Education in the G.D.R.

[AR-11]

Gentlemen,

I hope, it´s intresting for all something to read about the education systems in G.D.R.

We had: Kinderkrippe, for 1 to 3 year-kids,
Kindergarten, for 3 to 6 year-kids, or Vorschule (pre-school-education, if the child not visited a Kindergarten)
There was no duty for visit in them.

After that we visited the 10-classed general polytechnical High-School (10klassige allgemeinbildende polytechnische Oberschule - and now we have the first translation-problems...) It´s visit was strikly duty for every child in G.D.R.
Then one had to decide: Enlarged high school (Erweiterte Oberschule) till class12 with Abitur (University maturity?), or "normal" Professional training for 2 and a half years with "Skilled worker's check" (Facharbeiterprüfung) or professional training with university matury (that´s what I did...) for 3 years.

These were the usual ways up to the occupational conclusion.

Hope my translations were understandable, I did it mostly very "direct".

AR-11

[MH184]

Hi AR-11,



I find this very interesting, I've several TP and FDJ badges and frequent Berlin often, so the more I know from actual serving members of the DDR forces about 'life' in the DDR is more than interesting to me.

What were you guy's taught about in history at school, was it a Russian bias history ?

How where you brought up to think of the West i.e the British, French etc and of course the American's.

Did you ever get US/UK films on the TV at all ?

Probably they seem fundamental questions, but I only joined the army in 1989, and never served in Berlin (Germany I did), so after the Cold War ended as such when I came back from the Gulf War (to me as time stands still in purpose when you're away)...a new era started of 'peace keeping' operations in Bosnia etc for me as a soldier. So I never at that time got to know the 'Commie enemy' or ever knew to much about them.

I'm very interested in life in the DDR.....and all aspect's of it.

Thank you for sharing these details

Kr

Marcus

[Ralph P]

Dirk...thanks for starting a thread about the education in the GDR and your translation was great. It was very informative to read on how your education system was structured. Question for you...to go to a university, did you need to take a test first? For us here in the US, if you go from high school to college you need to take a test so colleges know your abiltiy.

Thank you very much. Also, I hope you can provide more articles of interest in the future.

I do have a follow up question and it has to do with your title...When you lived in East Germany, where you brought up to say the GDR or the DDR?

[AR-11]

@ Marcus H.

I have the impression that the historical lessons were very comprehensive at our schools. It was of course aimed on the historical view of Marxism / Leninism. This was the adjustment of the G.D.R.! But we learned the history of the whole civilized world. Also U.K .'s and U.S.A .'s history. Here again focussed from the view of the proletariat, depressed classes and progressive forces. And, of course, we learned in detail the history of the USSR. In particular from the time of the first revolution (February revolution), up to present (at that time). But also this was, as I know today, not really objectively. Than all things were left out which could clouded the "clean" picture of the light-brighting communists.

We learned to separate the world not only in the single countries, but made also a distinction in proletarian and suppress. And thus, e.g., the Americans, Englishmen or French were not our "enemies" ("the evil"). The "Rich" were enemies, the proletarians all over the world were our friends. I know, indeed this is described a little bit simple, however, it should be enough as illustration. Our historical picture was stamped very much by the ideology of the G.D.R., but "geographically " limits not at all.

Yes, Marcus, we could see films from the USA, GB or France. Also from the that time FRG! But: not in such superior masses like today. These films had to be paid with hard mottoes, and this had the DDR not in sufficient amount. Thus dominated with us except the USSR-films, the films from the DDR, CSSR or from Poland. And one could see many Italian and French films. Maybe this was a result of special cultural agreements (or they simple were a little bit cheaper ???). The films always been shown in cinemas first, than sometimes later at T.V. (same as today...).And one aspect I still forgot: Wide parts of the DDR could receive the West German television. There one knew of course also the "West-Films", which maybe never came to the DDR movies...

@ Ralph Picard

Unfortunately, I do not know exactly whether there were admission tests for our universities. I can report it only from own experience: for the OHS had to be graduated a fitness/qualifications-test. It lasted 3 day, from them 1 day was exclusively for sportstests.
We said "DDR", G.D.R. only in the English lessons or in russian ("Germanskyie Demokraticheskyie Respublyka" ).

Gentlemen,please never forget, that I describe in such a way as I have experienced it subjectively.

AR-11

[AR-11]

After the general school-leaving exams it became differentiated.
With the "matury" one was prepared to take up directly a study at university or engineer-college.

Or one learned an occupation including university-matury, and began afterwards a study.

Or one "only" learned an occupation and did no more qualification.
But also later, there a lot was still possible! One could become a master or even engineer if one studied after end of work in an "adult education program"(how it Dag in other thread described). Or one studied in an "Volkshochschule". There one could study all fields which there were also at universities. But it was voluntary, had to be paid and took place always after the normal work. But one could catch up there also the university-matury (or another graduation). And this was as evaluated exactly as a direct conclusion.

I hope, Dag has supplements.

AR-11

[Ralph P]

Hey Dirk...Thanks!!!

I thought it was interesting in your reply of GDR and DDR being used during your lessons. Question, did you learn english during high school or your professional training?

Thanks...Jean Luc

[AR-11]

Hey Dirk...Thanks!!!

I thought it was interesting in your reply of GDR and DDR being used during your lessons. Question, did you learn english during high school or your professional training?

Thanks...Jean Luc

I learned English from 7th class in POS to my 3rd year of professional training. At OHS English was some like a Honoring! Only with bravura performances they gave one the permission for learning English. And I haven´t.
Most of my English I learned by listening music.
( And for my answers here I sometimes use translators, so that I disgrace myself not so much. )

AR-11

[Dag]

@ Marcus H.

I have the impression that the historical lessons were very comprehensive at our schools. It was of course aimed on the historical view of Marxism / Leninism. This was the adjustment of the G.D.R.! But we learned the history of the whole civilized world. Also U.K .'s and U.S.A .'s history. Here again focussed from the view of the proletariat, depressed classes and progressive forces. And, of course, we learned in detail the history of the USSR. In particular from the time of the first revolution (February revolution), up to present (at that time). But also this was, as I know today, not really objectively. Than all things were left out which could clouded the "clean" picture of the light-brighting communists.

We learned to separate the world not only in the single countries, but made also a distinction in proletarian and suppress. And thus, e.g., the Americans, Englishmen or French were not our "enemies" ("the evil"). The "Rich" were enemies, the proletarians all over the world were our friends. I know, indeed this is described a little bit simple, however, it should be enough as illustration. Our historical picture was stamped very much by the ideology of the G.D.R., but "geographically " limits not at all.

Yes, Marcus, we could see films from the USA, GB or France. Also from the that time FRG! But: not in such superior masses like today. These films had to be paid with hard mottoes, and this had the DDR not in sufficient amount. Thus dominated with us except the USSR-films, the films from the DDR, CSSR or from Poland. And one could see many Italian and French films. Maybe this was a result of special cultural agreements (or they simple were a little bit cheaper ???). The films always been shown in cinemas first, than sometimes later at T.V. (same as today...).And one aspect I still forgot: Wide parts of the DDR could receive the West German television. There one knew of course also the "West-Films", which maybe never came to the DDR movies...

AR-11

Nice to have somebody else here to take some things on. Thanks, AR-11.

Marcus,
I will try to add to the explanations AR-11 gave. But one thing I would like to repeat: At no time was I educated to hate a people or specific persons. As explained, our education in history was very good. Yes, it was always taught from the position/angle of Marxism/Leninism, but nevertheless, it was very good. It was, in effect the history of mankind; not concentrated on Germany(or what was to become Germany in 1871) but covered everything from old Egypt, Greeks, Roman Empire,, middle ages, and so on. I left school in 1983 and just before the exams we covered the late 60ies /early 70ies.

Whilst there are many attempts (in my opinion) to support the idea of East Germans being educated to hate other people, I strongly disagree. There are various reasons for this.
1) School is one place to get educated, but there are also many other factors who shape young children. Parents, wider family, friends and, from a certain age onwards, they start to have their own opinion and come to their own conclusions.
2) especially in East Germany that would have been very difficult. Due to the fact that many families had some sort of relatives in the West, they would never begin to hate West Germans. And because of the access to West German media (TV, radio) it was even harder.
3) AS AR-11 pointed out, the world (friend-foe terms) did not consists of French,Americans, Brits etc but of supressors and the supressed. So, we would be against the rich, but not the poor. (being against something does not equal hate).

I would say that even in the army I did not feel that I was trained to hate the enemy. I know that Michael does agree (and probably most, if not all of you former or active soldiers): Once you are a soldier, you were/are prepared to defend your country and take the orders from the powers taht be. So, I was prepared to fulfill that duty if I had to. But that does not mean I hated/would hate the opponent. He also was given orders and it was us who would have to fight it out because the few in power couldn't come to terms (I know it is simplistic but I hope you understand what I mean).

As for the cultural influence from the "West". AR-11 is right with movies from the west being available (even in the army!! during exercises). The same was the case with literature. Of course, the numbers were sometimes low, but it was possible to buy them. What was not possible to get was magazines from the West (and I'm not even talking about Hustler!!!). Time Magazine, FT, or the Times were just not available.

Finally, as AR-11 pointed out as well: Everything I mention here is my opinion.

[Dag]

@ Ralph Picard


We said "DDR", G.D.R. only in the English lessons or in russian ("Germanskyie Demokraticheskyie Respublyka" ).


AR-11

Hi AR-11
Shouldn't that be "Germanskaya Demokraticheskaya Respublyka", because respublica is female? But you are much better in Russian then I am!!

Ralph,

Of course we said DDR. In the early nineties I always used GDR but that was (in English at least) taken over by East Germany as less and less people know what GDR stands for.

[Mike G.]

Hi Dag and Dirk,

Yes, the acronymn "GDR" is a NATO or western term, whereas the correct acronymn from your side of the Wall (Former Wall) would have been DDR.

Also, while I was stationed in what formerly was West Berlin between 78 and 82, there were I think two German Television Stations that I watched that were of East German (probably East Berlin ?) origin. I found them interesting because they showed a lot of older German and Eastern European black and white movies. Also of course, there was the "Sand Man". This children's show was universally accepted by children both in the East and West.

Tschuess,

[Ralph P]

DAG and DIRK...overall very well done posts about your educations in the GDR and found your views most interesting...thanks...

[AR-11]

Hi AR-11
Shouldn't that be "Germanskaya Demokraticheskaya Respublyka", because respublica is female? But you are much better in Russian then I am.

Oh Dag, you are right! Of course "Respublyka" is female! Grammar never was my strongest field (no matter in witch language ). Is possible that I was better maybe once in Russian than You, but I am it probably hardly...
AR-11

[AR-11]

At no time was I educated to hate a people or specific persons.

@all
This sentence of Dag I absolutely might to underline again!

AR-11

[Mike G.]

Dirk and Dag,

You hit the nail on the head. Such is the destiny of the Soldier. One day you are selling meat at the Butcher Shop, or delivering the mail, or installing cabinets in a new home for a living. The next day you find yourself a professional and trained killer, in a special uniform for your specific country, facing off and looking across the field at a mirror image of another Soldier in a uniform representative of another country, who comes from a similar background as you. It is not the duty of either Soldier to ask why or how they came to be where they are. That is for the civilian populace, and the politicians. The Soldiers are there facing off against each other because the elected leaders of their respective countries could not come to some sort of ammicable agreement and peaceful resolution. Now the Soldiers from their respective countries must do what they were trained to do. It has always been that way. No hate, no animosity, just business of the most lethal and serious kind. Soldiers are the most unique people on the planet earth. They deserve the respect of all for the job they do. It is after all, a job only a very minority few can, and are willing to do. And believe me, it is a job that must be done, or the entire world would be in a perpetual state of Chaos and Anarchy.

[AR-11]

Thanks Michael!