Freedom and justice died

Press, 15 June 1983, Page 13

Freedom and justice died

Freedom, justice, and bread were the demands proclaimed on posters and placards by roughly •100,000 striking workers as they marched in protest through the streets of East Berlin and many other East German cities on June 17, 1953. Their initial call for a repeal of higher norms at work led to demands for free elections and the resignation of Party and Government leaders. The GD.R. regime’s red flag was pulled down from the Brandenburg Gate and Walter Ulbricht was all but ousted as general secretary of the Socialist Unity Party. However, as soon as it was clear that the G.D.R. leadership was unable to stem the tide of a general strike that was fast assuming the proportions of a popular uprising, Soviet troops and tanks moved in to end hopes of freedom and justice. A state of emergency and martial Jaw was proclaimed. Russian tanks rolled through East Berlin. Young people fought them with sticks in scenes of powerlessness and despair. Hundreds were injured, thousands imprisoned. The first post-war mass protest in a communist-run country collapsed. The uprising was triggered by industrial action. At the end of May the G.D.R. Council of Ministers decided to increase norms in nationalised industries by 10 per cent across the board. Workers were unhappy, especially in the construction industry. On June 16, “Tribune,” the trade

union paper, said the higher norms were absolutely right In East Berlin, 300 building workers downed tools and marched to the House of Ministries, by which time their number had increased to' 10,000. They demanded in vain to see Walter Ulbricht, the Party leader, and Otto Grotewohl, the Prime Minister. In the end the Industry Ministry emerged to announce that the higher norms had been repealed. This concession came too late. Political demands were made and a general strike was called. On June 17, there were strikes in more than 270 cities and towns in the G.D.R. Soviet intervention meant that the uprising was doomed to failure. East German workers’ hopes of regaining freedom by themselves were dashed. But their bid for freedom 30 years ago has not been forgotten. “We now know,” the “New York Times” wrote, “and history knows, that courage and a spirit prevail in the German people that will not submit to oppression for ever.”

The G.D.R. saw no reason for a change of course, save for a handful of economic concessions, in building socialism. So 2.7 million East Germans voted with their feet and headed west before the Berlin Wall was built in 1961.

West Germany observes June 17 as German Unity Day and a reminder not to forget the goal of unity and peace in freedom. West German Features.