We explain what the 1953 uprising was in the German Democratic Republic and what its causes were. In addition, the historical context and its repression.
What was Berlin's insurrection?
The 1953 uprising in the German Democratic Republic (RDA), also known as “Berlin insurrection” was a popular uprising that occurred in this city against the communist political regime.
It began as a labor uprising in Berlin of the East on June 16 in claim of salary improvements and became a generalized popular demonstration against the policies of the Government of the German Democratic Republic.
The uprising was violently repressed by German police forces and the support of Soviet troops. Although for the next day the biggest insurrection had been controlled, during the following weeks the riots continued throughout the country. It is estimated that in total more than one million people participated in the demonstrations.
See also: consequences of World War II
Background of the uprising
At the end of World War II, Germany was occupied by the victorious allied powers of the war. Within the framework of the beginning of the Cold War, the disputes for control and political influence between the United States and the Soviet Union led to the final division of Germany in two separate countries.
In 1949 the Federal Republic of Germany (RFA) was created, also known as “West Germany”, with the unification of the areas controlled by France, the United Kingdom and the United States. Then, the German Democratic Republic (RDA) was officially founded, also called “Eastern Germany”, in the area controlled by the Soviet Union.
In the RDA a communist government was established with central planning of the economy, equal social structure and a unique party dictatorship in the hands of the Unified Socialist Party of Germany (SED). A process of Sovietization of politics and economy began (as in the “popular democracies” of Eastern Europe that were within the communist bloc) known as “forced construction of socialism.”
Radical reforms destroyed the previous industrial and agricultural structure of previous production and They generated a very negative impact on the socio -economic conditions of the population. In turn, the regime intensified the political persecution of the opposition. Consequently, in the first months of 1953, more than 120,000 Germans were exiled in West Germany.
On the other hand, the Soviet Union began to make changes in its policies on the communist countries of Eastern Europe. With Stalin's death in March 1953, The new leadership chose to soften and make the imposition of the Soviet model more flexible.
In that context, the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (PCUS) told Walter Ulbricht (the thirst leader who ruled the GDR) to leave the process of forced construction of communism and seek a new path to socialism. He was urged to review the economic plan, soften political controls and stop the coercive measures against the population.
The insurrection of East Berlin and the expansion of the uprising
By 1953, the RDA economy was in crisis and the central committee of the SED established a series of measures to alleviate the situation. A general price and tax increase was imposed and the increase in production quotas in companies. In turn, it was declared that companies that did not reach the new work standards, workers' wages would be reduced.
In this context, on June 16, 1953, extensive workers' protests began in East Berlin. Soon the agitation spread to the rest of the GDR and the protest was generalized among the population. The demonstrations against the measures became complaints of opposition to the government and were claimed for free elections.
Repression and end of the uprising
With the expansion of the demonstrations, the high positions of the thirst and their leader Walter Ulbrich lost control of the situation. The Soviet reaction was immediate: the government intervened and used the military troops settled in the GDR to suppress the demonstrations. On the outskirts of this, the tanks shot directly against the population. Then, executions and mass arrests were carried out.
It is estimated that as a consequence of the uprising and repression there were about one hundred dead and between eight thousand and ten thousand arrests. In addition, about fifteen thousand civilians were prosecuted and had to comply with sentences.
The support of the USSR and its control of the situation consolidated the power of thirst in the GDR. Once the uprising was repressed, Ulbricht was established again in power and ruled the GDR until 1971.
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References
- Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia (2023). “East Germany.” Britannica Encyclopedia. https://www.britannica.com/
- Ostermann, CF, & Byrne, M. (eds.). (2001). UPRISING IN EAST GERMANY 1953: The Cold War, The German Question, and The First Major Upheaval Behind the Iron Curtain (Vol. 3). Central European University Press.
- Van Dijk, R., Gray, WG, Savranskaya, S., Suri, J., & Zhai, Q. (eds.). (2013). “East German Uprising.” Encyclopedia of the Cold War. Routledge.
