The Deutsche Demokratische Republik or GDR originated in 1949, and even though it seemed to achieve some democratic goals and managed to offer people a reasonably comfortable living standard, the regime was in fact a dictatorship, in which the regime controlled every aspect of political, social, cultural and economic life. Forty years after being established, the system backfired, culminating in the collapse of the regime in 1989. Starting with an analysis of the factors that combined to bring about the collapse of the GDR regime, this essay will assess and conclude whether the internal or external factors were more significant to the downfall. Furthermore, it will give an overview of the course of events that led to the collapse of the regime.
Beginning with an analysis of the internal factors, it is accurate to say that in terms of economy, the German Democratic Republic had its start from a very disadvantageous position. Right from the start, it was economically poorer that the Federal Republic of Germany because it had a lower level of economic development and was forced to indemnify the Soviet Union for the losses Germany had inflicted upon the USSR in World War II. (Ross, 2002, p.73) Even so, …show more content…
Although the internal situation was critical, and there was dissatisfaction among the people, the Glasnost and Perestroika gave hope to the East Germans and were the driving force that culminated with the collapse. The reforms opened minds and gave people freedom to express their discontentment against the injustices and atrocities of the system. Although the reforms may not have been the only cause of the downfall, they were certainly the trigger without which the outcome would have been different. For these reasons, I would determine the external factors as primary cause of the collapse and the internal as
Beginning with an analysis of the internal factors, it is accurate to say that in terms of economy, the German Democratic Republic had its start from a very disadvantageous position. Right from the start, it was economically poorer that the Federal Republic of Germany because it had a lower level of economic development and was forced to indemnify the Soviet Union for the losses Germany had inflicted upon the USSR in World War II. (Ross, 2002, p.73) Even so, …show more content…
Although the internal situation was critical, and there was dissatisfaction among the people, the Glasnost and Perestroika gave hope to the East Germans and were the driving force that culminated with the collapse. The reforms opened minds and gave people freedom to express their discontentment against the injustices and atrocities of the system. Although the reforms may not have been the only cause of the downfall, they were certainly the trigger without which the outcome would have been different. For these reasons, I would determine the external factors as primary cause of the collapse and the internal as