Reactions in West German newspapers
Poster 9
Source of image Protesters in East Berlin: © akg-images
“You can’t work eight hours at a construction site on jam sandwiches”
(SZ, June 18)
“We are free workers and do not want to be slaves. Where is the butter you promised, where is the margarine? When will there be less work and more money?”
(FAZ, June 17)
“[…] we are tired of being harassed. We finally want to be able to vote in free elections.”
(FAZ, June 17)
The first reactions in West German newspapers differ remarkably from the official line in the East. On June 17, they already speak of a “kind of national uprising” (SZ) or “mass demonstrations” (FAZ). They cite chants by the protesters demanding a lowering of work norms, better living conditions, free and fair elections, the East German government’s resignation as well as German unity in freedom. For the West German newspapers, it is clear that the West is not the instigator of the uprising. It is rather the result of the East German people’s desire for freedom.
The SZ calls the uprising a “German tragedy” that is a story of “terror and economic mismanagement by the SED” and a bloody suppression by the government. The people primarily responsible for this “tragedy” are not the alleged provocateurs, but the SED party itself and the Soviet military leadership in the GDR.
Während die DDR-Presse recht schnell eine Interpretation der Ereignisse vorgibt, ist man im Westen noch zögerlich. Sowohl die Regierung als auch die Presse in der BRD sind von den Aufständen überrascht und beobachten sie zunächst zurückhaltend. Anfangs werden unterschiedliche Deutungen vorgeschlagen, doch am Ende steht fest: es handelt sich um einen Volksaufstand, der gegen die Regierung der DDR und ihre sozialistische Agenda gerichtet ist.
Obwohl die westdeutschen Zeitungen nicht eindeutig schreiben, dass die offizielle Deutung der SED unhaltbar ist, zeigt es sich dennoch in ihrer Berichterstattung. Entgegen der Behauptung der DDR-Regierung beginnen die ersten Demonstrationen noch bevor die Erhöhung der Arbeitsnormen offiziell zurückgezogen wird. Die Aufstände sind somit das Resultat der Unzufriedenheit in der Arbeiterschaft und nicht das Werk westlicher Agent*innen. Auf die Anschuldigungen der DDR-Presse gehen die westdeutschen Medien nur begrenzt ein oder weisen sie sofort zurück.
While the GDR press was quick to give an interpretation of the events, the West was still hesitant. Both the government and the press in Germany were surprised by the uprisings and initially observed them cautiously. Initially, different interpretations are suggested, but in the end one thing is certain: it is a popular uprising directed against the government of the GDR and its socialist agenda.
Although the West German newspapers do not write unequivocally that the official interpretation of the SED is untenable, it shows in their reporting. Contrary to what the GDR government claims, the first demonstrations begin even before the increase in labor standards is officially withdrawn. The uprisings are thus the result of working class discontent and not the work of Western agents. The West German media responded only to a limited extent to the allegations made by the GDR press or rejected them immediately.