Crisis Phase (October 7, 1949-October 3, 1990): The German Democratic Republic (GDR) was established on October 7, 1949. Wilhelm Pieck was elected president by the People’s Chamber (Volkskammer) on October 11, 1949, and Otto Grotewohl was appointed as prime minister on October 12, 1949. The government of West Germany imposed diplomatic sanctions (diplomatic non-recognition) against the East German government on October 22, 1949. Legislative elections were held on October 15, 1950, and the communist-dominated National Front of the German Democratic Republic (Nationale Front der Deutschen Demokratischen Republik – NFDDR) won 99 percent of the vote. Otto Grotewohl of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany (Sozialistische Einheitspartei Deutschlands – SED) was re-appointed as prime minister by the People’s Chamber (Volkskammer) on November 9, 1950. Government police and demonstrators clashed in Leipzig on September 14, 1951. Some 30,000 East German workers demonstrated against the government of President Pieck in East Berlin on June 16, 1953.
President Pieck declared martial law in East Berlin, and some 20,000 Soviet troops intervened in support of the government beginning on June 17, 1953. At least 55 individuals were killed during the demonstrations, and more than 100 individuals were executed for their involvement in the demonstrations. The government lifted martial law in East Berlin on July 12, 1953. President Pieck was re-elected on October 8, 1953. The government of the Soviet Union announced the end of its military occupation of East Germany on March 25, 1954. The U.S. government imposed diplomatic sanctions (diplomatic non-recognition) against the government on March 26, 1954. Legislative elections were held on October 17, 1954, and the NFDDR won 99 percent of the vote. Legislative elections were held on November 16, 1958, and the NFDDR won 99 percent of the vote. President Pieck died on September 7, 1960, and Johannes Diechmann was appointed as acting president. Walter Ulbricht was named chairman of the State Council by the People’s Chamber (Volkskammer) on September 12, 1960. Some 155,000 East Germans fled to West Germany between January 1 and August 12, 1961. The East German government began construction of a wall between East Berlin and West Berlin on August 13, 1961. Some 10,000 individuals were killed in political violence, and some 2.6 million individuals fled as refugees between October 1949 and December 1961. An East German woman died attempting to escape from East Berlin to West Berlin on August 22, 1961. The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) condemned the government on March 7, 1962. Legislative elections were held on October 20, 1963, and the NFDDR won 99 percent of the vote. Prime Minister Grotewohl died on September 22, 1964, and Willi Stoph was elected prime minister by the People’s Chamber (Volkskammer) on September 25, 1964. Legislative elections were held on July 2, 1967, and the NFDDR won 99 percent of the vote. A new constitution was adopted by the People’s Chamber (Volkskammer) on March 27, 1968, and the constitution was approved in a referendum on April 7, 1968. Legislative elections were held on November 14, 1971, and the NFDDR won 99 percent of the vote. Walter Ulbricht was re-elected chairman of the State Council by the People’s Chamber (Volkskammer) on November 16, 1971. Walter Ulbricht died on July 31, 1973, and Prime Minister Stoph was named chairman of the State Council on October 2, 1973. The government of West Germany lifted diplomatic sanctions against the government on May 10, 1973. The U.S. government lifted diplomatic sanctions against the government on September 3, 1974. Legislative elections were held on October 17, 1976, and the NFDDR won 99 percent of the vote. Legislative elections were held on June 14, 1981, and the NFDDR won 99 percent of the vote. Legislative elections were held on June 8, 1986, and the NFDDR won 99 percent of the vote. East Germans demonstrated against the communist government in Leipzig, Dresden, East Berlin, and other cities beginning on September 26, 1989. Erich Honecker was ousted as leader of the communist party, and Egon Krenz was named leader of the communist party on October 18, 1989. Egon Krenz was elected president by the People’s Chamber (Volkskammer) on October 24, 1989. Hans Modrow was elected prime minister by the People’s Chamber (Volkskammer) on November 13, 1989. The People’s Chamber (Volkskammer) amended the constitution on December 1, 1989, which provided for the elimination of the communist party’s leading role in the country. Egon Krenz resigned, and Manfred Gerlach of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) was elected as president on December 6, 1989. The Alliance for Germany (Allianz für Deutschland – AFD) was established in Berlin on February 5, 1990. Legislative elections were held on March 17, 1990, and the AFD won 192 out of 400 seats in the People’s Chamber (Volkskammer). The Social Democratic Party of East Germany won 88 seats in the People’s Chamber (Volkskammer). Lothar DeMaiziere of the AFD was elected prime minister by the People’s Chamber (Volkskammer) on April 12, 1990. The People’s Chamber (Volkskammer) approved a re-unification treaty with West Germany on September 20, 1990. East Germany was re-unified with West Germany on October 3, 1990. Some 1,000 individuals were killed in political violence between January 1962 and October 1990.
[Sources: Clodfelter, 1992, 978; Ference, 1994, 165-211; Keesing’s Record of World Events, October 15-22, 1949, November 18-25, 1950; Langer, 1972, 1199-1201; Reuters, August 12, 2002; Schmid, 1985, 23-25; Tillema, 1991, 47.]