East Berlin 17 June 1953: This American film report shows footage of the riots in East Berlin in 1953. Film length 01:025. A licence fee of 3 times 30 seconds is charged to purchase a licence for the complete contribution.
Anti-communist riots 17 June 1953
Description
Anti-communist riots 17 June 1953
Historical Background
The 17th of June 1953 marked a significant event in the history of post-World War II Germany, particularly in the context of the division between East and West Germany. The Berlin Riots of 1953, also known as the East German Uprising or the June 17 uprising, were a series of protests and demonstrations against the East German government.
The unrest began as a strike by construction workers in East Berlin on June 16, 1953, in response to the government’s decision to increase production quotas and to raise work norms. The dissatisfaction quickly spread to other sectors of society, including industrial workers, students, and intellectuals.
On June 17, 1953, tens of thousands of East Berliners took to the streets to protest against the government’s policies and demand political freedoms, better living conditions, and the reunification of Germany. The protests escalated into clashes with the police and Soviet troops stationed in East Berlin. The demonstrators also targeted government buildings and symbols of Soviet authority.
The East German government, backed by Soviet forces, responded with force, deploying tanks and armed troops to suppress the uprising. Hundreds of people were killed, and thousands were arrested and imprisoned in the aftermath of the riots.
The Berlin Riots of 1953 had significant repercussions both domestically and internationally. Domestically, they highlighted the discontent and dissatisfaction among East Germans with the communist regime and its policies. Internationally, the riots underscored the tensions between the Soviet Union and its Western allies, particularly the United States, over the future of Germany and the broader Cold War rivalry.
190138-5-vm
