The German Democratic Republic
The Rise and Fall of a Cold War State
- Textbook
The German Democratic Republic
The Rise and Fall of a Cold War State
- Textbook
Description
The German Democratic Republic has come to stand as a symbol of communist tyranny, a source of Cold War nostalgia and socialist kitsch, and a failed alternative to the worst excesses of 21st century capitalism.
In this book, Ned Richardson-Little delves into the central contradictions of the GDR state: This book illustrates the fault lines of GDR society, the worldviews and experiences of not only those who ruled the GDR, but also those who rebelled against the strictures of state socialism, and those in between who sought a normal life under dictatorship.
The German Democratic Republic is a succinct and comprehensive history of East Germany that traces its story from the country's origins as the Soviet Zone of Occupation after World War II through key events such as the 1953 Uprising, the building of the Berlin Wall, the Helsinki Accords, and the collapse of state socialism in 1989. Some of the themes explored include the memory of Nazism and national identity, everyday life under dictatorship, including consumerism, sexuality, and racism, the global politics of the GDR, the diversity of dissenting voices, and the competing visions for East Germany's democratic future.
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Table of Contents
Acknowledgments
List of Abbreviations
Glossary of German Political Parties and Mass Organizations
Glossary of GDR Terms and Institutions
Introduction: Below the Surface of the Berlin Republic
A Note on the Biographies
Chapter 1: From the Third Reich to the Berlin Wall
Chapter 2: Socialist Society and its Discontents
Chapter 3: East Germany and the World
Chapter 4: Stagnation, Collapse, and Reunification
Conclusion: A Cold War Germany
Epilogue: The GDR after the End of the GDR
Further Reading Guide
Index
Product details
| Published | 24 Jul 2025 |
|---|---|
| Format | Ebook (Epub & Mobi) |
| Edition | 1st |
| Pages | 296 |
| ISBN | 9781350341548 |
| Imprint | Bloomsbury Academic |
| Illustrations | 20 bw illus |
| Series | German History in Focus |
| Publisher | Bloomsbury Publishing |
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