​This month (October)  we studied how the Government of the German Democratic Republic was structured. We examined its Constitution in detail. We noted how it worked in practice.'

The GRD had 21 Million People when it was set up in 1949. By 1961 it had 17 Million people.There was always a constant strain on their capacity to cope with their need for labour as people moved West.  

The GDR had no natural resources.  It had a constant problem with lack of hard currency. They had no assets to offer to the west in exchange for hard currency.  Until the riots of 1952 it had to pay reparations to the Soviet Union.

Nevertheless they persisted. Slowly their standard of living rose. Their idea was to set up a Utopian Society based on justice and equality for all. This manifested itself in manufacturing the same car for everyone and providing everyone with an identical apartment.  But they were always next to West Germany and West Berlin was a gaping hole in the middle of the country. There was nowhere in the GDR where they could not get West German Television. This was monumental distraction.

We looked at some slides taken in 1960 East Berlin and some slides of East Berlin taken 2 years ago.

Please note that a meeting will not be held in November as the date falls on the day of the Christmas Lunch at Chrismont Winery.  If an alternative time can be found in early December, I will contact class members to let them know.  If we meet, we will examine in detail life inside the GDR.
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Neville Gibb

​At our September meeting we started by looking at how much smaller Germany is compared to its size before the First World War. Germany is approximately half the size it was in 1913. Germany had large amounts of land removed - some said stolen - by the Treaty of Versailles - and even larger areas of land were removed after World War 2.

So far Germany hasn't complained. They have decided to get on with their lives and try and make up for the misdeeds of the Nazi period.

The Nazi period was dominated by its focus on Anti Semitism.  In every year between 1933 to 1945 there were increasingly onerous laws passed aimed at removing Jewish people from German life. One seemingly insane law passed in 1938 made every male add the name Israel to their names and every female add the name Sarah to their names. As if this wasn't enough as the letter J was already stamped on every Passport and Identification Paper.

The Nazi period is still hard to fathom or explain.

Germany however appears to be coming to terms with its past and has erected several structures which make an attempt to accept that great injustices were perpetrated by the German People. Since reunification Germany has been able to take into consideration all its history and is making an effort to at least reconcile with the past.

At our next meeting we will finally get around to studying the German Democratic Republic
The GDR was a Utopian concept. It had high ideals and is well worth studying.

The Wall has now been down for longer than it was up. Berlin is a wonderful vibrant city that is well worth visiting. Most residents under 30 do not know if they now live in either West or East Berlin.

Neville Gibb