17 June: The People’s Uprising in East Berlin and the GDR is violently suppressed

When workers employed in the construction of the East Berlin ‘Stalinallee’ protest over the increase in their work norms, and working standards, a popular uprising develops across the GDR. Dissatisfaction over shortages in the economy, political oppression and social conformity trigger the civil revolt. With the support of Soviet tanks, the Socialist Unity Party of Germany (SED) crushes the uprising. In this way, the SED continues to retain power until 1989.