4: Developments in the GDR under Erich Honecker 1971-1989
- Created by: BeccaEK
- Created on: 09-05-15 17:27
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- Developments in the GDR under Erich Honecker 1971-1989
- GDR/FRG relations in 70s + 80s
- Honecker rejected idea of reuniting Germany
- Emphasised 'demarcation'
- Stressed differences between East + West
- Worked to develop national identity for GDR
- 1974 new constitution branded GDR 'Republic of workers and peasants'
- SED promoted itself as natural successor to creators of communism
- GDR portrayed FRG as too Americanised
- Claimed GDR had no responsibility for Nazi war crimes
- East German TV renamed GDR Television
- Ostpolitik increased co-operation between FRG + GDR
- 1972 Basic treaty
- Recognised each other as independent
- 1972 Basic treaty
- East Germans who left before 1972 allowed to visit with no prosecution
- From 1973 Eastern citizens could watch TV from West + listen to radio without fear of arrest
- Access to West's newspapers still strictly controlled
- From 1973 Eastern citizens could watch TV from West + listen to radio without fear of arrest
- 1970s-80s postal + telephone services improved between GDR+FRG
- 1972 SED's official policy on travel between GDR+FRG baed on idea that with time connections would die out
- Travel from GDR to West Berlin tightly restricted still
- If people got travel visas they had to go alone (no family/friends)
- If they didn't go back stasi made their family's lives difficult
- If people got travel visas they had to go alone (no family/friends)
- Travel from GDR to West Berlin tightly restricted still
- Honecker rejected idea of reuniting Germany
- Relations with Western world
- Ostpolitik + 4 power agreement led to increasing recognition of GDR
- 1973 GDR+FRG joined UN
- Established strong reputation in international sport
- 1974 they defeated FRG in only football game played between them
- Athletics were a major success for them
- But now well known East Germans used steroids
- Signing of Helsinki Accords proved they had international recognition as an independent state
- Honecker never invited to visit USA or UK
- Ostpolitik + 4 power agreement led to increasing recognition of GDR
- Relations with USSR + Eastern Bloc
- Many East Germans had negative attitude towards USSR
- Partly due to Nazi anti-communist propaganda + Soviet brutality during occupation
- GDR's government made effort to develop sense of friendship + gratitude towards USSR
- However, most in East saw them as oppressive forces
- Compulsory study of Communist theory in schools
- Made people dislike USSR even more
- Signed GDR-Soviet Friendship treaty in Oct 1975
- Supposed to develop closer links
- Shaky relations with Eastern Bloc countries due to WW2
- Many East Germans had negative attitude towards USSR
- Honecker's domestic policies 1970s
- Negatives
- Standard of living high by Eastern European standards
- Still lagged behind FRG
- Women poorly represented in politics + other positions of power
- Large number of women worked in low skilled jobs
- Great deal of economic inequality
- Prince of goods too high for the average East German
- Lots of flaws in economy
- Became dependent on FRG for loans + trade
- 1980s - debt levels + rising prices + falling incomes = mixture of economic problems
- High levels of debt
- Cuts in public spending
- Standard of living high by Eastern European standards
- Positives
- Economic growth led to labour shortages
- Solved by bringing in workers from other communist states
- Trade increased within COMECON
- 'Economic miracle'
- Achieved with no outside help
- Agriculture became more efficient
- Almost self-sufficient in 1970s
- Living standards rose
- Government kept cost of essentials low
- By mid 1980s nearly 50% households had a car
- Relationship with church improved
- Church helped run hospitals + homes for the elderly
- Benefits of tax free trade with FRG
- Also received large loans from FRG
- Prioritised employment of women
- Generous maternity benefits
- Nursery care + after school activities
- Late 1980s over 90% working age East German women were in paid employment
- Economic growth led to labour shortages
- Negatives
- Foreign relations 1980s
- Cold war intensified 1970s/80s
- Threat of nuclear war very strong
- Gorbachev as leader of USSR (from March 1985) = major impact on GDR
- He realised USSR had to evolve in order to survive
- Persuaded policies of Glasnost (Openness, freedom of speech) + Perestroika (Restructuring of economy + government
- Reached out to the West
- Reduced number of Soviet troops in GDR
- USSR would no longer intervene in internal affairs of GDR
- Signed treaties with NATO
- Pursued better relations with FRG
- Showed SED that USSR wasn't going to favour GDR anymore
- GDR didn't like Gorbachev's policies
- Led those in Eastern Bloc to fight for more freedom
- Cold war intensified 1970s/80s
- GDR/FRG relations in 70s + 80s
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