Video: 'Dramatic Scenes - Berlin Riots (1953)'
(Wednesday, June 17, 1953, during the East German uprising of 1953, part of the Cold War and the anti-communist insurgencies in Central and Eastern Europe) — Soviet tanks, troops, and armored cars moved into East Berlin, and martial law was declared today after 30,000 to 50,000 rioting workers had threatened to swamp the local police and seize the East German government.
The riots in East Berlin began yesterday, June 16, 1953, when construction workers took to the streets to protest declining living standards and unpopular Sovietization policies by the communist government of East Germany.
Demonstrations in East Berlin turned into a widespread uprising against the government of East Germany and the Socialist Unity Party the following day, today, involving over one million people in about 700 localities across the country.
Video: 'East German Rebellion 1953 - COLD WAR DOCUMENTARY'
Protests led to a wave of strikes and protests that were not easily brought under control and threatened to overthrow the East German government.
Between 10:00 and 11:00 a.m. Central European Time, 80 to 100 demonstrators apparently stormed the government seat, visibly demonstrating that the 500 Volkspolizei and Stasi members had been overpowered.
Then, suddenly, Soviet military vehicles appeared, followed by tanks, to repel what seemed to be an imminent takeover. Within an hour, Soviet troops cleared and isolated the area around the government headquarters.
Video: '45 85 Part 6' (June 17, 1953, at 7:07)
At noon, Soviet authorities terminated all tram and metro traffic into the Eastern sector and all but closed the sector borders to West Berlin to prevent more demonstrators from reaching the city center. An hour later, they declared martial law in East Berlin.
Outside East Berlin police headquarters, Soviet tanks opened fire on “the insurgents.” Fighting between the Soviet Army (and later GDR police) and the demonstrators persisted into the afternoon and night – with, in some cases, tanks and troops firing directly into the crowds.
Executions, most prominently of West Berlin worker Willi Gottling, and mass arrests followed. Demonstrations continued in over 500 towns and villages for several more days before dying out.
