Repression and Control (1)
- Created by: Bigboi_Butterz
- Created on: 07-05-18 19:12
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- Repression and Control
- Prisons and interrogation
- People were treated brutally in prison and labour camps.
- People were subject to interrogation techniques of sleep deprivation and psychological pressure such as threats to have members of the family arrested.
- Soviet Forces
- The USSR maintained its highest number of troops outside its own borders in the GDR. By the 1980’s there were 400,000 troops stationed there.
- Until the end of the Brezhnev Doctrine in 1980 it was assumed these troops would defend the regime as they had done with the rebellion of 1953.
- If the SED called a state of emergency the USSR troops could intervene.
- Propaganda and censorship
- It was used to create support for the regime through parades, media, promotion of national pride through sporting success etc.
- Posters and banners showing GDR success were everywhere. There were celebrations of Labour Day and the FDJ took part in festivals and torch lit parades.
- Possibly due to the Nazi past the SED reported that parades were met unenthusiastic ally and with sparse crowds.
- The GDR had 38 newspapers read by 8.3 million citizens; 66% of them were controlled by the SED the rest had their content strictly monitored.
- Censorship
- Telephones calls from the FRG were tapped. Learning Russian was encouraged and French and English was far less widespread. Foreign newspapers and magazines were often available to buy as it was assumed few could read them.
- In 1958 Grotewohl stated that art and culture should be used to encourage the understanding of politics. Art for example was supposed to show peasants and workers bringing in the harvest and breaking the industrial records set.
- Extent of popular support
- Many people outwardly supported the regime while putting more emphasis on family life. Hobbies were important in the GDR such as football,aerobics painted and had allotments.
- The SED carried out many surveys on citizen’s happiness however the questions were loaded and complicated to answer.
- The questions were vague and didn’t ask people on specific problems with the regime. Nevertheless there is widespread evidence that people did appreciate the social welfare programmes.
- Many people were critical especially of the Stasi. Many also believed that the GDR was to close to the USSR and the USSR was benefiting from the GDR.
- Tolerance of the regime was shallow (even though they did think that the GDR had better social welfare than the FRG); people were leading their busy lives and they just had to adapt to the regime.
- The role of mass organisations
- FDGB – The Free German Union Federation
- All 16 trade unions were affiliated to the FDGB, which represented 97% of the labour force. Only farmers, self-employed and the military personnel were excluded.
- Its main role was to implement the aims of the SED. It was committed to the fulfilment of the five-year plans and even though they couldn’t strike the FDGB did conduct opinion polls to report back on worker happiness.
- In the 1970s the FDGB became more involved in social welfare. It organised package holidays and even though they were to the communist countries they still were only paying less than 30% of the cost.
- However, there were complaints that SED went to the front ofthe queue.
- Free German Youth – FDJ
- Founded in March 1946 by Honecker it was the only officially approved youth organisation.
- Its role was the political indoctrination of the young through lessons and activities such as camping and festivals.
- In 1983 over 1 million members attended holiday camps while others did useful community work.
- Promising athletes and future leaders were often identified through the FDJ.
- Enthusiasm waned as teenagers grew older and it was found that 66% of 18-25 year olds left the organisation.
- FDGB – The Free German Union Federation
- FDGB – The Free German Union Federation
- All 16 trade unions were affiliated to the FDGB, which represented 97% of the labour force. Only farmers, self-employed and the military personnel were excluded.
- Its main role was to implement the aims of the SED. It was committed to the fulfilment of the five-year plans and even though they couldn’t strike the FDGB did conduct opinion polls to report back on worker happiness.
- In the 1970s the FDGB became more involved in social welfare. It organised package holidays and even though they were to the communist countries they still were only paying less than 30% of the cost.
- However, there were complaints that SED went to the front ofthe queue.
- Free German Youth – FDJ
- Founded in March 1946 by Honecker it was the only officially approved youth organisation.
- Its role was the political indoctrination of the young through lessons and activities such as camping and festivals.
- In 1983 over 1 million members attended holiday camps while others did useful community work.
- Promising athletes and future leaders were often identified through the FDJ.
- Enthusiasm waned as teenagers grew older and it was found that 66% of 18-25 year olds left the organisation.
- Prisons and interrogation
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