Peasants Mutual Aid Association

Peasants Mutual Aid Association
Vereinigung der gegenseitigen Bauernhilfe
Formation 1945-46
Extinction 1990-94
Headquarters East Berlin
Location
Membership
640,000
Chairman
 Otto Körting (1947-50)
Friedrich Wehmer (1950-64)
Ernst Wulf (1964-79)
Fritz Zeuner (1979-82)
Fritz Dallman (1982-90)
Karl Dämmrich (1990)

The Peasants Mutual Aid Association (German: Vereinigung der gegenseitigen Bauernhilfe, VdgB) was an East German mass organization for peasants and farmers (later also gardeners.) It was founded in the 1945-1946 period and was a participant in the National Front. From 1950 to 1963 and again in 1986 it had representation in the Volkskammer.[1]

In 1989 a GDR publication put the membership of the VdgB at 632,000 persons.[2] During the Peaceful Revolution the VdgB suffered due to its extensive connections with the ruling Socialist Unity Party.[3] In February 1990 it changed its name to the Farmers Association of the GDR, but was unable to make the transition from East German society to that of a reunified Germany. It was fully liquidated in 1994.

From 1979 to 1990, the VdgB operated the Ringberghaus, a large hotel east of the city of Suhl. The hotel's purpose was to provide accommodation for farmers on holiday in the Thuringian Forest, and a VdgB voucher was required for lodging.

Chairmen of the VdgB

Name Term Party
Otto KörtingNovember 1947 - March 1950 SPD, SED
Friedrich WehmerMarch 1950 - February 1964 SED
Ernst WulfMarch 1964 - October 1979 SED
Fritz ZeunerOctober 1979 - September 1982 SED
Fritz DallmannSeptember 1982 - March 1990 SED
Karl Dämmrich1990 SPD

References

  1. ↑ Gert-Joachim Glaessner. The Unification Process in Germany: From Dictatorship to Democracy. 1992. p. 33.
  2. ↑ The German Democratic Republic. Berlin: Panorama DDR. 1989. p. 37.
  3. ↑ Jonathan Osmond & Rachel Alsop. German Reunification: A Reference Guide and Commentary. 1992. p. 211.
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