A comprehensive list of helpful and organised notes surrounding the collapse of the GDR - perfect for your Pearson Edexcel A-Level History exams!
Covers: internal and external issues affecting the GDR, including economic issues, consumer goods, relations with the FRG, Perestroika and Glasnost, pre...
Fall of the GDR Boxes (things that are not covered in HB2)
Economic situation in the 1980s: the growing national debt; high spending on health and
welfare; the poor quality of consumer and other goods; economic relations with West Germany.
Gorbachev’s influence: the impact of perestroika and glasnost on the GDR’s government and
people. The pressure for reform; the role of Protestant opposition groups; the declining
authority of the SED government.
The events of 1989, including the opening of Hungary’s border with Austria, emigration from the
GDR
Issue – Details Impact upon GDR
internal/externa
l
General issues Full employment caused overstaffing in some Low satisfaction in living
industries/services conditions
Politically unreliable citizens may not have had the Poor productivity of workers
employment opportunities of their choice Little incentive for workers to
Many lived in overcrowded accommodation achieve promotions/little use for
Long queues for food, and luxuries were increased wages as there was
increasingly rare nothing to spend them on
Economic issues By mid-80s, slower industrial growth = falling Short-term measures only
income for government – economic growth slowed exacerbated the situation in long-
to 1.5% between 1982 and 85 term
Honecker implemented short-term measures = Many in GDR amassed
reductions in public spending, selling political considerable savings due to there
prisoners to FRG and loans from FRG being few goods on which they
Goods were taken out of the domestic market to could spend their money =
boost exports disheartening
5YP ‘86-90 targeted housing, and new technologies 5YP did little to improve quality of
to compete with the Western world items in relation to their quantity
High levels of expenditure on defence – nearly 8% and failed to catch up with FRG
of government’s spending Stasi employees cost estimated
Costs of Berlin wall could’ve paid for a 35-hour DM4bn annually
working week and all of GDR’s gas and electricity
bills
Stasi employed 91,000 full-time
Growing In ‘80s, debts to Western institutions = over Fuel inefficiency caused massive
national debt DM40bn (16% GDP) internal investment, far
Few exports to generate funds to repay debts outweighing any short-term
(would need to increase by 500% from 1990-95 in benefits
order to generate enough, completely unrealistic Domestic instability caused by
without complete restructure) crisis management and growing
Had had to use cheaper/more inefficient fuel for debts
selves in order to sell Soviet oil to West Contributed significantly to
Heavy industry exports fell by 30% between 1986- Gorbachev’s decision not to
88 increase financial support from
Honecker kept economic situation secret from the USSR
public and most of SED leadership, including
economics minister
High spending Expenditure on housing, education, health and Gave population a greater sense
on health and welfare rose from DM72.9bn in 1980 to of security than FRG
welfare DM112.3bn in 1985 Encouraged workplace
, Air pollution (from heavy industry) was worst in productivity and gave GDR
Europe, causing respiratory problems in population international prestige
– some areas unfit for human habitation Helped maintain public
Unsafe machinery and practices caused accidents satisfaction and prevent major
that put strain on the health system protest
System compared favourably to West in 70s but fell Ill health of people reflected
behind in 80s failing economy which led to lack
of investment in health and safety
Poor quality of Poor quality goods couldn’t compete with superior Informal exchanges between
consumer and quality of Western products people became common as many
other goods Honecker’s 1970s policy that 5% of industrial purchased things they didn’t need
factories’ products should be consumer goods had and sought out the things they
led to poor-quality goods. really did.
Private sector made up for the shortfall in some The ‘second economy’ grew, with
areas, such as the manufacture of spare parts. an increase in tips and bribes to
People had to hunt for items, queue for long get a desired item/service,
periods and buy things they didn’t need because ‘Bückware’ goods below the
they didn’t know when that product would be counter. Highlights deficiencies in
available again/rather than leave with nothing. East German service sector.
Many items made in the GDR difficult to obtain, as Many had large savings due to
they were made for export (e.g. cameras) scarcity of goods to spend it on.
Glimpses into Western life
through TV caused dissatisfaction
Economic Non-socialist countries made up a majority of both Prolonged existence of FRG by
relations with the GDR’s exports and imports. managing levels of debt but raised
West Germany The GDR borrowed heavily to finance increasing idea that FRG wasn’t as dangerous
imports of consumer goods, as well as welfare as propaganda suggested.
costs. Better conditions than other
By 1989, 20% of all GDR trade was with FRG, as Eastern bloc countries, enabling
they had special trade relationships that avoided the regime to maintain its
tariffs and quotas, whilst providing interest-free legitimacy.
credit.
Huge charges for transit across GDR territory to
West Berlin.
FRG had bought back 34k dissidents, amounting to
around DM3bn.
Requested 1bn loan in late 1989.
Other Many communist states experienced reform Caused USSR to end the Brezhnev
communist movements, such as the Solidarity movement in doctrine
states Poland, involving demands for radical change.
Perestroika and Gorbachev announced the abandoning of the The SED could no longer count on
Glasnost Brezhnev Doctrine as its costs were outweighing its the USSR’s support to intervene if
advantages there was any unrest.
During the late 80s, there were a series of formal The SED struggled with the idea of
state visits between the FRG and USSR, concerning a political restructure as this
the SED. would make it similar to the FRG
GDR began to develop propaganda about its and therefore separation would
superiority, which led to anti-Soviet propaganda. have no justification. But failure to
GDR had to censor its people from accessing Soviet reform risked the rise of
propaganda – e.g. Sputnik magazine. significant opposition to SED.
A teacher was arrested for using
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