The Consolidation of the SED and Developments in the Soviet Union - Germany

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  • Created by: RConwa_y
  • Created on: 19-05-18 17:46
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  • The Consolidation of the SED and Developments in the Soviet Union
    • How did the communists dominate the Eastern zone?
      • Initially the communists didn't have complete control. in some East-German cities, non-communists were appointed as mayors. The communists did control education and the appointment of personnel though
      • The communist SED gradually eliminated political opponents
      • The soviet military command suppressed political party activity in Berlin. CDU and LDPD activities were ended
      • Free expression was limited and political dissent was restrained
      • The military government determined appointments and dismissals
      • Democracy was abandoned in 1949-49 - the SED announced a Marxist-Leninist "Party of a new type" based on democratic centralism. It established mass organisations under communist control of groups of people
    • The SED was the leading communist party in the East - led by Walter Ulbricht. It claimed to be a liberator from fascism and that workers and peasants were innocent of Nazism
    • The SED called for the "establishment of an anti-fascist, democratic regime, a parliamentary-democratic republic"
    • The SED won popular support by confiscating property belonging to Nazis, war criminals and Junkers
    • Initially the communists encourged the establishment of parties within the Soviet Zone whom they could cooperate with
    • The SED increasingly gained control by setting up two new parties - the National Democratic Party (aimed at former Nazis) and the Democratic Peasants Party of Germany
    • All parties agreed that state control and economic intervention were needed. This gave communism further support

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