Oldal 6 [6]
OCR
KeAsl 2s peptember 52. - page six astern Germany point to the fact that the minister of Kducationy Paul Wandel - although old time communist and Moscow man — has been replaced by his forceful and redical Secretary of State, urs.slse Sixx Zaisser, the wife of General Zaisser. Her name in Lastern Germany equals a progralie Reaction and hopes. Populations in Eastern Germany, as a general rule, live rather miserably. Seeing the masses, one is impressed about their physical aspect, which atere distinguéshes them entirely from the man in the street in Western Germanys The Masterner shows the undeniable signs of insufficient nourishment, of tiredness and overwork; he is badly dressed and seems under constant pressurée It is true: the working populations are living more than poorely: housing is bad and scaree; goods are rationed and often even those unobtainable; salaries are low, while the cost of living is constantly rising. Con tly, both men and women, have to work hard and long hours, if they want to make ends somewhat meet. Strangely enough, the only ones who are better off in that Seople's Democracy, are the elites: the intellectuals, the professionals, the scientists and artists. They are better paid, better housed, are given all opportunities and, in many instances, are not even forced to enter the ‘arty; aS long as they work and do not oppose the regime. However, if they are discovered to be "saboteurs", then the punishment is mercilesse In the same group of favored people are classified the "“aktivisten", the labor heroes, who have broken the record of production. However their glory does not last: once they have overworked themselves and break down, the regime has no more use for theme They are replaced by a new heroe - Ned@dless to say that the Party officials and those in the top administration, rank highly in the group of the elites and enjoy all the advantages granted to theme Although repressed and miserable, the masses of the population and even these of the "elites" who in their heart do not agree with the regime, have no means of open action. From morning to night, they live in an atmssphere of constant propaganda and constant control. No one has an entirely clear conscience, because laws are retro-active, because spices are everywhere, because each person is forced into some dependency towards the state of which he cannot free himself. it is a sword of Damocles that hangs over the heads of every single person behind the Iror Curtain, without exception. It is one of the strengths of human natuee that, despite such pressure, hope is maintainede The general opinion among Eastern Germans is that this might last for another year. They feel that they could not stand it much longere Then "it", that is the change, will happens It would be of utter importance for the West to understand what. the Hast is thinking of the future. “+t is most revealing to see, how the definitaion of thes "it", of the solution, has recently changede As long as Moscow preached the peace campaing, the general expectation was an impending ware Now Mast German opinion has changed its outlook: it feels that the soviets are showing signs of weakness; their present Sy.
