… and the latest news from Cold War Berlin “Berlin-where spy meets spy” Sydney Morning Herald, November 16, 1958, pg. 129

November 16 – 1989: The SED Politburo produces a report on the arrest & harassment of GDR citizens since the summer. It concludes that in all cases, except during the 40th anniversary celebrations on Oct. 7, police organs acted with restraint & according to the rules (sic!). #OTD

November 17 – 1970: As Honecker moves to depose his political father Ulbricht due to disagreements (since mid-1970), he monitors the health of the 77-year old. Doctors suggest a reduced workload. By May 1971, Ulbricht resigns on Soviet (& Honecker’s indirect) pressure. #OTD

November 17 – 1981: Brezhnev assesses Soviet econ. problems: harvest failures for the 3rd year in a row (leading to ripple effects in the whole econ.) & the complicated global situation. Basic criticism of the Soviet economic system occurs only under Gorbachev after 1985. #OTD

November 18 – 1981: Reagan proposes the “utopian” zero solution to Europe’s missile problem, but in line with the 1979 NATO dual track decision & largely to ally dom. criticism. Within 6 years, the proposal becomes the INF treaty, erasing an entire class of nucl. missiles. #OTD

… and the latest news from Cold War Berlin “East German High Court judge flees to W. Berlin” Chicago Daily Tribune, November 19, 1952, pg. 7

November 19 – 1962: A Stasi agent meets the PRC amb. to the GDR, who insists that a good Communist must pass 5 tests on: (1) Stalin, (2) Albania, (3) India (recent war), (4) Yugoslavia, & (5) Cuba (=> recent crisis). China’s radicalization before the Cultural Rev. starts. #OTD

November 20 – 1972: A GDR analysis reveals the country loses money from exporting goods. This happens just as the GDR receives Western loans for the import of industrial facilities to produce export goods for hard currency! No wonder the GDR is almost bankrupt in the 1980s. #OTD

November 20 – 1989: Despite fast political change in the GDR since mid-October, mass demonstrations continue & increasingly ditch slogans calling for reform of the GDR in favor of slogans calling for German reunification! #OTD

November 20 – 1970: Poland & the FRG publish the Warsaw Treaty, which normalizes bil. rel., recognizes Oder-Neisse line & will be signed on Dec. 7. It follows the Moscow Treaty of Aug. 1970 & opens door to German-German rapprochement. The 2nd success of Brandt’s Ostpolitik. #OTD

November 21 – 1989: The new GDR leaders—Krenz & Modrow—agree to free elections in the GDR by the spring of 1991 (they actually occur in early 1990). The ruling party wants to stay in power & implement some reforms, possibly with repressive means, as it admits. #OTD

November 21 – 1961: The USSR is ready to resume nuclear test talks with the USA & the UK. Its series of tests since early September—including the 50-MT Tsar Bomba test designed to intimidate the West—had backfired politically among the Non-Aligned & in the West. #OTD

Tonight, in Berlin! Fitting to these times!

Kreuzworträtsel für DDR-Historiker. Viel Spass beim Lösen! Crossword puzzle for GDR historians. Have fun! Berliner Zeitung, 10. Mai 1946, Seite 4

#historians #KPD #DDR #SED Question: Where could I find info about Grete Keilson's trip to the USSR in late October 1945 when she reported to Georgi Dimitrov on the situation in the Soviet zone of occupation in Germany? Thank you for any tips in advance.

Tut mir leid, falsches Bild erwischt.

#historians #DDR #KPD #SED Forschungsfrage: Wo finde ich Info zu Grete Keilsons Reise nach Moskau Ende October 1945? Was hat sie Dimitroff berichtet? Was wurde in Moskau entschieden?

Fantastic letter! Share it with anyone who believes one of these wrong takes: NATO provoked Ru, Ukr had a coup in 2014, Ukr is divided, Ukr neutrality will solve the "conflict", Ru only wants neutral Ukr and has a right to a sphere of influence.. voxukraine.org/en/open-letter…

**Call for Papers** LSE is hosting a conference - "Resistance, Rights and Refuge" - this October to reflect on the 50th anniversary of the Chilean coup and its impact in Britain. Please read, retweet and circulate! Full details of programme and how to attend to follow.

#MeinKiez #Köpenick - ein Zentrum des Volksaufstands vom #17Juni1953? Am 15.6.23, 18 Uhr, klären wir mit den Historikern LorenzLuthi und Henning Holsten, was dran ist an der Behauptung - beim #BAB-Kiezgespräch in der Mittelpunktbibliothek Köpenick.👉bit.ly/3qwIKsa