Question by Freakazoid: How did the USSR exert control over East Germany?
I understand East Germany was separate from the USSR. How did the USSR keep East Germany a Communist country?
Answers and Views:
Answer by no
Military strength and the threat of total destruction. They controlled where and how food was grown and distributed, what products they could manufacture and all and any rules for their military and political standards. Even in their war games, the Soviets always had a Battalion of heavy tanks behind every regiment of East Germans because they were afraid that the East Germans would turn on them in the event of a war. If you take a quick look at the History of Hungary and Czechoslovakia, you will see where they tried to break away from the Soviets, they were totally crushed. Tanks were rolling down their streets shooting into and collapsing buildings full of unarmed civilians. They were machine-gunning grade schools and killing everyone that they could get their sights on. The Soviets had even MORE military units in Germany than in those other countries and they had proved that they would use them if the East Germans tried to break away.
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denissnowy says
The USSR did indeed station large numbers of troops in East Germany right up until a year or 2 after the Berlin wall fell. However this was not because they were afraid the country would rebel, it was part of their defense strategy.
East Germany as a country was founded a few years after the war when it had become apparent that the allies would not create a unified Germany which was acceptable to all parties. The soviets wanted one that would be a puppet for them to control and the west wanted a democratic one which would be at least neutral but preferably a capitalist ally and definitely not communist.
East Germany (the DDR) was in the early years controlled by the soviets and in 1949 1950 there were demonstrations over labour and supply issues. These were severely and rapidly crushed. The cost of living was cheaper in the east and easterners were more secure in as much as they already were under communist rule where the West Berliners and West Germans feared this happening. until the mid 50's there was not much difference in standard of living but in East Germany a police state had built up so dissent was punished by being sent to a camp. Much of this was run by Germans and the Soviets gradually left security to the DDR when they realized that they could be trusted.
The East German govenment was run by people who were committed communists some of whom had spent long periods in Russia. The soviets therefore did not have to control East Germanyvery much as they were allies. The population however grew disenchanted in the DDR but the internal security police were very powerful and used a network of informers to watch possible dissidents and many just averge people (see the film Lives Of Others). The government were committed to keeping East Germany an ally of the USSR because they knew that if they failed they were out. Other countries like Hungary in 1956 or czecheslovakia in 1968 did flirt with going more liberal but the Soviets (with DDR approval and help) soon squashed that. The DDR knew that there was an opportunity for some movement but it was very limited and it was probably one of the most committed of the USSR partners. Personally I was surprised that the whole thing came tumbling down so quickly which perhaps reinforces the view that the government and people in power were committed and the population was not but was unable to voice its dissent.