Christian Democratic Union (East Germany)
Encyclopedia
The Christian Democratic Union of Germany ) was an East German political party founded in 1945. It was part of the National Front
with the Socialist Unity Party of Germany
(SED) until 1989.
It contested the free elections in 1990 as an arm of the West German Christian Democratic Union
, into which it merged after German reunification
later that same year.
Christians
. Originally similar to its West German counterpart, it transformed itself into a loyal partner of the Communists after its Sixth Party Congress in October 1952. At this gathering, it officially embraced socialism
which affirmed the line of "Christian realism" and declared the CDU "a Socialist party without any limitations" (Otto Nuschke
).
In the 22 "Theses on Christian Realism", the CDU committed itself to the "Socialist reorganisation of Society" (1. edition, 1951). Emphasising the "exemplary realisation" of Karl Marx
's "teaching on building a new, better social order" in the USSR, it was declared that Socialism offered at the time "the best opportunity for the realisation of Christ
's demands and for exercising the practical Christianity". The programme also asserted Christian Democrats' support for working class' leading role in establishing socialism, a development which the CDU regarded from its 6th Congress on as historically necessary and consistent".
Its deputies, like all other parties, consistently voted for the government proposals in the Volkskammer
, The only exception was the March 9, 1972 vote on the abortion law, when there were 14 'nays' and 8 absentees among the CDU deputies.
In the 1950s, the leader of the CDU was Otto Nuschke
, a former member of the German Democratic Party during the Weimar Republic
. He was a close ally of the Communists. After Nuschke's death, the party was led by August Bach
for a shorter period and in 1966 Gerald Götting
was elected as the Chairman. Before that he had been the party's General Secretary. Götting, himself a Volkskammer
chairman in the 1970s, carried on and elaborated the pro-government line.
Götting remained Chairman and an SED ally until Erich Honecker
was deposed in favour of Egon Krenz
in October 1989. On 2 November 1989, Götting was deposed as CDU chairman by inner party reformers. In December 1989 Lothar de Maizière
, a lawyer and deputy chairman of the Evangelical Church Synod of East Germany, was elected chairman. From that point on the party deposed (and later expelled) its top figures and would later support the GDR's annexation by West Germany
.
In March 1990, the CDU won the first (and as it turned out, only) free general elections and became the biggest party in the People's Chamber. In April de Maizìere became Prime Minister of the GDR, heading a grand coalition that immediately set about reuniting the country with the West.
In October 1990, the East German CDU merged with the West German CDU
.
National Front (East Germany)
The National Front of the German Democratic Republic was an alliance of political parties and mass organisations in East Germany...
with the Socialist Unity Party of Germany
Socialist Unity Party of Germany
The Socialist Unity Party of Germany was the governing party of the German Democratic Republic from its formation on 7 October 1949 until the elections of March 1990. The SED was a communist political party with a Marxist-Leninist ideology...
(SED) until 1989.
It contested the free elections in 1990 as an arm of the West German Christian Democratic Union
Christian Democratic Union (Germany)
The Christian Democratic Union of Germany is a Christian democratic and conservative political party in Germany. It is regarded as on the centre-right of the German political spectrum...
, into which it merged after German reunification
German reunification
German reunification was the process in 1990 in which the German Democratic Republic joined the Federal Republic of Germany , and when Berlin reunited into a single city, as provided by its then Grundgesetz constitution Article 23. The start of this process is commonly referred by Germans as die...
later that same year.
Party politics
The CDU was primarily made up of devout middle classMiddle class
The middle class is any class of people in the middle of a societal hierarchy. In Weberian socio-economic terms, the middle class is the broad group of people in contemporary society who fall socio-economically between the working class and upper class....
Christians
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
. Originally similar to its West German counterpart, it transformed itself into a loyal partner of the Communists after its Sixth Party Congress in October 1952. At this gathering, it officially embraced socialism
Socialism
Socialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
which affirmed the line of "Christian realism" and declared the CDU "a Socialist party without any limitations" (Otto Nuschke
Otto Nuschke
Otto Nuschke was a German politician.Nuschke was born in Frohburg in the Kingdom of Saxony. In 1910 he was elected General Secretary of the liberal Progressive People's Party of Kassel...
).
In the 22 "Theses on Christian Realism", the CDU committed itself to the "Socialist reorganisation of Society" (1. edition, 1951). Emphasising the "exemplary realisation" of Karl Marx
Karl Marx
Karl Heinrich Marx was a German philosopher, economist, sociologist, historian, journalist, and revolutionary socialist. His ideas played a significant role in the development of social science and the socialist political movement...
's "teaching on building a new, better social order" in the USSR, it was declared that Socialism offered at the time "the best opportunity for the realisation of Christ
Christ
Christ is the English term for the Greek meaning "the anointed one". It is a translation of the Hebrew , usually transliterated into English as Messiah or Mashiach...
's demands and for exercising the practical Christianity". The programme also asserted Christian Democrats' support for working class' leading role in establishing socialism, a development which the CDU regarded from its 6th Congress on as historically necessary and consistent".
Its deputies, like all other parties, consistently voted for the government proposals in the Volkskammer
Volkskammer
The People's Chamber was the unicameral legislature of the German Democratic Republic . From its founding in 1949 until the first free elections on 18 March 1990, all members of the Volkskammer were elected on a slate controlled by the Socialist Unity Party of Germany , called the National Front...
, The only exception was the March 9, 1972 vote on the abortion law, when there were 14 'nays' and 8 absentees among the CDU deputies.
In the 1950s, the leader of the CDU was Otto Nuschke
Otto Nuschke
Otto Nuschke was a German politician.Nuschke was born in Frohburg in the Kingdom of Saxony. In 1910 he was elected General Secretary of the liberal Progressive People's Party of Kassel...
, a former member of the German Democratic Party during the Weimar Republic
Weimar Republic
The Weimar Republic is the name given by historians to the parliamentary republic established in 1919 in Germany to replace the imperial form of government...
. He was a close ally of the Communists. After Nuschke's death, the party was led by August Bach
August Bach
August Bach was an East German Christian Democratic politician.August Bach was born in Rheydt. From 1915 to 1918 he served in German army. After the War he studied History at the University of Berlin. He worked as a journalist during the Weimar Republic and he was a member of the liberal German...
for a shorter period and in 1966 Gerald Götting
Gerald Götting
Gerald Götting is a former East German Christian Democratic politician.-Life:Götting was born in Nietleben, Province of Saxony, now part of Halle/Saale. During World War II, he served in the Reichsarbeitsdienst, an auxiliary support and supply organization, and later in the Wehrmacht...
was elected as the Chairman. Before that he had been the party's General Secretary. Götting, himself a Volkskammer
Volkskammer
The People's Chamber was the unicameral legislature of the German Democratic Republic . From its founding in 1949 until the first free elections on 18 March 1990, all members of the Volkskammer were elected on a slate controlled by the Socialist Unity Party of Germany , called the National Front...
chairman in the 1970s, carried on and elaborated the pro-government line.
Götting remained Chairman and an SED ally until Erich Honecker
Erich Honecker
Erich Honecker was a German communist politician who led the German Democratic Republic as General Secretary of the Socialist Unity Party from 1971 until 1989, serving as Head of State as well from Willi Stoph's relinquishment of that post in 1976....
was deposed in favour of Egon Krenz
Egon Krenz
Egon Krenz is a former politician from East Germany , and that country's last Communist leader...
in October 1989. On 2 November 1989, Götting was deposed as CDU chairman by inner party reformers. In December 1989 Lothar de Maizière
Lothar de Maizière
Lothar de Maizière is a German christian democratic politician. In 1990, he served as the only democratically elected Prime Minister of the German Democratic Republic, and as such was the last leader of an independent East Germany....
, a lawyer and deputy chairman of the Evangelical Church Synod of East Germany, was elected chairman. From that point on the party deposed (and later expelled) its top figures and would later support the GDR's annexation by West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
.
In March 1990, the CDU won the first (and as it turned out, only) free general elections and became the biggest party in the People's Chamber. In April de Maizìere became Prime Minister of the GDR, heading a grand coalition that immediately set about reuniting the country with the West.
In October 1990, the East German CDU merged with the West German CDU
Christian Democratic Union (Germany)
The Christian Democratic Union of Germany is a Christian democratic and conservative political party in Germany. It is regarded as on the centre-right of the German political spectrum...
.
Chairmen
| Andreas Hermes Andreas Hermes Andreas Hermes was a German Christian Democratic Union politician, agricultural scientist, Finance Minister of the Weimar Republic, and a member of the resistance to Nazism.- Life :... |
1945 |
| Jakob Kaiser Jakob Kaiser Jakob Kaiser was a German politician and resistance leader during World War II.Jakob Kaiser was born in the Franconian town of Hammelburg. Following in his father’s footsteps, Kaiser began a career as a bookbinder... |
1945–1947 |
| Otto Nuschke Otto Nuschke Otto Nuschke was a German politician.Nuschke was born in Frohburg in the Kingdom of Saxony. In 1910 he was elected General Secretary of the liberal Progressive People's Party of Kassel... |
1948–1957 |
| August Bach August Bach August Bach was an East German Christian Democratic politician.August Bach was born in Rheydt. From 1915 to 1918 he served in German army. After the War he studied History at the University of Berlin. He worked as a journalist during the Weimar Republic and he was a member of the liberal German... |
1957–1966 |
| Gerald Götting Gerald Götting Gerald Götting is a former East German Christian Democratic politician.-Life:Götting was born in Nietleben, Province of Saxony, now part of Halle/Saale. During World War II, he served in the Reichsarbeitsdienst, an auxiliary support and supply organization, and later in the Wehrmacht... |
1966–1989 |
| Wolfgang Heyl | 1989 (acting) |
| Lothar de Maizière Lothar de Maizière Lothar de Maizière is a German christian democratic politician. In 1990, he served as the only democratically elected Prime Minister of the German Democratic Republic, and as such was the last leader of an independent East Germany.... |
1989–1990 |
General secretaries
| Georg Dertinger Georg Dertinger Georg Dertinger was a German politician from the German Democratic Republic .He was born in Berlin into a middle-class Protestant family. Dertinger briefly studied law and economics. After his study he became a journalist and later editor for the Magdeburger Volkszeitung and the nationalistic... |
1946–1949 |
| Gerald Götting Gerald Götting Gerald Götting is a former East German Christian Democratic politician.-Life:Götting was born in Nietleben, Province of Saxony, now part of Halle/Saale. During World War II, he served in the Reichsarbeitsdienst, an auxiliary support and supply organization, and later in the Wehrmacht... |
1949–1966 |
| Martin Kirchner | 1989–1990 |
East German CDU Politicians
- Sabine Bergmann-PohlSabine Bergmann-PohlSabine Bergmann-Pohl née Schulz is a German politician. A member of the Christian Democratic Union of Germany , she was president of the People's Chamber of the German Democratic Republic from April to October 1990 and as such the last head of state...
(Last Head of State of the GDR) - Emil FuchsEmil FuchsEmil Fuchs was a German theologian.A religious socialist, Fuchs was one of the first Lutheran pastors to join the Social Democratic Party of Germany. As a devoted pacifist, he later joined the Religious Society of Friends...
(Theologian) - Karl Grobbel (Co-founder of the Berlin Conference of European Catholic's)
- Hubertus Guske (General Secretary of the Berlin Conference of European Catholics)
- Ernst Lemmer (co-chairman of the CDU in 1947)
- Angela MerkelAngela MerkelAngela Dorothea Merkel is the current Chancellor of Germany . Merkel, elected to the Bundestag from Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, has been the chairwoman of the Christian Democratic Union since 2000, and chairwoman of the CDU-CSU parliamentary coalition from 2002 to 2005.From 2005 to 2009 she led a...
(deputy spokesperson of Lothar de MaizièreLothar de MaizièreLothar de Maizière is a German christian democratic politician. In 1990, he served as the only democratically elected Prime Minister of the German Democratic Republic, and as such was the last leader of an independent East Germany....
's government and the united Germany's first female Chancellor) - Herbert Schirmer (Minister of Culture 1990)
- Max Sefrin (Deputy Prime Minister)
- Luitpold Steidle (Minister of Health Care)
- Heinrich Toeplitz (Supreme Court of the GDR)
- Heinz WinklerHeinz WinklerHeinz Winkler was an East German Christian Democratic politician.Winkler was born in Chemnitz, Saxony. He was trained as an architect. In 1938 he joined the Nazi Party. From 1941 to 1945 he was a Wehrmacht soldier. After the war he joined the Christian Democratic Union in the Soviet Occupation...
(Minister of Reconstruction)