1.3

Formation of the GDR

GDR was known as Stalin's unwanted child

stalin insisted on a gradual road to communism

was not recognised by many countries except the USSR

System of Government

supreme authority lied within the politburo of the SED

In March 1950, The Ministry of State Security was formed and called the Stasi

Volkskammer

members elected by a direct secret ballot

Landerkammer

legislative body which represented the 5 states of the GDR

implement policy at land level

Really, these two groups just approved decisions made by the politburo

Political Control

there was an illusion of democracy

article 6-8 meant that people could be punished for any 'felonious crimes' which could mean anything

GDR ran as a dictatorship

People’s police (KVP) stood at 50,000 strong in 1950

Elections in GDR

In October 1950, the first election was held to establish a permanent Volkskammer /Landerkammer

Voters had to reject or accept all the names on the list

Elections were held in climates of mass fear, such as the purges and bribery

Purges

Stasi grew from 1100 to 8800 from 1950-1952

Anyone who had spent time in the West could be contaminated by capitalist attitudes

Communists associated Jews with capitalists

Paul Merker, a Politburo member was accused of supporting Zionism and he was sent to prison for 8 years

Ulbricht as Secretary-General was the most influential member and all the others were aware from the recent purges what could happen to them if he saw them as rivals