Page:NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE SURVEY 13A; EAST GERMANY; COUNTRY PROFILE CIA-RDP01-00707R000200110020-1.pdf/24

 APPROVED FOR RELEASE: 2009/06/16: CIA-RDP01-00707R000200110019-3


 * December
 * SED convenes People's Congress in East Berlin; by apportionment of seats SED and front parties dominate.

1948
 * January
 * Power and composition of Economic Council of Bizone changed to create nucleus of a future German government.
 * March
 * Soviet representative walks out of Allied Control Council, thus ending last vestige of joint control.
 * April
 * Soviet authorities gradually extend restrictions on road and rail traffic to Berlin.
 * June
 * Soviet representative leaves Allied Kommandatura, executive body for Berlin. Total blockade imposed on 2.5 million inhabitants of West Berlin by Soviet and East German authorities, requiring airlift by U.S. and British to supply city.
 * Summer
 * U.S.S.R. begins to build up militarized police force in East Germany, in violation of Potsdam Agreement.

1949
 * May
 * Blockade of West Berlin ends. People's Congress adopts East German Constitution. Federal Republic comes into existence in West Germany with publication of its constitution.
 * September
 * East German regime joins Soviet-sponsored Council for Economic Mutual Assistance.
 * October
 * German Democratic Republic proclaimed and its government recognized by Soviet Union and Soviet-dominated governments; Soviet Military Administration dissolved and administrative functions transferred to East German regime; East German representative at quadripartite functions retained by Soviet Control Commission.

1950
 * July
 * East Germany and Poland sign treaty at Goerlitz recognizing Oder-Neisse line as their frontier.
 * October
 * General elections held in East Germany establishes primacy of SED. To enhance illusion of East German autonomy, Soviet Control Commission replaced by a Soviet High Commissioner with rank of ambassador.

1952
 * May
 * Police-guarded no man's land 3 miles wide created along entire western frontier excluding only Berlin.
 * July
 * East Germany administrative divisions reorganized; traditional Laender abolished; 14 districts (Bezirke), similar to Soviet oblast, established. Collectivization of agriculture begins.
 * October
 * Judicial system revised in accordance with Soviet system.

1953
 * June
 * Uprising in East Berlin over harsh labor policies spreads throughout East Germany; repressed by Soviet forces.

1954
 * January
 * Reparations to Soviet Union cease; ownership of joint East German-Soviet companies, except for uranium complex in the Ersgebirge, returned to East Germans.

1955
 * January
 * Soviet Union ends state of war with Germany.
 * May
 * East Germany joins Warsaw Pact as provisional member; receives full membership following year.
 * September
 * Soviet Union declares East German regime sovereign; East Germany gives control over border security and communications between West Berlin and West Germany, with U.S.S.R. reserving jurisdiction only over movement of Allied personnel and freight.
 * December
 * West Germany formally implements policy of isolating East Germany diplomatically by proclaiming Hallstein Doctrine, i.e., West Germany will end diplomatic relations with any country except the U.S.S.R. establishing diplomatic ties with East Germany.

1956
 * January
 * East Germany formally establishes armed forces.

1957
 * March
 * U.S.S.R. and East Germany sign agreement on stationing of troops in East Germany.

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APPROVED FOR RELEASE: 2009/06/16: CIA-RDP01-00707R000200110019-3