Peasants Mutual Aid Association
Encyclopedia
The Peasants Mutual Aid Association (German
: Vereinigung der gegenseitigen Bauernhilfe, VdgB) was an East German mass organization for peasants
and farmers
(later also gardeners
.) It was founded in the 1945-1946 period and was a participant in the National Front
. From 1950 to 1963 and again in 1986 it had representation in the Volkskammer
.
In 1989 a GDR publication put the membership of the VdgB at 632,000 persons. During the Peaceful Revolution
the VdgB suffered due to its extensive connections with the ruling Socialist Unity Party
. In 1990 it changed its name to the Peasant's Union of the GDR, but was unable to make the transition from East German society to that of a reunified Germany
.
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
: Vereinigung der gegenseitigen Bauernhilfe, VdgB) was an East German mass organization for peasants
Peasant
A peasant is an agricultural worker who generally tend to be poor and homeless-Etymology:The word is derived from 15th century French païsant meaning one from the pays, or countryside, ultimately from the Latin pagus, or outlying administrative district.- Position in society :Peasants typically...
and farmers
Farmer
A farmer is a person engaged in agriculture, who raises living organisms for food or raw materials, generally including livestock husbandry and growing crops, such as produce and grain...
(later also gardeners
Gardening
Gardening is the practice of growing and cultivating plants. Ornamental plants are normally grown for their flowers, foliage, or overall appearance; useful plants are grown for consumption , for their dyes, or for medicinal or cosmetic use...
.) It was founded in the 1945-1946 period and was a participant in the National Front
National Front (East Germany)
The National Front of the German Democratic Republic was an alliance of political parties and mass organisations in East Germany...
. From 1950 to 1963 and again in 1986 it had representation 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...
.
In 1989 a GDR publication put the membership of the VdgB at 632,000 persons. During the Peaceful Revolution
Peaceful Revolution
The Peaceful Revolution was a series of peaceful political protests against the authoritarian regime of the German Democratic Republic of East Germany. The protests, which included an emigration movement as well as street demonstrations, were a case of nonviolent resistance, also often called...
the VdgB suffered due to its extensive connections with the ruling Socialist Unity Party
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...
. In 1990 it changed its name to the Peasant's Union of the GDR, but was unable to make the transition from East German society to that of a reunified Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.