June 2, 1953
Otto Grotewohl’s Notes on Meetings between East German and Soviet Leaders in Moscow
Malenkov
Semyonov
Beria
Grechko
Molotov
Kaganovich
Khrushchev
Ulbricht
Bulganin
Oelssner
Mikoyan
Gr[otewohl]
Concerned about GDR
Document on Measures for Improvement
Read by Oelssner
continuation at 10:00 on 3 June
_________________________
6/3/53 Continuation
the same composition
Malenkov: the starting-point for everything has to be a change in conditions in the GDR.
Beria: We all have made mistakes; no accusations
Molotov: So many mistakes, therefore correcting it in a way that all of G[ermany] can see it.
Khrushchev: L.P.G. greatest [degree of ] voluntarism
Beria: correct fast and vigorously--that document you can take back again with you
Kaganovich: the flight from the republic is bad. Our document is reversal, yours is reform.
Mikoyan: without revision of the five-year plan (heavy industry), the reversal is impossible
Why iron and steel works since one can buy pig iron.
Malenkov: Not to worry about prestige; if we don't correct [the situation] now, a catastrophe will happen. Frank corrections.
Soul
Lenin = NEP policy
Delayed--lost much time.
One has to act quickly.
Calm work style.
Ulbricht: no panic within the L.P.G.
1) lowering of the requisition quotas
2) improve equipment of MTS
food we want to help
Mistake to do everything yourself since you can't
first small group
Document
no airplanes
no tanks
immediately [illegible] measures
6/4/53 [...]
We recognize that the assessment of the political and economic situation in the G.D.R. as contained in the documents given to us yesterday is correct.
1) Intention to submit it to Politburo
2) and to call for a meeting of the CC Plenum
Oelssner will read
Some questions:
1) Socialism (Technical norms a[nd] socialist competition)
Construction of the foundations of socialism--recently
forced construction
2) Dissolution of LPG
500,000 ha. Fallow--1/10 of the total acreage
2a) food--100,000 t. wheat
3) Five-year plan--heavy industry--Effect on foreign trade and reparations
4) Situation of the working class (Social Insurance)
5) Elimination of the ration system
6) Extraordinary expenses (what and how)
Garrisoned [People's Police]
7) Agents and espionage
Semyonov
Beria
Grechko
Molotov
Kaganovich
Khrushchev
Ulbricht
Bulganin
Oelssner
Mikoyan
Gr[otewohl]
Concerned about GDR
Document on Measures for Improvement
Read by Oelssner
continuation at 10:00 on 3 June
_________________________
6/3/53 Continuation
the same composition
Malenkov: the starting-point for everything has to be a change in conditions in the GDR.
Beria: We all have made mistakes; no accusations
Molotov: So many mistakes, therefore correcting it in a way that all of G[ermany] can see it.
Khrushchev: L.P.G. greatest [degree of ] voluntarism
Beria: correct fast and vigorously--that document you can take back again with you
Kaganovich: the flight from the republic is bad. Our document is reversal, yours is reform.
Mikoyan: without revision of the five-year plan (heavy industry), the reversal is impossible
Why iron and steel works since one can buy pig iron.
Malenkov: Not to worry about prestige; if we don't correct [the situation] now, a catastrophe will happen. Frank corrections.
Soul
Lenin = NEP policy
Delayed--lost much time.
One has to act quickly.
Calm work style.
Ulbricht: no panic within the L.P.G.
1) lowering of the requisition quotas
2) improve equipment of MTS
food we want to help
Mistake to do everything yourself since you can't
first small group
Document
no airplanes
no tanks
immediately [illegible] measures
6/4/53 [...]
We recognize that the assessment of the political and economic situation in the G.D.R. as contained in the documents given to us yesterday is correct.
1) Intention to submit it to Politburo
2) and to call for a meeting of the CC Plenum
Oelssner will read
Some questions:
1) Socialism (Technical norms a[nd] socialist competition)
Construction of the foundations of socialism--recently
forced construction
2) Dissolution of LPG
500,000 ha. Fallow--1/10 of the total acreage
2a) food--100,000 t. wheat
3) Five-year plan--heavy industry--Effect on foreign trade and reparations
4) Situation of the working class (Social Insurance)
5) Elimination of the ration system
6) Extraordinary expenses (what and how)
Garrisoned [People's Police]
7) Agents and espionage
Consulations between Soviet and GDR leaders to improve the economic situation in GDR
Author(s):
Associated Places
Associated Topics
Document Information
Source
Stiftung “Archiv der Parteien und Massenorganisationen der ehemaligen DDR” im Bundesarchiv (SAPMO-BArch), DY 30 J IV 2/2/286. Translated by Christian Ostermann.
Original Archive
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