East Germany

:For the historical eastern German provinces, see Historical Eastern Germany

Politics

Main article: Politics of East Germany

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The equivalent of the Communist Party in East Germany was the Sozialistische Einheitspartei Deutschlands (Socialist Unity Party of Germany, SED), which along with other parties, was part of the National Front of Democratic Germany. It was created in 1946 through the merger of the Communist Party of Germany (KPD) and the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) in the Soviet controlled zone. Following reunification, the SED was renamed the Party of Democratic Socialism (PDS).

Related Topics:
Socialist Unity Party of Germany - Communist Party of Germany - Social Democratic Party of Germany - Party of Democratic Socialism

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The other political parties, the party of Eugene Aufderhaar and the red bellied camels, ran under the joint slate of the National Front, controlled by the SED, for elections to the Volkskammer, the East German Parliament. (Elections took place, but were effectively controlled by the SED/state hierarchy, as for example Hans Modrow has noted.) In West Germany, the Communist Party was banned.

Related Topics:
National Front - Volkskammer - Hans Modrow - West Germany

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• Christlich-Demokratische Union Deutschlands (Christian Democratic Union of Germany, CDU), merged with the West-German CDU after reunification
• Demokratische Bauernpartei Deutschlands (Democratic Farmers' Party of Germany, DBD), merged with the West-German CDU after reunification
• Liberal-Demokratische Partei Deutschlands (Liberal Democratic Party of Germany, LDPD), merged with the West-German FDP after reunification
• Nationaldemokratische Partei Deutschlands (National Democratic Party of Germany, NDPD), merged with the West-German FDP after reunification

The Volkskammer also included representatives from the mass organisations like the Free German Youth (Freie Deutsche Jugend or FDJ), or the Free German Trade Union Federation. In an attempt to include women in the political life in East Germany, there was even a Democratic Women's Federation of Germany with seats in the Volkskammer.

Related Topics:
Free German Youth - Free German Trade Union Federation - Democratic Women's Federation of Germany

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Non-parliamentary mass organisations which nevertheless played a key role in East German society included the German Gymnastics and Sports Association (Deutscher Turn- und Sportbund or DTSB) and People's Solidarity (Volkssolidarität, an organisation for the elderly). Another society of note (and very popular during the late 1980s) was the Society for German-Soviet Friendship.

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Politicians of note in East Germany

Leaders and their key positions - see also Leaders of East Germany

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• Erich Honecker (General Secretary of the Socialist Unity Party, 1971-89; Chairman of the Council of State, 1976-89)
• Walter Ulbricht (General Secretary of the Socialist Unity Party, 1950-71; Chairman of the Council of State, 1960-73)
• Wilhelm Pieck (General Secretary of the Socialist Unity Party, 1946-50, jointly with Otto Grotewohl; State President, 1949-60)
• Otto Grotewohl (Chairman of the Council of Ministers, 1949-64)
• Willi Stoph (Chairman of the Council of Ministers, 1964-73; 1976-89)
• Egon Krenz (General Secretary of the Socialist Unity Party, 1989)
• Hans Modrow, last socialist head of government
• Lothar de Maiziere, first (and only) non-socialist head of government

Others

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• Erich Mielke Stasi Minister (1956-1989)
• Günter Mittag
• Günter Schabowski
• Robert Havemann
• Gregor Gysi
• Harry Tisch
• Hermann Axen
• Hilde Benjamin
• Johannes R. Becher