Tanks on the Streets: The Uprising of 17 June 1953 in East Germany
Running fromNext event: Wednesday 14 June at 8am
- Free (drop in)
- Book Pod
Part of: Back In The GDR: East German Film Season, Free activities and events
On 17 June 1953, during the height of the early Cold War, mass demonstrations took place across East Germany against the oppressive regime of the ruling Socialist Unity Party (SED).
In over seven hundred cities, towns and villages, up to one million protesters demanded the removal of SED leader Walter Ulbricht and called for better living and working conditions. In many places demonstrators also chanted for free elections and the reunification of Germany. Venting their fury at the regime, protestors ransacked Party buildings, beat up regime officials, tore down propaganda placards, and burned Soviet flags.
Their actions were, however, short-lived: Soviet tanks and troops soon arrived to restore order. Protesters could offer little resistance to their machine-gun bullets. The next time East Germans dared to demonstrate en masse was 1989.
The exhibition Tanks on the Streets: The Uprising of 17 June 1953 in East Germany commemorates the 70th anniversary of this first uprising in the Eastern Bloc. Curated by Dr Richard Millington, Senior Lecturer in German at the University of Chester, and one of the University’s Artists in Residence, Steph Coathupe, the exhibition tells the story of the uprising and presents work inspired by the events of 17 June 1953 created by students of Art and Design.
Image © Foto: 70 Jahre DDR-Volksaufstand/Bundesstiftung Aufarbeitung, Eastblockworld/Bild Nr. 1212156