Changes

In 1945 the Soviet armies swept into the eastern parts of Germany, and destroyed both the Nazi government and the local political, religious, business, landowning and cultural leadership.  All land was taken over and turned into collective farms; all large businesses, banks and factories were nationalized.  Many small-scale shops remained in the private sector. The economy  declined as the new bosses were chosen for party loyalty not expertise.  Most of the old leadership that escaped execution fled to the west. A ruthless Communist dictatorship, backed by Soviet armies took control.  No forms of popular democracy was allowed, and all media were tightly controlled by the state.   

In 1945 the Soviet armies swept into the eastern parts of Germany, and destroyed both the Nazi government and the local political, religious, business, landowning and cultural leadership.  All land was taken over and turned into collective farms; all large businesses, banks and factories were nationalized.  Many small-scale shops remained in the private sector. The economy  declined as the new bosses were chosen for party loyalty not expertise.  Most of the old leadership that escaped execution fled to the west. A ruthless Communist dictatorship, backed by Soviet armies took control.  No forms of popular democracy was allowed, and all media were tightly controlled by the state.   

The people had been brutalized by the Russian army, with many women raped in 1945. Nevertheless the official promise was that a socialist utopia was at hand.  The horrors perpetrated by the Russians were a state secret and could never be published or even mentioned without severe punishment from the Stasi.

The people had been brutalized by the Russian army, with many women raped in 1945. Nevertheless, the official promise was that a socialist utopia was at hand.  The horrors perpetrated by the Russians were a state secret and could never be published or even mentioned without severe punishment from the Stasi.

==DDR created 1949==

==DDR created 1949==

===Religion===

===Religion===

====Atheism====

====Atheism====

At the beginning, the Communist party had asserted the compatibility of Christianity and Marxism in East germany and sought Christian participation in the building of socialism.  

At the beginning, the Communist party had asserted the compatibility of Christianity and Marxism in East Germany and sought Christian participation in the building of socialism.  

At first the question of atheism received little official attention.  in the mid-1950s, as the Cold War heated up, atheism became suddenly a topic of major interest for the regime for propaganda purposes, both domestic and foreign. University chairs and departments devoted to the study of 'scientific atheism' were founded and much literature (scholarly and popular) on the subject was produced. Then this activity rather quickly subsided in the late 1960s amid perceptions that atheistic propaganda was becoming counterproductive; but official and scholarly attention to atheism was renewed beginning in 1973, though this time there was more emphasis on scholarship and the training of cadre than propaganda. Throughout, attention paid to atheism in East Germany always reflected politics and was never intended to jeopardize the cooperation that was desired from those East Germans who were religious.  

At first the question of atheism received little official attention.  in the mid-1950s, as the Cold War heated up, atheism became suddenly a topic of major interest for the regime for propaganda purposes, both domestic and foreign. University chairs and departments devoted to the study of 'scientific atheism' were founded and much literature (scholarly and popular) on the subject was produced. Then this activity rather quickly subsided in the late 1960s amid perceptions that atheistic propaganda was becoming counterproductive; but official and scholarly attention to atheism was renewed beginning in 1973, though this time there was more emphasis on scholarship and the training of cadre than propaganda. Throughout, attention paid to atheism in East Germany always reflected politics and was never intended to jeopardize the cooperation that was desired from those East Germans who were religious.  

West Germany was far superior to East Germany in virtually all crucial sectors of economics, freedom and society, but the GDR succeeded in beating the FRG in the Olympic Games. The GDR could not compete on the soccer field, however, winning only once (in 1974) against the FRG national team. Being aware of their inferiority, the East Germans consistently avoided matches against the West German national team. Comparisons between individual clubs were also subject to strict monitoring. Nevertheless, the enthusiasm of East German soccer fans for West German teams remained constant during this epoch of the divided nation and could not be suppressed by repressive measures on the part of the Stasi.

West Germany was far superior to East Germany in virtually all crucial sectors of economics, freedom and society, but the GDR succeeded in beating the FRG in the Olympic Games. The GDR could not compete on the soccer field, however, winning only once (in 1974) against the FRG national team. Being aware of their inferiority, the East Germans consistently avoided matches against the West German national team. Comparisons between individual clubs were also subject to strict monitoring. Nevertheless, the enthusiasm of East German soccer fans for West German teams remained constant during this epoch of the divided nation and could not be suppressed by repressive measures on the part of the Stasi.

East and West Germany not only competed for medals but also fought a battle of ideologies in the Olympic arena. Therefore, parts of the successful East German sports system were thoroughly protected almost as state secrets to prevent an imitation of its programs by the '[[class enemy]].' Sports complexes and schools were hidden from the public, press coverage was censored, academic communications were hindered, and the doping system was guarded by the Ministry of State Security. On several occasions, even the Soviet Union complained about the East German mystery-mongering. Ultimately, sports in East Germany—although highly successful in the Olymic medal race—became estranged from the public.

East and West Germany not only competed for medals but also fought a battle of ideologies in the Olympic arena. Therefore, parts of the successful East German sports system were thoroughly protected almost as state secrets to prevent an imitation of its programs by the '[[class enemy]].' Sports complexes and schools were hidden from the public, press coverage was censored, academic communications were hindered, and the doping system was guarded by the Ministry of State Security. On several occasions, even the Soviet Union complained about the East German mystery-mongering. Ultimately, sports in East Germany—although highly successful in the Olympic medal race—became estranged from the public.

===Refugees===

===Refugees===

==Leadership==

==Leadership==

===Ulbricht===

===Ulbricht===

Walter Ulbricht (1893-1973) was the party boss and dictator, 1950-71. When [[Adolf Hitler]] came to power in 1933, Ulbricht fled to Moscow, serving as a Comintern agent loyal to Stalin.  As the war was ending Stalin assigned him the job of designing the postwar system that would centralize all power  in the Communist Party. Ulbricht became deputy prime minister in 1949 and secretary (CEO) of the Socialist Unity (Communist) party in 1950. His harsh regime provoked an open rebellion in 1953 and a stream of refugees to West Germany, stopped only by the Berlin Wall, built in 1961. The wall prevented the exodus of talented Germans and allowed East Germany to far surpass other satellites, although remaining poverty-striken in comparison with West Germany. Ulbricht lost power in 1971, but was kept on as a nominal head of state.  He was replaced because he failed to solve growing national crises, such as the worsening economy in 1969-70, the fear of another popular uprising as had occurred in 1953, and the Kremlin's anger at Ulbricht's detente policies toward the West.

Walter Ulbricht (1893-1973) was the party boss and dictator, 1950-71. When [[Adolf Hitler]] came to power in 1933, Ulbricht fled to Moscow, serving as a Comintern agent loyal to Stalin.  As the war was ending Stalin assigned him the job of designing the postwar system that would centralize all power  in the Communist Party. Ulbricht became deputy prime minister in 1949 and secretary (CEO) of the Socialist Unity (Communist) party in 1950. His harsh regime provoked an open rebellion in 1953 and a stream of refugees to West Germany, stopped only by the Berlin Wall, built in 1961. The wall prevented the exodus of talented Germans and allowed East Germany to far surpass other satellites, although remaining poverty-striken in comparison with West Germany. Ulbricht lost power in 1971, but was kept on as a nominal head of state.  He was replaced because he failed to solve growing national crises, such as the worsening economy in 1969-70, the fear of another popular uprising as had occurred in 1953, and the Kremlin's anger at Ulbricht's détente policies toward the West.

===Honecker and Stoph ===

===Honecker and Stoph ===