Credit: ErinthecuteThe map above shows the one and only free and fair election in East German’s entire history on 18 March 1990.East Germany would join West Germany later that year on October 3rd.More about this election and more maps below:How Elections Worked in East Germany (GDR) (Prior to 1990)The National Front SystemAt the center of the system was the: National Front of the German Democratic Republic.How it worked:All legal parties and organizations joined the National FrontBefore elections, they agreed on a single candidate listSeats in the Volkskammer (parliament) were pre-allocatedVoters could only approve or reject the entire listIn practice:Voting “yes” = just drop the ballot unchangedVoting “no” = cross out names (visible, risky)Result:95–99% approval rates were typicalElections were about demonstrating unity, not choosing leaders.Here are the results of the first East German “election” in 1950:and here are the results of the last one before the collapse of the National Front system in 1986:Map of the 1986 ElectionCredit: ErinthecuteWho Held Real Power?The system was dominated by the: Socialist Unity Party of GermanyEven though multiple parties existed:The SED controlled policy, appointments, and state institutionsOther parties were called “block parties” and followed its leadPolitical Parties (Block Parties)Socialist Unity Party of Germany (SED)Ideology: Marxism-LeninismFounded: 1946 (forced merger of communists + social democrats)Leader figures: Walter Ulbricht, Erich Honecker and Egon KrenzRole:The true governing authority of the GDRControlled:Government ministriesMilitary and policeThe Stasi (secret police)Made all major decisions behind the scenesChristian Democratic Union (CDU – East Germany)Ideology (official): Christian democracy, social conservatismTarget group: religious citizens, middle-class conservativesIn reality:Accepted socialism and SED leadershipProvided a “religious-friendly” face to the regimeHelped integrate church-going citizens into the systemUnlike its West German counterpart, it was not independent.Liberal Democratic Party of Germany (LDPD)Ideology (historical): Liberalism, civil rights, private enterpriseTarget group: professionals, small business ownersIn practice:Abandoned true liberal oppositionSupported:State-led economySocialist policiesServed as a bridge to middle-class citizensIt preserved liberal traditions symbolically, but not politically.National Democratic Party of Germany (NDPD)Founded specifically by the regimeTarget group:Former NazisWehrmacht veteransNationalistsPurpose:Prevent these groups from opposing the stateReframe nationalism into “socialist patriotism”Unique role: Absorbed potentially hostile groups into the systemDemocratic Farmers’ Party of Germany (DBD)Represented: farmers and rural communitiesRole:Helped enforce and legitimize:Collectivization of agricultureEncouraged farmers to join state-run cooperativesImportant function: Reduced rural resistance to socialist reformsMass Organizations (Not Parties, but Politically Important)These groups were part of the National Front and had guaranteed seats in parliament.Free German Trade Union Federation (FDGB)State-controlled trade unionRepresented workers, but:No independent labor actionPromoted productivity & state goalsFree German Youth (FDJ)Official youth organizationFocus:Political indoctrinationSocial activitiesMembership strongly encouragedDemocratic Women’s League of Germany (DFD)Represented women’s interestsPromoted:Gender equality (within socialist framework)Workforce participationCultural Association of the GDR (Kulturbund)Organization for:IntellectualsArtistsEncouraged cultural life aligned with socialismPeasants’ Mutual Aid Association (VdgB)Supported farmers, especially during collectivizationProvided:ResourcesPolitical integration into the regimeUnion of Persecutees of the Nazi Regime (VVN)Represented victims of NazismImportant for:Anti-fascist legitimacy of the GDRLater reorganized but remained symbolicKey Takeaway About the SystemEven though it looked pluralistic:All parties and groups were subordinate to the SEDElections were confirmatory, not competitiveThe National Front ensured pre-arranged outcomesThe 1990 Election: Why This Election Was Different?Credit: ErinthecuteBy late 1989:The Berlin Wall had fallenThe ruling system of the GDR had collapsedThe National Front structure was effectively deadThe election (March 18, 1990) became: The first and only free, competitive election in East German history.It also quickly turned into a referendum on: Reform vs. rapid reunification with West Germany.Main Parties and Alliances Alliance for Germany (Winner)A coalition backed heavily by West German conservatives:East German Christian Democratic Union (CDU)German Social Union (DSU)Democratic Awakening (DA)Position:Rapid reunification with West GermanyAdoption of the West German economic and political systemIntroduction of the Deutsche Mark as soon as possibleResult:Won ~48% of the vote (dominant victory) Social Democratic Party (SPD – East Germany)Newly revived independent party (not controlled like pre-1989)Historically linked to pre-war German social democracyPosition:Supported reunification, but:Wanted a slower, negotiated processFavored a more gradual economic transitionResult:~22% of the vote (much lower than expected) Party of Democratic Socialism (PDS)Successor to the ruling party:Former Socialist Unity Party of GermanyRenamed and reformed after 1989Position:Democratic socialismPreserve some GDR social structuresOpposed rapid absorption by West GermanyResult:~16% of the voteStronger than many expected, but far from power Alliance 90 / Greens / Civil Rights GroupsOriginated from:Protest movementsDissidentsChurch-based oppositionPosition:Democratic reform of the GDREnvironmental protectionOften skeptical of rapid reunificationResult:Performed poorly (fragmented and less organized) Liberal PartiesLDPD (former block party, now independent)FDP-linked groupsPosition:Liberal democracyMarket reformsGenerally pro-reunificationCredit: Hilarus von BaerensteinWhat Happened to the SED?The ruling party underwent a rapid transformation:Late 1989:Leadership collapsed (e.g., fall of Erich Honecker earlier in 1989)Public anger toward the party was intenseRebranding:Renamed: SED → SED-PDS → PDS (Party of Democratic Socialism)Changes:Dropped official Marxist-Leninist orthodoxyPromised democratic reformsTried to distance itself from:The StasiAuthoritarian ruleReality:Still associated with:RepressionEconomic failureDespite this, it retained a core base of support, especially among:Older votersThose worried about economic collapseWest German Influence (“Interference”)West Germany played a major and decisive role.Political SupportWest German parties directly supported their East German counterparts:West German CDU (led by Helmut Kohl) backed the East CDU and Alliance for GermanyWest German SPD supported East SPDFunding, advisors, and campaign expertise flowed inThis gave pro-reunification parties a huge advantage.Economic Pressure & PromisesA key factor was the promise of:Rapid introduction of the Deutsche MarkAccess to West German living standardsEconomic stabilizationKohl’s government strongly signaled: “Vote for fast reunification = faster economic help”Media InfluenceWest German television was widely watched in East GermanyCampaign messaging from the West reached voters directlyExpected Outcome vs RealityWhat Many ExpectedBefore the election:The SPD was widely expected to win or leadReformist, gradual reunification seemed likelyCivil rights groups were highly visible after the 1989 revolutionMany thought voters would choose cautious transition.What Actually HappenedThe result was a decisive vote for speed:Alliance for Germany (pro-rapid reunification) won clearly.SPD underperformed significantlyReformist groups were marginalizedWhy the Surprise? Economic FearGDR economy was collapsingPeople feared:UnemploymentShortagesWest Germany looked like stability Currency IssueThe Deutsche Mark became the central issueSeen as:SecurityProsperityImmediate improvement in daily life Loss of Faith in ReformMany no longer believed the GDR could be “fixed”Preferred joining a functioning system insteadConsequences of the ElectionThe new government:Led by Lothar de Maizière (CDU)Immediately pursued: Monetary Union (mid-1990)East Germany adopted the West German currency Political IntegrationNegotiations with West Germany acceleratedFinal Outcome:German reunification (October 3, 1990)