East German Propaganda: 1949-1989

East German Propaganda

1949-1989

Book Cover This page is part of the German Propaganda Archive, a collection of translations of propaganda material from the Nazi and East German eras. This page covers propaganda in the German Democratic Republic (the GDR) for the period 1949-1989. For further information on the site, see the FAQ.

I began my scholarly career studying Nazi propaganda, but around 1980 became increasingly interested in the German Democratic Republic. I saw many similarities (and some differences) as my interest in German propaganda expanded. The GDR was still producing propaganda and it was cheap. I subscribed to Neues Deutschland, the leading daily newspaper of the country. Some of my GDR experiences are discussed in a report that explains why I got 2300 letters from East Germany.

My book titled Bending Spines: The Propagandas of Nazi Germany and the German Democratic Republic (East Lansing: Michigan State University Press, 2004) provides an analysis of much of the material on the German Propaganda Archive. The paperback edition is still in print.

Speeches by East German Leaders

A speech by Albert Norden on the Division of Germany from 1966.
Two speeches by Erich Honecker to the Free German Youth from 1984 and 1989.
Erich Honecker on Peace: A speech from 1984.

Miscellaneous Propaganda

American Beetles: 1950 charges that the U.S. dropped potato beetles on the GDR.
The Five Year Plan: Walter Ulbricht introduces the plan for 1951-1955.
It’s Up to You!: A 1954 pamphlet on East-West controversies.
The Call of the Heart: From a book on Khrushchev’s 1957 visit to the GDR.
The 40th Anniversary of the KPD: 1958 material on the founding of the German Communist Party.
Ten Years of the GDR: A 1959 booklet commemorating the GDR’s 10th anniversary.
Farmer Arnold: A 1960 pamphlet promoting collective farms.
“Dangerous Shadows”: Defending the GDR’s agriculture from fascist sabotage.
On the 13th: A pamphlet praising the Berlin Wall just after it was built.
Securing peace in Germany: A chapter from a 1970 textbook on the Berlin Wall.
A 1962 propaganda brochure defending the Berlin Wall.
The Meaning of Being a Soldier: Material given to draftees in the GDR’s armed forces.
Military Agitation: An essay from Radar, the GDR’s magazine for military agitators.
GDR Review: A monthly propaganda periodical in English (August 1984).
West Germany’s “Great Coup”: GDR press reports on fleeing citizens (September 1989)
Definition of atheism: Definitions of atheism from 1967 and 1988.
Definitions of freedom and republic: From 1967.
Material for the Youth
- The Rules of the Thälmann Pioneers: What 4th to 7th graders in the GDR promised to do.
- Material from Trommel: The GDR magazine for children.
- The Seven Brothers: Material from a 1985 children’s book on military matters.
- Material from a 9th grade history film strip on Ernst Thälmann.
- A chapter from a 1988 civics textbook: The advantages of socialism.

Posters and Visual Material

Caricatures from 1953: Mostly aimed at the U.S. or West Germany.
Walter Ulbricht: Material from a 1968 coffee table book on the GDR’s leader.
The 30th Anniversary of the GDR: 19 posters prepared for the event in 1979.
GDR posters: I do not have many.
Free German Youth pictures: Photographs of FDJ activities, 1976-1980.
Honecker poster: This is one of the official posters of Erich Honecker.
Socialist competition: Bulletin board material to motivate workers (1988).
Thomas Müntzer: Bulletin board material on the 500th anniversary of his birth (1988).
Wall newspaper material from 1989: General material intended for bulletin boards.

Material for Propagandists

Dealing with former Nazis: Advice to propagandists from early 1946
“Why is the Oder-Neiße Line a Border of Peace?”: Advice from 1950 on German territory lost to Poland.
“The Tasks of Party Propaganda”: A 1950 pamphlet outlining the party’s education system.
On Improving Party Propaganda: A 1954 speech by Fred Oelßner reviewing GDR propaganda.
On improving agitation: Parts of a 1955 meeting on agitation work.
“The Journalist in our Day”: Albert Norden on socialist and Western journalism.
Leading the Jugendweihe: 1960 material for leaders of the youth dedication ceremony.
Arguments for the Berlin Wall: 1961 material for propagandists just after the Wall.
“Closely Tied to the Masses”: Heinz Geggel speaks to agitators in 1976.
“Why are West Germans Anti-Communist?”: 1979 arguments on why West Germans failed to see the advantages of socialism.
Youth and worldviews: Material on propaganda aimed at young people (1980).
The Situation in Poland: 1980 advice on the Solidarity movement in Poland.
Propaganda Plan for County Rochlitz (1982): Each SED county branch made an annual plan.
“Oral Agitation”: A 1984 introduction to a book on face-to-face propaganda.
Military Agitation: A chapter from the 1988 GDR textbook on military agitation.
The official definitions of propaganda and agitation: From the Kleines politisches Wörterbuch.
Material from Periodicals for Agitators: 1951-1989
- The Soviet Union and Atomic Weapons: Why the USSR had atomic weapons (1951).
- Model agitators: Examples of what to do (1953).
- On improving agitation: Advice after the 17 June 1953 uprising (July).
- “The Importance of Alertness”: The enemy is still at work after the June uprising (1953).
- On those leaving East Germany: Advice from 1955 on Republikflucht (fleeing the GDR).
- “What is Our Money Worth?”: Comparing living standards (1978).
- What and How (February 1981): Advice for GDR propagandists.
- “Transparent ‘Advice’”: What to say about the Soviet Union and Gorbachev (1988).