Street names can tell us a lot about how a society views itself. The Straße des 17. Juni (Street of June 17th) stretches out imposingly in Germany's capital Berlin, in front of the Brandenburg Gate and surrounded by the Tiergarten, interrupted only by the Victory Column. How did this important east-west axis of Berlin get its name – what happened on June 17?
East Germans Dissent
Understanding the events of June 17, 1953, requires a look into Germany's history. The early 1950s saw the manifestation of what had already been felt in Europe since the end of the war: the division of Germany and with it the division of Europe. While the three Western occupying powers slowly withdrew from control of the Federal Republic of Germany, the Socialist Unity Party (SED) expanded its power in the former Soviet occupation zone under a Stalinist model. Against this background, June 17, 1953 can be interpreted as a turning point.Fleeing Scarcity and Oppression
Living conditions in the GDR were often unbearable. For years, food had been rationed by the government and was only available via food stamps - a post-war measure of scarcity that had ended in the West as early as 1950. Wartime damage was rapidly repaired there, industry flourished and the foundations for modern Europe were laid. The contrast to the economically stronger West Germany as a direct neighbor made the lack of everything, even basic supplies, even more glaring. This situation was the fault of the SED leadership, which not only controlled the central economy but also persecuted dissenters among its own citizens in churches, universities, political parties and companies. Masses fled to West Germany, threatening the vision of the Socialist GDR.
These circumstances also gradually damaged the East German government. As the SED was under the control of the Soviet Union and was increasingly failing to achieve its ideological goal of “building socialism according to plan”, a “new course” was dictated. Repression and other coercive measures were to be withdrawn in order to stop the flight to the West. However, the right and simple solution to the ailing economy seemed to be at hand: workers simply had to become more productive. The SED called this plan an “increase in norms”, which demanded ten percent more output in the same working hours and for the same salary: dig deeper, test products faster, lay more bricks. Even though the state persecutions were to end, the demand to increase productivity was enough to spark the first strikes.
The Power of the Media
Calls for a strike spread like wildfire in East Berlin. Several thousand people gathered in front of the Politburo headquarters in the capital on June 16 to demonstrate against the increase in norms. Under the pressure of the protest, the SED politicians decided to reverse this decision as well - but it was too late. The furious workers demanded the resignation of the government and announced a general strike for the next day. Radio played a central role on the eve of the events: on June 16, 1953, the radio station in the American sector (RIAS) reported from West Berlin about the protests in the eastern part of the city and the strikers' demands. This meant that even the most remote corners of the country were reached. From Rostock to Karl-Marx-Stadt, the call for resistance echoed through the GDR. But the SED leadership also prepared itself and informed ‘big brother’ in Moscow of the protesters' plans.On the morning of June 17, 1953, angry citizens in East Berlin and hundreds of other places in the GDR were confronted by the Soviet army. Tanks and soldiers were used in an attempt to intimidate the people. The situation on the streets quickly escalated and machine guns were used against the demonstrators. There were deaths and injuries, and several thousand people were arrested. Some channeled their anger at the SED leadership into looting or destroying police cars. In the aftermath of the events, some of those arrested were even sentenced to the death penalty. The Ministry for State Security (Stasi) continued to persecute people who had taken part in the June 17 Uprising for several years.
Hopes for Unity
What was described in state socialist media as a “fascist provocation” by hostile powers was transformed into the “Day of German Unity” in West Germany. In the early 1950s, the debate about the reunification of Germany had intensified: Josef Stalin submitted proposals to the Western powers for the establishment of a single German state, but these were rejected. His death in March 1953 and the uprising in the East a few weeks later sparked new hope for a soon end to the division of Germany. Under this impression, West Germany declared June 17 a national holiday just a few days after the events. It would remain so for almost forty years until the actual reunification. To this day, it is a day of remembrance in a united Germany – and the name of one of the largest streets in the capital.