The document summarizes the June 17, 1953 uprising in East Germany. It provides background information on the causes of the uprising, including increased work norms without pay raises, food shortages, and collectivization of agriculture. It then describes the events of the uprising, including strikes beginning in Berlin and throughout East Germany. The Soviet Union intervened by sending 600 tanks and 20,000 soldiers to quell the uprising, alongside 15,000 East German police officers. An estimated 50-125 people were killed and 400,000 to 1.5 million participated in the uprising before it was suppressed.

1. 17 June 1953
A W
orkers ’
Upri s i ng
th
R c hard M M K
i
c enzi e M – R
A
eadi ng Uni vers i t y
© Uni ver si t y of Readi ng 2006
w w readi ng. ac .
w.
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2. 17 t h June Upr i si ng
• Onl y m
ass ci vi l
di sobedi ence i n
GDR bef or e 1989
• Began over t he
const r uct i on of
“ pal aces f or
wor ker s” i n
St al i nal l ee
1952
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3. W
hat happened?
• 1952 Bui l di ng of
soci al i sm i ncr eases
nor m no pay r i ses
s
• 16 t h June bui l der s of
St al i nal l ee down
t ool s
• M ch t o House of
ar
M ni st r i es dem
i
andi ng
t o speak t o Ul br i cht
of Gr ot ewohl
• St r i kes escal at e and
SED l oses cont r ol
aski ng Sovi et s t o
i nt er vene
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4. Cl i ps
• Upr i si ng f r om W
est Ger m
an poi nt of vi ew
ht t p: / / www. yout ube. com wat ch?v=I M
/
LXKI h7XqA
• Upr i si ng f r om East Ger m
an poi nt of vi ew
ht t p: / / www. yout ube. com wat ch?v=AJy45Dgq7pc
/
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5. Causes
• Deepeni ng of col d war di vi s i on
• I nt r oduct i on of st r i c t bor der cont r ol s
• Gr owt h of r ef ugees :
– June 1952: 16, 883
– Sept 1952: 23, 331
– M ch 1953: 58, 605
ar
• Col l ec t i v i sat i on
• Food s hor t ages
– 176, 000 Tonne M
eat
– 200, 000 Tonne Veg
– 14, 000 Tonne But t er
• I nc r ease of wor k nor m
s
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6. Labour Rel at i ons
• Uni ons AGREED 10% i ncr ease i n wor k nor m
• No space f or di sagr eem
ent
–
–
–
–
Enem es
i
Spi es
Sabot eur s
Agent Pr ovocat eur s
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7. Deat h of St al i n
• Di ed 5 t h M ch
ar
1953
• Cr eat es power
vacuum i n
Sovi et Bl oc
• Al l ows DDR t o
est abl i sh new
cour se 11 t h June
1953
– Takes back pr i ce
i ncr ease
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8. St r i ke
• Ber l i n and
t hr oughout DDR
• No l eader shi p
• St at e of em gency
er
• Sovi et s com i t
m
– 600 t anks
– 20, 000 sol di er s
• DDR com i t
m
– 15, 000 pol i cem
en
• 50- 125 peopl e ki l l ed
• 400, 000 – 1. 5m l l i on
i
t ake par t
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9. Resul t s
D e Lös ung
i
The Sol ut i on
Nach dem Auf st and des 17. Juni
Li eß der Sekr et är des
Schr i f t st el l er ver bands
I n der St al i nal l ee Fl ugbl ät t er
ver t ei l en
Auf denen zu l esen war , daß das
Vol k
Das Ver t r auen der Regi er ung
ver scher zt habe
Und es nur dur ch ver doppel t e
Ar bei t
zur ücker ober n könne. W e es da
är
Ni cht doch ei nf acher , di e
Regi er ung
Löst e das Vol k auf und
W t e ei n ander es?
ähl
Af t er t he upr i si ng of t he 17t h
of June
The Secr et ar y of t he W i t er s’
r
Uni on
Had l eaf l et s di st r i but ed i n t he
St al i nal l ee
St at i ng t hat t he peopl e
Had f or f ei t ed t he conf i dence of
t he gover nm
ent
And coul d wi n i t back onl y
By r edoubl ed ef f or t s. W d i t
oul
not be easi er
I n t hat case f or t he gover nm
ent
To di ssol ve t he peopl e
And el ect anot her ?
Ber t ol d Br echt
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10. www. ger m
anwar f i l m co.
.
uk
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