Proletarische Virtuosen? Widersprüche und Verwerfungen in der Elitenpolitik der SED am Beispiel der Kampfgruppen der Arbeiterklasse

Abstract: "The members of the 'Combat Groups of the Working Class' were considered as proletarian virtuosos because they voluntarily spent their leisure time for their commitment to the protection of the 'Socialist achievements'. This way representing Communist resilience, they were supposed to be particularly honoured and recognized. Already in the 1950s, however, it became obvious that praising violence as a political maxim was widely perceived as contradicting other programmatic aspects of SED rule. Thus, an analysis of the Combat Groups looks promising for uncovering the inner contradictions of State Socialist rule - elite consciousness vs. egalitarianism, pacifism vs. militancy, spontaneity vs. 'ruling through' - and for understanding why it finally became a failure." (author's abstract)

Object Details

• Alternative title: Proletarian virtuosos? Contradictions and faults in the elite policy of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany (GDR), using the task forces of the working class as an example
• Location: Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Frankfurt am Main
• Extent: Online-Ressource
• Language: Deutsch
• Notes: Veröffentlichungsversion ; begutachtet ; In: Totalitarismus und Demokratie ; 10 (2013) 1 ; 83-107

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Politik
• Keyword: Münkler, Herfried ; Betriebskampfgruppe ; Politische Elite ; Staatsräson ; Sozialist ; Berlin

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (where): Mannheim
• (when): 2013
• Creator: Siebeneichner, Tilmann

Further information

• URN: urn:nbn:de:0168-ssoar-426632
• Rights: Open Access unbekannt; Open Access; Der Zugriff auf das Objekt ist unbeschränkt möglich.
• Last update: 15.08.2025, 7:23 AM CEST