Germany was divided from 1945 until 1990. This is also be felt 30 years after the peaceful Revolution in Communist East. And it will probably stay that way for a while.
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September 1989 – memories of an emotional train ride
The German democratic Republic, commonly East Germany. So in October 1949, four years after the end of the Second world war – founded the second German state was called. The first, the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG), was already created four months earlier. The division of Germany corresponded to the Power and influence of the victorious powers of 1945. On the one hand, the United States, Britain and France, on the other hand, the Soviet Union. Together, they had defeated the fascist German Reich. But then their ways parted.
The Western allies established in Germany, a parliamentary democracy, while the Soviet dictator Josef Stalin expanded his dominion over almost the whole of Eastern Europe. Defining characteristics: a planned economy, no rule of law, neither the press nor freedom of travel. Under these conditions, existed until the time of 1989/90 States, such as Poland, Hungary or Romania and the GDR, turning. According to their ideological self-understanding, they were people’s democracies, but dictatorships.
Within the so-called Eastern bloc, the GDR was geographically and politically a special case, because to the West of the border of the free part of Europe began. And then also divided the former capital Berlin was still lying in the middle of their territory. She was the Symbol of Nazi Germany, of the four victorious powers of world war II, claimed a piece. Therefore, the West Berlin was an island of freedom in the midst of Communist East Germany.
Mass Exodus to the building of the Berlin wall in 1961
In the divided city, the System of contrasts between capitalism clashed here, and the real existing socialism there is a particularly crass to each other. The metropolis with a combined population of 3.3 million was the Hotspot of the Cold war and up to 1961 the largest loophole for escape willing. It was stuffed with the construction of the Berlin wall. Up to this point, more than a Million people of the GDR had turned their backs, because they could not stand the lack of economic and intellectual climate in an unfree society.
Fatal escape attempt by Peter Fechter was on 17. August 1962 by border guards on the Berlin wall shot
After the wall was built, the people were in a divided Germany is always a stranger. On the diplomatic level, however, there was from the 1970s through the FRG Chancellor Willy Brandt initiated a policy of détente and rapprochement. The social Democrat was awarded the Nobel peace prize. Geopolitically, the existence of two German States in 1973, manifested itself with the inclusion of both countries as full members of the United Nations (UN).
Mikhail Gorbachev accelerated the end of the GDR
The period of relative stability in the GDR lasted only a few years. Economically, the Regime was not able to survive. The economic difficulties have contributed to the Failure of the East German dictatorship, says the Potsdam historian Frank Bösch in an interview with Deutsche Welle. The Director of the Leibniz-centre for historical research (ZZF) refers to the financial integration with Western countries, in which the GDR was highly indebted.
Audio 06 listen:26
70 years of the GDR / Interview with Frank Bösch – MP3-Stereo
It is crucial, however, was the dissatisfaction of the population, “which has been shown in the incredible exit pressure”. After the coming to power of the reformer Mikhail Gorbachev in 1985 in the Soviet Union, many people in the GDR were hoping for a change of course in their own country. But the head of state, Erich Honecker remained stubborn. Their displeasure was expressed by the population in addition to protests on the streets and in Operated by an increasing number of departure applications. Within two years, the number doubled from 53,000 and well-105.000. However, only a fraction was allowed to leave the country.
7. October 1989: The GDR Regime celebrates his last birthday
Honecker and the Ministry for state security (MfS), the so-called Stasi, could not stop the disintegration of the GDR. Also in other Eastern European countries, especially Poland and Hungary, sought-after people. All of this was only possible because the Soviet Union, screw the thumb, the pressure and the military support have broken down, says historian Bösch.
7. Oktober 1989 in Ost-Berlin: a last Republic Celebration with Erich Honecker and Mikhail Gorbachev
On 7. In October 1989, the Communist Regime celebrated for the last Time: 40 years of the German democratic Republic. Only a month later, on 9. In November, the Berlin wall fell. Millions of Germans from the East and the West were in the joy of noise. No one heard the death bells for the DDR ring. That sounded unmistakably, a year later on 3. In October 1990, the two German States were United again.
“East Germans have no taste in other music”
Meanwhile, the small country with 17 million inhabitants, for 29 years a part of the larger Federal Republic, in the currently 83 million people live. Of Germany United Fatherland may, however, be no question. The economy in the West is much stronger, you can earn more money, there are only a few East German leaders. Expert Bösch registered with different settings and memories from the times of the GDR, of which the people were guided: “East Germans have a different media – and taste in music, also travel and decide politically different.”
The GDR cult band: The “Puhdys”, here, in front of the Brandenburg gate in Berlin, gifts of 2016, her farewell concert (archive image)
With fast adjustments of the time not attributed to a historian. It’ll be a long time until the state disappeared GDR, will also be in the minds of the German a closed Chapter. Experienced history encompasses more or less three generations. Many know from personal narratives, the stories of their grandparents.
The DDR will probably be at the earliest 2070 history
“In particular, the wall and the like have become such icons, is that this memory will remain as a living Form of history present.” The completed story will be the GDR only after 70 to 80 years, predicts Bösch, with reference to the experience of the period of national socialism. The was completed only now slowly – in the Moment, “where the last witness lives”. May be with a view to the GDR at the earliest 2070 the speech.