East Germany facts for kids

Quick facts for kids German Democratic Republic Deutsche Demokratische Republikcode: deu promoted to code: de
1949–1990
Flag (1959–1990) Emblem
Motto: Proletarier aller Länder, vereinigt Euch! English: Workers of the world, unite!
Anthem: Auferstanden aus Ruinen "Risen from Ruins"
The German Democratic Republic in 1990.
Status	Satellite State of the Soviet Union
Capital	East Berlin
Common languages	German Sorbian (only in parts of Dresden and Cottbus districts)
Government	Marxist–Leninist one-party state (until Nov. 1989) Parliamentary republic (after Nov. 1989)
General Secretary
• 1949–1950	Wilhelm Pieck
• 1949–1950	Otto Grotewohl
• 1950–1971	Walter Ulbricht
Head of State
• 1949–1960	Wilhelm Pieck (first)
• 1990	Sabine Berg.-Pohl (last)
Head of Government
• 1949–1964	Otto Grotewohl (first)
• 1990	Lothar de Maizière (last)
Legislature	Volkskammer
• State Chamber	Länderkammer
Historical era	Cold War
• Constitution adopted	7 October 1949
• Uprising of 1953	16 June 1953
• Berlin Crisis	4 June 1961
• Peaceful Revolution	13 October 1989
• Final Settlement	12 September 1990
• Reunification	3 October 1990
Area
1990	108,333 km2 (41,828 sq mi)
Population
• 1950	18388000
• 1970	17068000
• 1990	16111000
Currency	1949–1964: Deutsche Mark 1964–1967: Mark der Deutschen Notenbank, (1967–1990) Mark der DDR (Three different names for the same currency) Deutsche Mark (from 1 July 1990)
Calling code	37
Internet TLD	.de
Preceded by Succeeded by Allied-occupied Germany Soviet occupation zone Germany
Today part of	Germany
The initial flag of East Germany adopted in 1948 was identical to that of West Germany. In 1959, the East German government issued a new version of the flag bearing the national emblem, serving to distinguish East from West. Dissolved by the Volkskammer on 8 December 1958. Population statistics according to Statistisches Bundesamt. Although .de was reserved as corresponding ISO code for East Germany, it was not entered to the root before the country was reunited with the west.

The German Democratic Republic (GDR), often called East Germany, was a country that existed from 1949 to 1990. It was formed on October 7, 1949, after World War II. East Germany was created from the part of Germany that the Soviet Union controlled, including a section of Berlin.

East Germany was a separate country until 1990. In that year, it joined with West Germany to become one united country again. The country was mainly ruled by the Socialist Unity Party of Germany (SED).

A Look Back: East Germany's Story

After World War II, Germany was split into four areas. Each area was looked after by a different country. These countries were France, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the Soviet Union. Later, the French, American, and British parts joined to form West Germany. The Soviet part became East Germany.

Leaders and the Berlin Wall

Walter Ulbricht, who led the SED party, held a lot of power. When President Wilhelm Pieck died in 1960, Ulbricht became the "Chairman of the State Council." This made him the country's main leader.

On August 13, 1961, the famous Berlin Wall was built. The East German government said the wall was to keep "Western Capitalists" out. But its real purpose was to stop East Germans from leaving their country. Many people tried to escape, and some were stopped.

Changes and the Fall of the Wall

In the late 1980s, the Soviet Union's leader, Mikhail Gorbachev, started new policies called glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring). This inspired many people in East Germany to want changes too. In 1989, large demonstrations for democracy and human rights took place. In Leipzig, people gathered every Monday to protest. These were known as "Monday Demonstrations."

The East German leader, Erich Honecker, hoped the Soviet army would stop these protests. But the Soviet Union had its own problems and decided not to control Eastern Europe anymore. Honecker was forced to step down on October 18, 1989.

Egon Krenz took over as leader. He tried to show he wanted change, but people didn't trust him. On November 9, 1989, the government announced that East Germans could travel to West Berlin. A spokesman mistakenly said the new rule would start right away. People rushed to the Berlin Wall checkpoints. The guards, without clear orders, eventually opened the gates. Thousands of East Germans poured into West Berlin. The fall of the Berlin Wall was a huge moment.

On December 1, 1989, the government removed the law that gave the SED party the right to rule. This officially ended communist rule in East Germany.

Reunification of Germany

On March 18, 1990, East Germany held its first free election. A group of parties called the "Alliance for Germany," which wanted to unite East and West Germany, won. This period of change is known in Germany as the Wende.

In 1990, East Germany officially joined West Germany. This process is called the German reunification. East Germany's regions were reorganized into new states, like Berlin, Brandenburg, and Saxony. After this, East Germany no longer existed as a separate country.

Even today, people from former West Germany sometimes call people from former East Germany "Ossi." This word comes from "Osten," which means "East" in German. It's not always used in a friendly way.

How East Germany Was Run

The leading role of the SED party was written into East Germany's constitution. There were other political parties, but they were called Blockparteien ("block parties"). Their main job was to follow what the SED said. Some of these parties included:

• CDU (Christlich-Demokratische Union Deutschlands; "Christian Democratic Union of Germany") – This party later joined with the West German CDU.
• LDPD (Liberal-Demokratische Partei Deutschlands; "Liberal Democratic Party of Germany") – This party later joined with the West German FDP.
• NDPD (National-Demokratische Partei Deutschlands; "National Democratic Party of Germany") – This party also joined with the FDP.
• DBD (Demokratische Bauernpartei Deutschland; "Democratic Farmer's Party of Germany") – This party joined with the CDU before reunification.

The Stasi: State Security

The Ministry for State Security (in German: Ministerium für Staatssicherheit), often called the "MfS" or "Stasi," was East Germany's security service. Its job was to find people who were against the state or the SED party. The Stasi had many informants who reported on anyone who said or did something against the government. There was a large Stasi prison in the town of Bautzen.

East Germany's Place in the World

East Germany was a member of the Warsaw Pact, a military alliance of communist countries. It was closely linked to the Soviet Union. However, in the late 1980s, Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev started reforms that allowed East Germany more freedom. This was part of what was called the "Sinatra Doctrine."

Economy and Daily Life

East Germany had a planned economy. This meant the government controlled most of the country's businesses and factories. They were officially called Volkseigentum, or "people's property." Only a few small businesses and shops were privately owned.

A well-known car from East Germany was the "Trabant" or Trabi. It was a small, low-powered car that many families owned.

The Trabant car was a common sight in East Germany.

Sports in East Germany

Until 1964, East and West Germany competed together in the Olympic Games as one team. From 1968 onwards, they had their own separate teams.

East German athletes were very successful, especially in sports like athletics, cycling, boxing, and winter sports. Some famous East German sports stars include Täve Schur (cycling), Waldemar Cierpinski (athletics), Heike Drechsler (athletics), Olaf Ludwig (cycling), Katarina Witt (ice skating), and Jens Weißflog (ski jumping).

A famous cycling race was the Peace Race (in German: Friedensfahrt).

The East Germany national football team was not as successful. They only played in one FIFA World Cup, which was the 1974 FIFA World Cup held in West Germany. On June 22, 1974, East Germany played against West Germany. Jürgen Sparwasser scored a goal, and East Germany won 1-0.

Famous Athletes from East Germany

• Uwe Ampler, racing bicyclist
• Karin Büttner-Janz, gymnast
• Ernst Degner, racing motorcyclist
• Thomas Doll, footballer
• Heike Drechsler, athlete
• Mikhail Grabovski, hockey player
• Marita Koch, athlete
• Olaf Ludwig, racing bicyclist
• Uwe Raab, racing bicyclist
• Jürgen Sparwasser, footballer
• Jens Weissflog, skier
• Katarina Witt, ice skater

Holidays in East Germany

See also

In Spanish: República Democrática Alemana para niños

• Sigmund Jähn

Images for kids

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  This map shows how Germany was divided after World War II. Light grey areas were taken by Poland and the Soviet Union. Dark grey shows West Germany, and red shows East Germany.

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  West Germany (blue) was formed from the Western Allies' zones. East Germany (red) was the Soviet zone and surrounded West Berlin (yellow).

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  Early leaders of East Germany: President Wilhelm Pieck and Prime Minister Otto Grotewohl in 1949.

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  Walter Ulbricht, who led the SED party from 1950 to 1971.

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  Erich Honecker was the head of state for East Germany from 1971 to 1989.

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  Leaders signing the Helsinki Accords. From left: West German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt, East German Chairman Erich Honecker, U.S. President Gerald Ford, and Austrian Chancellor Bruno Kreisky.

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  A monument to Karl Marx in Chemnitz, a city in East Germany that was renamed Karl-Marx-Stadt for many years.

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  A large demonstration on Alexanderplatz in East Berlin on November 4, 1989, showing people's desire for change.

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  A family in East Germany in 1984. The government encouraged educated women to have children.

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  The Uni-Riese (University Giant) building in Leipzig in 1982. It was part of the University of Leipzig.

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  East German soldiers from the National People's Army during a changing-of-the-guard ceremony in East Berlin.

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  Angola's leader José Eduardo dos Santos visiting East Berlin.

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  A meeting in 1980 between church representatives and Erich Honecker.

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  A Catholic meeting in Dresden in 1987, with religious leaders including Pope Benedict XVI (then Joseph Ratzinger).

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  The Oktoberklub performing in 1967.

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  Pop singer Frank Schöbel signing autographs in 1980.

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  Playwright Bertolt Brecht (1898–1956), a famous writer.

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  The Volksbühne theater in Berlin.

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  Karin Janz, a famous East German gymnast.

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  Gerhard Behrendt with a character from Sandmännchen, a popular children's stop-animation TV series.