How democratic was the German Democratic Republic?
The German Democratic Republic, was democratic? Or not? In this video I’ll explain how the East German government structure worked and why the country was not a democracy. Thanks to Paul Webster for his support. Pictures: • Eröffnung des XI. Parteitages 1986 im Palast der Republik - By Bundesarchiv, Bild 183-1986-0417-414 / Franke, Klaus / CC-BY-SA 3.0, CC BY-SA 3.0 de, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index... • SED Politburo members & candidate members 1968 - By Bundesarchiv, Bild 183-G0726-0206-001 / Junge, Peter Heinz / CC-BY-SA 3.0, CC BY-SA 3.0 de, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index... • Volkskammer September 1989 - By Bundesarchiv, Bild 183-1989-0901-034 / Settnik, Bernd / CC-BY-SA 3.0, CC BY-SA 3.0 de, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index... • Volkskammer - By Bundesarchiv, Bild 183-1990-0419-418 / Schindler, Karl-Heinz / CC-BY-SA 3.0, CC BY-SA 3.0 de, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index... • Konstituierende Sitzung des Staatsrates der DDR am 25. Juni 1981 - By Bundesarchiv, Bild 183-Z0625-037 / Mittelstädt, Rainer / CC-BY-SA 3.0, CC BY-SA 3.0 de, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index... • Gebäude des ZK und Politbüros der SED 1959–1990 am Marx-Engels-Platz, Berlin-Mitte am Werderschen Markt in Ost-Berlin (1967) - By Bundesarchiv, Bild 183-FO427-202-001 / Koard, Peter / CC-BY-SA 3.0, CC BY-SA 3.0 de, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index... • Erich Honecker, 1976 – By Bundesarchiv, Bild 183-R1220-401 / Autor/-in unbekannt / CC-BY-SA 3.0, CC BY-SA 3.0 de, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index... • Egon Krenz, 1984 - By Bundesarchiv, Bild 183-1984-0704-400 / CC-BY-SA 3.0, CC BY-SA 3.0 de, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index... • Walter Ulbricht, 1970 – By Bundesarchiv, Bild 183-J1231-1002-002 / Spremberg, Joachim / CC-BY-SA 3.0, CC BY-SA 3.0 de, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index... • Ministerrat der DDR, 1981 – By Bundesarchiv, Bild 183-Z0626-408 / CC-BY-SA 3.0, CC BY-SA 3.0 de, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index... • Volkskammer parliamentarians per party 1981-1986 – Wikipedia • Nationale Front – By Bundesarchiv, Bild 183-W1126-312 / Kolbe / CC-BY-SA 3.0, CC BY-SA 3.0 DE https://creativecommons.org/licenses/..., via Wikimedia Commons • Wilhelm Pieck – By Deutsche Fotothek, CC BY-SA 3.0 de, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index... • 1953 uprising - By Bundesarchiv, B 145 Bild-F005191-0040 / CC-BY-SA 3.0, CC BY-SA 3.0 de, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index... • Observing vote counting in May 1989 – bpb.de - Bundesstiftung Aufarbeitung, Klaus Mehner, Bild 89_0507_DDR-Wahl_05

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