As you already know or might guess, today we’re going to talk about the East Berlin Communist Party. In fact, in this article, I will explain its origin, principles, and work during the division of the capital Berlin in the years 1949-1990.

1. Historical Background

The East Berlin Communist Party, originally referred to as the Socialist Unity Party of Germany or SED was formed in 1946 in Soviet governed Germany. It came into possession of East Berlin with founding of the German Democratic Republic (GDR) in 1949.

After World War II, Berlin was divided into four military zones controlled by the victorious powers: These are the United States of America, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the United Kingdom and France. It became critical for the SED to become the ruling party in Soviet zone that later develops into the GDR.

2. Ideology and Goals

The East Berlin Marxist party was rooted on Marxism and Leninism party in East Germany whose central aim was to spread communism. Its primary objectives included:

The exposure of the theory of communism

Collectivizing means of production By the process of collectivizing means of production, refer to ownership by a community of people rather than by individuals as a means of economic reform.

Forming a centrally controlled economic system

Championing social equality

Limiting political pluralism

Building a sound relationship with Soviet Union

The party sought to create a society that would be free from executives’ domination, goal which was to be fulfilled by working class.

3. Part 1 –Party Structure and Leadership

The East Berlin Communist Party structure was bureaucratic; it had the Central Committee in central authority. Many decisions were made by the General Secretary who at the time was Walter Ulbricht, the party’s leader. The Central Committee was composed of officials from different strata of society and was expected to make most of the decisions.

The leadership of the party was always characterized by polity and strong organizational discipline. This meant that there could be no compromise with the general party line; disciplinary actions awaited anyone who went contrary to the standards of the party.

4. Influence and Control

With its grip on power, the East Berlin Communist Party exerted extensive control over different aspects of society:

Political Control

The party dominated the political power of East Berlin and the government, the judiciary and the media. There were no opportunities for any other parties and every voice that went against the presidents was quelled.

Economic Control

The SED began to establish a planned economy: industries and agricultural production domains were nationalized. Most industries were fully state possessed and this included manufacturing industries, mining industries as well as the trading industries. This approach sought to do away with competition and concentrate on satisfying the necessitous of the lower working population.

Education and Propaganda

The party closely controlled education and propaganda that favored communism. Education is the particular state-centric process that proclaimed Marxist Leninist principles; media and information systems were mainly controlled by the party that spread state-information coinciding with the party’s narrative.

5. Impact and Legacy

The East Berlin Communist Party played a significant role in shaping the political and social landscape of East Germany:

Following the ideology of the party the GDR had a planned economy and focused for socialism which included Free health care and Education for the people of Germany.

The party’s grip over the political and social activities meant curtailing the individual rights and centrally controlled all dissent which culminated in surveillance and suppression of freedom.

The party sanctioned the building of the Berlin Wall in 1961 which brought the contradiction between East and West within reach during the Cold War.

There was change in the year 1989 when the Berlin Wall collapsed and Germany was reunified and the East Berlin Communist Party. The Vietnamisation of the party, though, was complete by March of 1990 as the party was dissolved.

Conclusion

The East Berlin Communist Party being the GDR’s component of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany designed and managed East Germany. For this reason, the ideological roots, centralized authority and the impact it exercised in different sectors of society, has shaped the history of this region. The experience of the formation and evolution of the East Berlin Communist Party is critical for an appreciation of the processes of Cold War and German unification.