The German Democratic Republic.

After the defeat of fascist Germany in World War II (1939— 1945), German territory was occupied by the troops of the allied powers—the Soviet Union, the United States of America, Great Britain and France. In 1949, the latter three powers together with the German capitalists established the German Federal Republic (GFR) on the territory of Western Germany. The same year, with the free will of the German people, the German Democratic Re­public (GDR) was established on the territory of Eastern Germany. This country entered the path of building socialism.
Map Questions.

• Locate on the map the border line between the German De­mocratic Republic and the German Federal Republic and trace it in red pencil on the outline map.
• Show the seas that wash the coasts of the German Democratic Republic and the rivers that flow across its territory. The German Democratic Republic covers an area of 108,000 square kilometres and has a population of over 17,300,000. It borders on the Baltic Sea in the north, Poland in the east, Czechoslovakia in the south, and the German Federal Republic in the west. The average density of population in the country is about 160 persons to the square kilometre, which is much greater than that of either Poland or Czechoslovakia.



 

 

Fig 54. The 'West' Metallurgical Works, built under the power of the people. It was here that coke prepared from brown coal was first used For smelting iron and steel.

 

The power of the people led by the working class has been es­tablished in the Republic. The banks, plants and factories have been taken over from the capitalists and are now in the hands of the state. The lands of the big landlords have been given over to the peasants, who are united in agricultural producer co-opera­tives.
In the northern part of the German Democratic Republic Lies the North German Plain, slightly hilly along the coast of the Baltic Sea and sprinkled with numerous lakes in places. A number of navigable canals connect the Oder (the natural border line between the GDR and Poland) with the middle course of the Elbe and its tributaries. The climate here is mild, varying from temperate continental to maritime (in Berlin the average tempera­ture in January is about 0°C and in July 19°C above zero). The North German Plain lies wholly within the forest zone. Beech fo­rests grow along the Baltic coast, mixed forests further south. The natural forests have been felled and those seen today are mostly man-planted. The country is poor in minerals. Field crops include rye, potatoes, fodder-grass, and to a smaller extent, wheat and sugar-beet. Pigs and dairy cattle are bred. In the coastal towns shipbuilding has been developed. The German Democratic Re­public does a lot of trade with other countries, using the Baltic ports for this purpose.



 

Fig. 55. Berlin: New houses In one of the streets.


The Central German Mountains are situated in the southern part of the Republic. Much-denuded and weathered, they extend as separate ranges that alternate with hollows and depressions along the courses of the Elbe and its tributaries. In the lower areas grow oak forests, on the mountain slopes mixed and
coniferous forests.
There are large deposits of brown coal in the south of the country (in output of brown coal the GDR takes first place in the world). Brown coal (lignite) serves as a fuel for carboelectric power-stations, factories and plants. It is employed, moreover, in the production of gas and various chemicals. There are also rich deposits of potash, used in making fertilizers. Coking coal and ores are scarce. Ores, metals and oil are imported from the U.S.S.R., coking coal from Poland. German scientists and engineers have now mastered the production of coke from brown coal.
In the southern part of the country are many old towns renowned for their monuments of art (Dresden, for example, with its famous art gallery). This part of the country is also prominent for its industrial centres, where complex machinery, precision in­struments, paints and other chemicals, various fabrics and clothing are manufactured. Publishing is practised on a large scale.
Field crops include wheat, potatoes and sugar-beet. Pig-breeding is highly developed. The wide use of machinery and chemical fer­tilizers has led to an exceptional increase in the average crop-yield
per hectare.
The German Democratic Republic is one of the most highly developed industrial countries of the socialist camp.
In industrial output the GDR ranks first among the People's Democracies of Europe. New up-to-date factories and plants are being built in the Republic.
The production of iron and steel is being increased steadily. Ma­chinery, chemicals, and other produce are exported in large quantities.
The capital of the German Democratic Republic is Berlin.
This is a great manufacturing centre, especially renowned for its high-quality machinery, electrotechnical equipment and cloth­ing. The city suffered greatly from the late war. The GDR government has directed all efforts to the restoration of the ruined houses and plants in its eastern districts (Fig. 55). Its western part is still occupied by American, British and French troops.
Questions and Assignments.

• Describe the natural features of the northern and southern
  parts of the German Democratic Republic. Compare the activities
  of the population   in these regions.
• Mark on the outline map the mountains, lowlands, rivers
  and mineral deposits of the GDR. Mark its capital, Berlin.