Why was there working class protest in East Germanyin 1953?
Why was there working class protest in East Germany in June 1953The troubles in East Germany in June 1953 reached a peak on June 17th, when there were mass demonstrations and a General Strike throughout the German Democratic Republic. (G.D.R.). There has been many reasons cited for these protests, but it is perhaps possible to bring them down into two categories. Firstly, the long-term causes. These include the raising of work quotas, and the subsequent reduction of worker income. As well as this was the program of collective farms in the countryside. Going further back than this, it is possible to cite the imposition of Stalinism as a long-term cause. As well as this there is the economic and social change in East Germany at the time. For the short term however, it would be useful to discuss the winter of 1952/53, during which there was a substantial economic crisis in East Germany. Perhaps added to this is the political crisis in East Germany at the time, which can be seen as a major cause of the working class unrest.After all of these factors are discussed, a conclusion will be reached as to the reasons for the working class protest.In his book, "The Two Germanies since 1945", Turner begins to describe the reasons for t
They became in effect an extension of the Communist Party, aiding state objectives of fulfilling the socialist construction. Added to this was the changing role of the trade unions, which lead to disputes between the workers and the party as to what role they should play. In this period the SED began to purge it's party of any disloyal members, and a Stalinist control of the Party was assumed by Ulbricht. But, on the 16th of June, and article in "die Tribune" suggests that these increased quotas will remain. Another long-term problem, which led to the working class revolts of 1953, is the changing roles of the Trade Unions in East Germany. The workers refused to agree to this change in pay, despite increased intimidation. Now they were no longer concerned with just protecting the workers interests. All these problems however became more prevalent on March 9th, 1953 when Stalin died. In order to remedy this, there was a policy of producing goods solely for use for basic industries. Demonstrations begin, and a General Strike beings the day afterwards. Collectivisation always lead to decreased productivity. As well as this economic reform, there was a lot of social reform in a short space of time. In 1950, 51% of the population was brought under socialist control, and in 1951, the first five-year plan was introduced. This attempted change in policy, and arguments over it, ended up with a hindered productivity, which in a system making rash productivity targets was not a good sign. Government officials were putting private farmers under sever pressure in order to force them to form the collective farms.
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