The GDR as a peaceful state – aspiration and reality
The free special exhibition »The GDR as a Peaceful State – Aspiration and Reality« ran from 29 November 2017 to 18 March 2018 in 26 display cases in the foyer of the GDR Museum, depicting the role of peace in the GDR. For some, the exhibits from the military and the Warsaw Pact resembled a small arsenal of weapons. However, the official rhetoric and symbolism of peace were also on display. This was no coincidence, as the exhibition was intended to compare the GDR's claim to be a state of peace with the reality of a thoroughly militarised society. Symbolically, every aspect of the exhibition was counterpointed by a small dove of peace accompanying the respective exhibit.
Peace in the GDR was above all one thing: armed
The wounds of the Second World War had not yet healed when the East-West conflict cast its shadow. On one side – according to the official view of the GDR – stood the world peace camp with the Soviet Union, on the other side the warmongers, revanchists and neo-Nazis. That is why peace had to be armed. This was the internal logic on which the GDR was based, and that is why the Soviet Union stationed SS 20 medium-range missiles with nuclear warheads in the GDR. In the special exhibition, we displayed a demilitarised mortar shell to illustrate this aspect.
Oh, you little white dove of peace
The GDR called itself a peaceful state, its soldiers stood guard for peace, and the workplace was a battleground for peace. The dove of peace was an omnipresent symbol, and the song »Kleine, weiße Friedenstaube« (Little White Dove of Peace) was the most frequently sung song among the Young Pioneers and in schools. But of course, peace had to be armed. The GDR was armed to the teeth and society was organised along military lines. From kindergarten to school to university, defence readiness was propagated. This is also demonstrated by the three »F1« practice hand grenades that were used in school sports lessons.
Swords into ploughshares against nuclear armament
Anyone who criticised the SED was considered an enemy of peace and was silenced by highly violent means. The response to this internal armament was the peace movement, which had been organising under the umbrella of the church since the late 1970s. Under the slogan »Swords to ploughshares«, its actions were directed against the deployment of medium-range nuclear missiles in East and West Germany.
The Peaceful Revolution and the end of the GDR
The peaceful revolution of autumn 1989 was driven by the idea of non-violence and could only succeed in this spirit. This is symbolised by the sash bearing the words »No violence«. During the protests in churches, the hymn »Dona nobis pacem« (Lord, give us peace) was also sung. The burning candles in front of the church doors and in the hands of the demonstrators became a symbol of a powerful but peaceful movement. A state armed to the teeth and militarily organised was first forced to give in and then brought down. Thus, the word »peaceful state« GDR became a political reality after all.
