When the tanks came

[htpcl]

Grüße, freiheitsliebenden Völker! Greetings, freedom-loving peeps! This comes quite timely, as popular protests have engulfed Turkey, Greece, much of Europe, even my country, these days. Well, yesterday was a historic date. Exactly 60 years ago, on this day thousands of people took to the streets across East Germany. They demanded freedom, justice

Comments

[ukc_urpek]

Are you aware of the fact that Stalin was insisting on keeping Germany as one country, but Americans and Britts still decided to divide it? Have you ever heard about "Bizonia" and "Trizonia"?
Have you ever heard about Konrad Adenauer memoirs, where he admits that 19583 "rebelloin" was inspired and controlled by him?

[htpcl]

I'm also aware of the Protocols of the Elders of Zion. ;-)

Stalin sure wanted Germany to remain whole - so he could take it all. Well, it didn't happen. Sorry about that.

Don't tell me you're surprised that Adenauer was striving for the reunification of Germany.

[ukc_urpek]

I can see now that you are trying to jump to the conclusions without thorough learning the historical documents.
Start from Adenauer's memoirs, that will help.
Also try to make yourself read the documents of Yalta and Potsdam Conferences.

[htpcl]

Aha. I'm not just trying. I'm totally doing it. See ya around, then.

[policraticus]

the Soviets showed very clearly that they were determined to protect their hegemony, whatever the cost

The cost was not only born by Germans. An entire platoon of Russian soldiers were summarily executed for refusing to fire on protesters.

http://www.executedtoday.com/2012/06/18/1953-32-soviet-soldiers-magdeburg/

[htpcl]

Like I said, whatever the cost.

[underlankers]

I remember reading that this event led to a poem about the government wishing it could dissolve a people and elect another. I also find it interesting that this happened three times in the Eastern Bloc. Here, in Hungary, and in Czechoslovakia. Every single time the tanks rolled. In a way, if looked at with sufficient hindsight, the entire history of the Eastern Bloc might be a Kafkaesque story of 'Be careful what you wish for' insofar as the Soviet leadership is concerned. Good post, as always, when you write about history.

[brother_dour]

But...but...I though in past discussions you said the Soviets were okay with the idea of self-dissolution. I guess that only counted if it was unanimous- otherwise, send in the tanks?

[underlankers]

Key word 'self' dissolution. In no alternate universe did even Stalin entertain a delusion that he was going to annex what was left of the eastern half of Germany.

[brother_dour]

So it was, "If we all decide to leave at once, fine. But NO ONE is leaving on their own- and we have the tanks to make sure of that" That in no way ennobles the former USSR

[abomvubuso]

Btw, Obama is going to Berlin today. Wouldn't it be curious if he used some version of the "ein Berliner" meme.

[rimpala]

no that would be just, silly x.x

[sophia_sadek]

This event reminds me of the Hungarian revolt of '56, but with less exposure in the US.

BTW, you might want to rethink your math. 1953 was not 50 years ago.

[htpcl]

You're right. I suck at math.