Uprising of 1953 in East Germany

Uprising of 1953 in East Germany
Part of the Cold War
A Soviet IS-2 tank in Leipzig on 17 June 1953
Date 16–17 June 1953 Location East Germany Result Uprising suppressed
Belligerents
East Germany East German demonstrators	Soviet Union Group of Soviet Forces in Germany  East Germany Volkspolizei

 Soviet Union

 East Germany

The Uprising of 1953 in East Germany started with a strike by East Berlin construction workers on 16 June 1953. It turned into a widespread uprising against the German Democratic Republic government the next day. In Germany, the revolt is often called People's Uprising in East Germany (Volksaufstand in der DDR). In remembrance of it, 17 June became a national holiday of West Germany, prevailing until reunification.

The uprising in East Berlin was violently suppressed by tanks of the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany and the Volkspolizei. In spite of the intervention of Soviet troops, the wave of strikes and protests was not easily brought under control. Even after 17 June there were demonstrations in more than 500 towns and villages.

In July 1952 the second party conference of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany (SED) took place in East Berlin. In SED General Secretary Walter Ulbricht's words, there was to be the "systematic implementation of Socialism" (planmäßiger Aufbau des Sozialismus); it was decided that the process of Sovietization should be intensified and the importance of the state expanded. The party was acting on demands made by Soviet premier Joseph Stalin.

...
Wikipedia