German People's Congress
The German People's Congress was held at the initiative of the SED and the participation of the parties and organizations of the anti- Fascist - democratic bloc meeting. Preceded him were differences between the Western powers and the Soviet Union at the London Conference of Foreign Ministers from November 25 to December 15, 1947, which was finally terminated on 15 December 1947. The Assembly consisted of 2000 delegates from all over Germany for the first time met on December 6, 1947 and discussed the future of Germany. The most important requirement was for a central German government. The People's Congress put it together his all-German claim to the three people's congresses dar. particular Grotewohl emphasized again and again, " that German German need, wherever Germany live," and sat by that this is included in the first constitution of the GDR been. Otto Grote well- kept life firmly to the reunification of Germany.
Time Historical Background
After the Second World War, the cooperation of the four victorious powers was soon superseded by the East- West confrontation. The growing East-West conflict between the USSR and the Western powers, such as the Middle East and Asia, as well as the Soviet policy to establish satellite states ( the so-called Eastern Bloc ), led to mistrust of the Western powers in relation to the Soviet policy in Germany.
U.S. demands in the Allied Control Council to preserve the economic unity of Germany, were rejected by the USSR as an attempt to influence in July 1946. The four- power administration over Germany ended no later than the last meeting of the Control Council on 20 March 1948.
In September 1947, British and Americans met ( the so-called bizone ) and agreed, without the presence of Germans to the rapid creation of a state according to the specifications of the western Allies.
The London six-power conference in February 1948 had set principles for the establishment of a democratic German state part ( the Frankfurt documents). Core point was the authorization of a West German state. Again, no German was present.
Originally Posted Taylor Ostrander, member of the U.S. military administration: " One must conclude that had forfeited any right to co-determination after the defeat of the Germans. " They were only following orders.
As was the restoration of democracy, in the three western zones, went to the Soviet occupation zone in 1946 elected to the state elections in the Soviet Zone democratic institutions vonstatten. The Prime Minister in the West summarized the Koblenz decisions, according to which a democratic West German part state should be established as temporary until the restoration of German unity in freedom.
People's Congress movement
The People's Congress movement was on the initiative of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany ( SED), founded on 26 November 1947, served her as a political forum first for Germany to integrate civic circles in plebiscitary elements of popular representation. They also used the SED for the integration of parties, mass organizations, cultural associations and individuals for their political ideas.
From the movement of the German people's congresses were born, the first on 6/7 December 1947 was composed of 2000 delegates from all zones of occupation. After reviews and resistances against these SED initiative on the part of the CDU and the removal of its chairman Jakob Kaiser and Ernst Lemmer through the SMAD the Western occupying powers prohibited the mobilization for the people's congresses in the Trizone.
Union fdgb
The fdgb had mobilized from the outset for the constitution and the contents of the People's Congress movement. From Buv representatives were intended for the People's Council according to the distribution list. Key decisions of the People's Council were anticipated by fdgb in his campaign work and therefore the adoption and implementation of the resolutions prepared for propaganda purposes.
First German People's Congress
The First German People's Congress for Unity and just peace was due to the initiative of the SED. It was possible to determine delegates from political parties and mass organizations, which mostly came from the Soviet occupation zone. Only a small proportion came from the western zones. These representatives came together in Berlin on 6 and 7 December 1947.
Participation in the People's Congress was strongly disputed by the parties in the Soviet Zone. The refusal of the CDU to participate was one of the reasons that led to the dismissal by the SMAD Jakob Kaiser as CDU chairman. Under heavy pressure from the occupying force and against the will of the majority of the national associations, the Liberal Democratic Party decided to participate. The crucial point of criticism was that the Congress should not be composed according to the election results. By including the mass organizations had a higher distribution of members of the SED, which were members of mass organizations usually possible from the outset. In Congress, this resulted in the following distribution:
According to estimates by Erich Gniffke were due to the party affiliation of most members of the mass organizations for SED 62 % of the participants member of the SED and another 10% member of the KPD. Although these estimates are at odds with the official figures (see table) are available, it is clear that the SED had a clear majority in the People's Congress.
Topics included the rejection of the planned establishment of a West German state and the criticism of the US-British occupation policy. We discussed the preparation of a peace treaty and an all-German government " composed of representatives of all the democratic parties." Here, the Congress rejected much of the Soviet policy on Germany and supported this. This is the reason that this motion was approved by the Soviet Military Administration and supported by the SED.
The Congress appointed a 17-member delegation to the London Conference of Foreign Ministers (November-December 1947) should represent the positions of the Congress. However, the foreign minister saw no legitimacy of this delegation and did not receive it.
Second German People's Congress
The Second German People's Congress convened on 17-18. März 1948. The date was set at March 18, on the 100th anniversary of the revolution 1848/1849. At the People's Congress attended by 1898 delegates, including 512 from the western zones. It rejection of the Marshall Plan, the recognition of the Oder -Neisse line and a referendum on German unity was decided, which took place from 23 May to 13 June 1948. He edited the newspaper of "Germany's voice."
Furthermore, the first German People's Council was elected, comprised of 400 members, of which 100 came from West Germany. It was formed a Constitution Committee, which was headed by Otto Grote good and should draw up a draft Constitution of the German Democratic Republic.
Third German People's Congress
The Third German People's Congress has been confirmed by the population of the Soviet zone of occupation on 15 and May 16, 1949 by a " vote ". The "choice" to the People's Congress was the agreement (yes ) or rejection ( No) the following statement:
"I am in favor of German unity and a just peace agreement. I agree about the following list of candidates for the Third German People's Congress. "
More than four million of the approximately 13.5 million voters have no ticked. Over and above the consent ( officially about 66 % of the vote ) until today to justifiable doubts as about a million unfilled ballot counted as agreement.
On 29 to May 30, 1949 convened the III. German People's Congress in Berlin. 1400 delegates came from the Soviet occupation zone, 610 from the western zones ( trizone ), which had been constituted as a Federal Republic on May 23. The draft Constitution, the Constitutional Committee of the People's Council had worked, was adopted with one dissenting vote on May 30, and elected the Second German People's Council. The People's Council was constituted under the impression of the founding of the Federal Republic of Germany (23 May 1949) as the Provisional People's Chamber on the same day the newly founded on 7 October 1949 with the GDR.