontation between the USSR and Western countries makes it impossible to create a unified German state. In August 1949, general parliamentary elections were held in West Germany, which brought victory to the CDU/CSU party, and on September 7 the creation of the Federal Republic of Germany was proclaimed. In response, on October 7, 1949, the German Democratic Republic was proclaimed in the east of the country. So, in the fall of 1949, the split in Germany received legal formalization.

1952 The USA, England and France signed an agreement with Germany, according to which the formal occupation of West Germany ended, but their troops remained on German territory. In 1955, an agreement was signed between the USSR and the GDR on the full sovereignty and independence of the GDR.

West German "economic miracle"

In the parliamentary elections (Bundestag) of 1949, two leading political forces were determined: the CDU/CSU (139 mandates), the SPD (131 mandates) and the “third force” - the FDP (52 mandates). The CDU/CSU and FDP formed a parliamentary coalition, which allowed them to create a joint government. This is how a “two-and-a-half” party model developed in Germany (in contrast to the two-party model in the USA and Great Britain). This model continued in the future.

The first chancellor (head of government) of the Federal Republic of Germany was the Christian Democrat K. Adenauer (he held this position from 1949 to 1963). A characteristic feature of his political style was the desire for stability. An equally important circumstance was the implementation of an exceptionally effective economic course. Its ideologist was the permanent Minister of Economics of the Federal Republic of Germany L. Erhard.

The model of social market economy created as a result of Erhard's policies was based on the concept of ordoliberalism (from the German "Ordung" - order). Ordoliberals advocated the free market mechanism, not despite, but because of government intervention. They saw the basis of economic well-being in the strengthening of economic order. The state was given key functions. Its intervention was supposed to replace the action of market mechanisms and create conditions for their effective functioning.

A difficult period of economic reform occurred in 1949-1950, when the liberalization of pricing caused an increase in prices with a relative decrease in the level of income of the population, and the restructuring of production was accompanied by a surge in unemployment. But already in 1951 there was a turning point, and in 1952 the rise in prices stopped and the unemployment rate began to decline. In subsequent years, unprecedented economic growth occurred: 9-10% per year, and in 1953-1956 - up to 10-15% per year. Germany came to second place among Western countries in terms of industrial production (and was only pushed aside by Japan in the late 60s). Large exports made it possible to create a significant gold reserve in the country. The German currency has become the strongest in Europe. In the second half of the 50s, unemployment practically disappeared, and real incomes tripled. Until 1964, the gross national product (GNP) of Germany increased 3 times, and it began to produce more products than the entire pre-war Germany. At that time they started talking about the German “economic miracle”.

The West German “economic miracle” was due to a number of factors. The economic system Erhard chose, where liberal market mechanisms were combined with targeted tax and credit policies of the state, proved its effectiveness. Erhard managed to achieve the adoption of strong anti-monopoly legislation. A significant role was played by revenues from the Marshall Plan, the lack of military spending (before Germany joined NATO), as well as the influx of foreign investment ($350 billion). In German industry, which was destroyed during the war, there was a massive renewal of fixed capital. The introduction of new technologies that accompanied this process, combined with the traditionally high efficiency and discipline of the German population, caused a rapid increase in labor productivity.

Agriculture developed successfully. As a result of the agrarian reform of 1948-1949, carried out with the assistance of the occupation authorities, a redistribution of land property was carried out. As a result, most of the land fund passed from large owners to medium and small ones. In subsequent years, the share of people employed in agriculture steadily decreased, but widespread mechanization and electrification of peasant labor made it possible to ensure an overall increase in output in this sector.

The social policy that encouraged direct relationships between entrepreneurs and workers turned out to be very successful. The government acted under the motto: “Neither capital without labor, nor labor without capital can exist.” Pension funds, housing construction, a system of free and preferential education, and vocational training were expanded. The rights of labor collectives in the field of production management were expanded, but their political activities were prohibited. The remuneration system was differentiated depending on the length of service at a particular enterprise. In 1960, the “Law for the Protection of the Rights of Youth at Work” was passed, and since 1963, minimum leave for all workers was introduced. Tax policy encouraged the transfer of part of the wage fund into special “people's shares”, which were distributed among the enterprise’s employees. All these government measures made it possible to ensure adequate growth in the purchasing power of the population in conditions of economic recovery. Germany was in the midst of a consumer boom.

In 1950, Germany became a member of the Council of Europe and began to take an active part in negotiations on European integration projects. In 1954, Germany became a member of the Western European Union, and in 1955 joined NATO. In 1957, Germany became one of the founders of the European Economic Community (EEC).

In the 60s, a regrouping of political forces took place in Germany. The FDP supported the SPD, and, having formed a new coalition, these two parties formed a government in 1969. This coalition lasted until the early 80s. During this period, the chancellors were the Social Democrats W. Brandt (1969-1974) and G. Schmidt (1974-1982).

A new political regrouping occurred in the early 80s. The FDP supported the CDU/CSU and left the coalition with the SPD. In 1982, Christian Democrat G. Kohl became chancellor (he held this post until 1998). He was destined to become chancellor of a united Germany.

German reunification

For forty post-war years, Germany was divided into two states by the Cold War front. The GDR was increasingly losing to West Germany in terms of economic growth and living standards. The symbol of the Cold War and the division of the German nation was the Berlin Wall, built in 1961 to prevent the citizens of the GDR from fleeing to the West.

In 1989, a revolution began in the GDR. The main demand of the participants in the revolutionary uprisings was the unification of Germany. In October 1989, the leader of the East German communists, E. Honecker, resigned, and on November 9, the Berlin Wall fell. The unification of Germany became a practically feasible task.

It was no longer possible to contain the process of German unification. But in the West and East of the country, different approaches to the future unification have been formed. The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Germany provided for the reunification of Germany as the process of the annexation of the lands of East Germany to the Federal Republic of Germany and assumed the liquidation of the GDR as a state. The leadership of the GDR sought to achieve unification through a confederal union.

However, in the elections in March 1990, the GDR won the non-communist opposition led by the Christian Democrats. From the very beginning they advocated the speedy reunification of Germany on the basis of the Federal Republic of Germany. On June 1, the German mark was introduced into the GDR. On August 31, an agreement was signed between the Federal Republic of Germany and the German Democratic Republic on the establishment of state unity.

All that remained was to agree on the unification of Germany with 4 states - the USSR, the USA, Great Britain and France. For this purpose, negotiations were held according to the “2 + 4” formula, that is, between the Federal Republic of Germany and the German Democratic Republic, on the one hand, and the victorious powers (USSR, USA, Great Britain and France), on the other. The Soviet Union made a fundamentally important concession - it agreed to the continued membership of a united Germany in NATO and the withdrawal of Soviet troops from East Germany. On September 12, 1990, the Treaty on the Final Settlement regarding Germany was signed.

On October 3, 1990, 5 lands restored on the territory of East Germany became part of the Federal Republic of Germany, and the GDR ceased to exist. On December 20, 1990, the first Spilnonym government was formed, headed by Chancellor G. Kohl.

Economic and social achievements, problems of the 90s

Contrary to optimistic forecasts, the socio-economic consequences of German unification turned out to be ambiguous. The East Germans' hopes for the miraculous economic effect of unification were not justified. The main problem was the transfer of the command-administrative economy of the 5 eastern lands to the principles of a market economy. This process was carried out without strategic planning, through trial and error. The most “shocking” option for transforming the economy of East Germany was chosen. Its features include the introduction of private property, the decisive denationalization of state-owned enterprises, the short period of transition to a market economy, etc. Moreover, East Germany received socio-economic and political forms of organizing society immediately and in a ready-made form.

Adaptation of the economy of the eastern lands to new conditions was quite painful and led to a reduction in industrial production in them to 1/3 of the previous level. The German economy emerged from the state of crisis caused by the unification of the country and negative trends in the world economy only in 1994. However, the structural restructuring of industry and adaptation to the new conditions of a market economy caused a sharp increase in unemployment. In the mid-90s, it covered more than 12% of the workforce (more than 4 million people). The most difficult employment situation was in East Germany, where the unemployment rate exceeded 15% and average wages lagged significantly behind those in the “old lands.” All this, as well as the influx of foreign workers, caused growing social tension in German society. In the summer of 1996, mass protests organized by trade unions broke out.

G. Kohl called for comprehensive savings. The government had to make an unprecedented increase in taxes, which amounted to more than half of total earnings, and a drastic reduction in government spending, including economic support for the eastern lands. All this, as well as G. Kohl’s policy of further reducing social programs, ultimately led to the defeat of the ruling conservative-liberal coalition in the next parliamentary elections.

Social Democrats coming to power

The 1998 elections brought victory to the new coalition, which was formed by the SPD (received 40.9% of the vote) and the Green Party (6.7%). Before formally joining the coalition, both parties developed a large, well-executed government program. It included measures to reduce unemployment, revise the tax system, close 19 nuclear power plants, the remaining ones, etc. The government of the “pink-green” coalition was headed by Social Democrat G. Schröder. In the context of the economic recovery that began, the policies of the new government turned out to be very effective. The new government did not abandon savings in government spending. But these savings were achieved not by curtailing state social programs, but mainly through land budgets.

At the beginning of the 21st century, Germany, with its 80 million population, became the largest state in Western Europe. In terms of industrial production and level of economic development, it ranks third in the world, second only to the USA and Japan.

The surrender of Nazi Germany occurred at 01:01 on May 9, 1945 Moscow time or at 23:01 on May 8, Central European time. Three weeks later, on May 29, a Directive was issued to rename the Soviet front into the Group of Soviet Occupation Forces in Germany. The Soviet army, which reached Berlin with heavy losses in the last months of the war, remained in East Germany for the next almost half a century. The final withdrawal of Russian troops from Germany occurred on August 31, 1994.

My father was one of the Soviet conscript soldiers sent to serve in Germany (1978-1980, Bad Freienwald, East Germany). In this post I will show some photographs from the time of his service and tell general facts about Soviet troops in Germany.

Potsdam

At first, the unit was called GSOVG - Group of Soviet Occupation Forces in Germany (1945-1954). The head of the GSOVG was at the same time the head of the Soviet Military Administration in Germany (SVAG) - that is, he had full power in the territory of Germany occupied by the Soviet Union. The first Commander-in-Chief of the GSOVG was Marshal of the Soviet Union G.K. Zhukov. After the formation of the GDR on October 7, 1949, the head of the GSOVG carried out control functions in the new state for several more years as chairman of the Soviet Control Commission in Germany.

Potsdam

The headquarters of the Soviet troops in Germany since 1946 was located in Wünsdorf - where the High Command of the Wehrmacht Ground Forces was based during Nazi Germany. Due to the special nature of the town, the territory of Wünsdorf was closed to ordinary citizens of the GDR. Along with 2,700 German residents, 50-60 thousand Soviet military personnel and members of their families lived in the city.

Bad Freienwalde

About half a million Soviet citizens lived permanently in East Germany. GSVG - a group of Soviet troops in Germany (1954-1989) - had its own factories, Russian schools, sanatoriums, shops, officers' houses and other infrastructure. For crimes provided for by the criminal legislation of the USSR, Soviet citizens were tried according to Soviet legislation in special institutions.

Chernyakhovsk (formerly Insterburg), educational part (my father is on the right)

The GSVG was a kind of state within a state. Its main task was to protect the western borders of the USSR from possible threats. In the context of the Cold War, the GSVG was the advanced unit of the Soviet army, so it was equipped with the most modern equipment and weapons (including nuclear weapons). In the event of a military conflict with NATO member countries, the group of troops was supposed to hold on to the border line until the armed forces of the USSR and its allies were fully mobilized.

Potsdam

The group owned 777 military camps throughout the German Democratic Republic - more than 36,000 buildings were listed on its balance sheet. 21,000 objects were built with USSR money. However, in many cases, barracks and other premises that once belonged to the Wehrmacht were also used to house Soviet troops.

Potsdam

Conscript soldiers received their pay in GDR marks, so service in the GSVG was considered prestigious. My dad remembers how he used the money he had saved to buy things during the last days of his stay in Germany before being sent home. Among the purchases were, for example, jeans that were rare at that time. In total, eight and a half million USSR citizens served in the Group during its entire existence.

Bad Freienwalde

In 1989, the Group was renamed again - from now on it bore the name of the Western Group of Forces (WGV). After the unification of the Federal Republic of Germany and the German Democratic Republic, the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Germany became inevitable. Due to the scale and complexity of the operation, the withdrawal of troops continued until August 31, 1994. A huge amount of equipment and weapons were removed. More than half a million people returned to the territory of the then collapsed Soviet Union. A farewell parade in honor of the withdrawal of Russian troops took place in Treptower Park in Berlin with the participation of Russian President Boris Yeltsin and German Chancellor Helmut Kohl.

Potsdam

In the period from 1949 to 1990, there were two separate states on the territory of modern Germany - the communist GDR and the capitalist West Germany. The formation of these states was associated with one of the first serious crises of the Cold War, and the unification of Germany with the final fall of the communist regime in Europe.

Reasons for separation

The main and, perhaps, the only reason for the division of Germany was the lack of consensus among the victorious countries regarding the post-war structure of the state. Already in the second half of 1945, the former allies became rivals, and the territory of Germany became a place of collision between two contradictory political systems.

Plans of the victorious countries and the separation process

The first projects concerning the post-war structure of Germany appeared back in 1943. This issue was raised at the Tehran Conference, where Joseph Stalin, Winston Churchill and Franklin Roosevelt met. Since the conference took place after the Battle of Stalingrad and the Battle of Kursk, the leaders of the Big Three were well aware that the fall of the Nazi regime would occur within the next few years.

The most daring project was proposed by the American president. He believed that it was necessary to create five separate states on German territory. Churchill also believed that after the war Germany should not exist within its previous borders. Stalin, who was more concerned about the opening of a second front in Europe, considered the issue of dividing Germany premature and not the most important. He believed that nothing could further prevent Germany from becoming a unified state again.

The issue of the dismemberment of Germany was also raised at subsequent meetings of the Big Three leaders. During the Potsdam Conference (summer 1945), a four-way occupation system was established:

England,
THE USSR,
France.

It was decided that the Allies would treat Germany as a single whole and encourage the emergence of democratic institutions on the territory of the state. The solution to most issues related to denazification, demilitarization, restoration of the economy destroyed by the war, revival of the pre-war political system, etc., required the cooperation of all the victors. However, immediately after the end of the war, it became increasingly difficult for the Soviet Union and its Western allies to find a common language.

The main reason for the split among the former allies was the reluctance of the Western powers to liquidate German military enterprises, which contradicted the demilitarization plan. In 1946, the British, French and Americans united their zones of occupation, forming Trizonia. In this territory they created a separate system of economic management, and in September 1949 the emergence of a new state was announced - the Federal Republic of Germany. The leadership of the USSR immediately took retaliatory measures by creating the German Democratic Republic in its occupation zone.

After the surrender of Germany, the eastern regions of the country - Saxony, Thuringia, Mecklenburg and Brandenburg - with a territory of 108 thousand square meters. km and a population of 17 million people moved to the zone of occupation of the USSR. Berlin was in the Soviet zone of occupation, but by decision of the Potsdam Conference it was divided into four zones, three of which were under the control of the Western powers.

At the end of June - July 1945, the main political parties took shape in eastern Germany - the communist (KPD), the social democratic (SPD), the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the Liberal Democratic (LCPD). In April 1946, the KPD and SPD merged into a single party called the Socialist Unity Party of Germany (SED). The ultimate goal of the party was the construction of socialism in Germany.

Proclamation of the GDR

By order of the SVAG (Soviet Military Administration of Germany), the property of German monopolies, war criminals, and the fascist party was expropriated. On this basis, the foundation of state ownership was created. Local governments were created, where the SED played a leading role. In December 1947, the First German People's Congress took place in Berlin, which advocated for the unity of Germany and marked the beginning of the movement for its democratic reconstruction. II German People's Congress in 1948 elected the German People's Council as the executive body of the movement. In May 1949, the Third German People's Congress approved the text of the constitution, which was to become the basis of the post-war state system in Germany. On October 7, 1949, the German Democratic Republic was proclaimed. Almost all leadership positions were occupied by SED representatives. Wilhelm Pieck, a veteran of the revolutionary movement in Germany, became the president of the republic, and Otto Grotewohl became the prime minister. The German People's Council was transformed into a temporary People's Chamber (parliament), which adopted the country's constitution. The Constitution established the dictatorship of the proletariat as the basis of state power. In addition to the SED, there were three other political parties in the GDR - the CDU, the Democratic Peasants' Party of Germany (DKPD) and the National Democratic Party (NDP). Some of them existed formally, while others had no influence. Soon they were finished too. During the political struggle, the CDU and LDPD ceased to exist. Their liquidation was followed by elections to the People's Chamber of the GDR, in which the Democratic Bloc, where representatives of the SED played a leading role, won.

Construction of socialism

In July 1950, the Third Congress of the SED approved a five-year economic development plan. During the five-year plan, 79 enterprises were restored and 100 new enterprises were built, among them shipyards in Rostock, Wismar, Stralsund and Warnemünde, and two large metallurgical plants. Such a gigantic construction was reminiscent of the USSR in the late 20s and early 30s. However, it soon became clear that the GDR did not have the funds to continue such construction. It was necessary to reduce allocations for social purposes. In the country, food was distributed on ration cards, and wages were low. The cooperative movement that began in the countryside finally ruined the country's national economy.

Against the background of economic success (Federal Republic of Germany 1949-1990), the situation in the GDR (German Democratic Republic 1949-1990) seemed catastrophic. Dissatisfaction with the existing regime began in the republic, which on June 16-17, 1953 grew into an open protest against the existing system. Demonstrations took place throughout the country and work was stopped. Shops in cities were looted and set on fire. Weapons were used against the rebels. Three days later the uprising was suppressed and order was restored. These performances were assessed as a “fascist putsch” organized by “provocateurs” from Germany.

Nevertheless, the leadership of the GDR was forced to make concessions: the production of consumer goods increased, prices decreased slightly, and the USSR refused to further collect reparations. At the same time, a course was set for the accelerated development of the socialist foundations of the economy. During the 50s, the “socialization” of industry was carried out, as a result of which it was nationalized and private capital was liquidated. The complete collectivization of the village began. The year 1960 was called the “socialist spring in the countryside,” when free farming was eliminated and agricultural production cooperatives took its place. 84% of all agricultural areas were already cultivated by cooperatives.

Development of the country's economy

As a result of the measures taken, it was possible to overcome the economic crisis and increase quantitative indicators. During the period from 1960 to 1983, gross industrial output increased 3.5 times. New industries that are important for scientific and technological progress developed at a particularly high pace. They accounted for approximately 40% of all goods produced. Complex automation was deployed in industry. Its own industry of electronic computers was created. In terms of production volume, the GDR entered the top ten industrialized countries of the world and ranked fifth in Europe by this indicator.

The rapid growth of industrial production was accompanied by an equally rapid growth of the public sector in the economy. Structural reforms in industry carried out in 1972 led to the fact that the state's share in gross industrial production increased from 83 to 99%. As a result, the entire industry began to work on the shaft, that is, on quantitative indicators. Most of the enterprises were unprofitable, and losses were covered by other enterprises. The rapid growth of industrial production was mainly due to heavy industry (here, over 23 years, production increased 4 times), and the production of consumer goods increased only 2.5 times.

At the same time, agriculture developed at an extremely slow pace.

German reunification

In May 1971, Erich Honecker was elected first secretary of the SED. He managed to improve the economic situation of the country and raise the living standards of the population. But this had no impact on the further development of the country. The people demanded Democratization. Demonstrations took place throughout the country demanding democratic reforms and truly free general elections. A mass exodus of the population from the country began. Over the course of 10 years, from 1970 to 1980, the population of the GDR decreased by almost a million people: they all fled to the Federal Republic of Germany.

Erich Honecker (1912-1995) - Chairman of the State Council of the GDR (1976-1989), General Secretary of the Central Committee of the SED (1976-1989). In October 1989, he was removed from all posts and expelled from the SED in December.

The leadership of the GDR established a “draconian” regime on the border, closing the country from the outside world with barbed wire. The order was given to shoot at all refugees, regardless of gender and age. Border posts have been strengthened. But this did not help prevent a mass exodus from the GDR.

On October 7, 1989, when the leadership of the GDR was going to solemnly celebrate the 40th anniversary of the first socialist state in German history, mass rallies and demonstrations swept across the country, demanding the resignation of E. Honecker, the unification of Germany and the elimination of the power of the SED.

On October 7-9, 1989, tens of thousands of people took to the streets in Berlin, Dresden, Leipzig and other cities, demanding fundamental changes in the country. As a result of the police dispersal of the demonstration, 3 thousand people were arrested. However, this did not stop the movement against the existing system. On November 4, 1989, more than 500 thousand people took to the streets of Berlin.

Elections held on a multi-party basis on March 18, 1990 led to victory for the CDU party. It received 41% of the vote, the Social Democrats 21%, and the SED only 16%. A new coalition government was created, consisting of representatives of the CDU and Social Democrats. The government immediately raised the issue of German unification. Negotiations began between Germany and the USSR on a solution to the German problem, and on September 12, 1990, Chancellor He. Kohl and USSR President M. Gorbachev signed the Treaty on the final settlement in relation to Germany. At the same time, the issue of the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Germany by the end of 1994 was resolved. On October 3, 1990, Germany became united.

Consequences of the country's unification

The consequences of such a rapid unification were severe for both parts of Germany. Throughout the entire territory of the former GDR, deindustrialization occurred, reminiscent of a general collapse of industry. The entire economic system of the GDR turned out to be unprofitable and uncompetitive. Even after the measures taken by the German government to support the industry of the eastern territories, its products did not find sales on the West German market, not to mention the world market. At the same time, all markets in eastern Germany were absorbed by West German industrialists, who thus received new opportunities for their development.

For Germany, the most serious problem was the restoration of East German industry on a solid market basis. The state is forced to provide 150 billion marks of subsidies annually to raise it. Another problem was unemployment, about 13% of the working population of eastern Germany are unemployed, not counting those who work part-time or whose jobs are artificially subsidized by special government programs.

Summary

1945 - East Berlin - in the Soviet zone of occupation, West Berlin - under the control of Western states
July 1945 - formation of the KPD, SPD, CDU and LDPG parties; April 1946 - The KPD and SPD unite to form the SED
the property of German monopolies was nationalized and transferred to state ownership
October 7, 1949 - proclamation of the GDR. President - V. Pik
50s - economic difficulties, transition to the card system, reduction in allocations for social needs
60s - nationalization of all industry, complete collectivization in the countryside. The economic crisis has been overcome
70s - in terms of production volume, the GDR is among the top ten industrialized countries and ranks fifth in Europe
May 1971 - Erich Honecker leads the country. Attempts to improve the economic situation. Demonstrations demanding democratization
mass exodus to Germany
October 7, 1989 - mass rallies: demand for the unification of Germany and the elimination of the power of the SED
March 18, 1990 - multi-party elections
October 3, 1990 - German reunification. Solving the problems of restoring GDR industry