Chapter Two: The First Five Year Plan of the People's Republic of Germany
1st of January, 1953:
The State Council, the body in which comprised Comrade von Einsendel and his peers which ran the People's Republic of Germany (PRG), convened in Berlin for the final meeting of the First Five Year Plan of the People's Republic of Germany. The atmosphere, one of smiling communists, contrasted pleasantly with the brutalist architecture surrounding them. With a nod, Comrade von Einsendel allowed Comrade Pieck to address the body.
Wilhelm Pieck (WP) "Gentlemen, comrades, today we sit here in a city none of us truly thought we'd reside in for many, many more years to come. The First Five Year Plan, while it held some set backs, was an unmarvelled success. Truly the greatest issue is to continue this success, lest the populace grow uneasy with our governance.
Nevertheless, I allow to open the summary of the government's efforts regarding foreign affairs, as well as notes of interest, to be opened by Comrade Ulbricht, People's Minister of Foreign Affairs."
Walter Ulbricht (WU) "Comrades, our foreign entente to the the occupying powers have gone far more successful than ever before though possible. While we all know what has happened, I will maintain decorum and give the report as mandated. In 1947, the world saw the concession of a democratic Austrian state by the Soviet Union in deference to the creation of a sovereign German state. As well, one saw the collapse of Chiang Kai-shek's nationalist regime in mainland China and it's retreat to the isle of Taiwan. Although Chairman Mao maintains that he will destroy the rogue province, the rest of the time spent since his victory was dedicated to eliminating opposition in the far West and South of the nation as well as the institutionalisation of the communist state.
In 1948, the year began with the formation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation by the United States, Britain, France, Portugal, Canada, and Iceland. Between this and the formation of the Turko-American supported Kurdish state under the reign of President Mustafa Barzani in the Al-Jazira Province, German delegates engaging in discussions with British and American diplomats went unnoticed by the Soviets.
1949 holds no real actions of interest except the noted failure of the Americans to launch a Jewish invasion of the Palestinian state, which was quickly defeated by allied Egyptian, Palestinian, and Jordanian forces. 1950 was a year of incredible change, as the French Republic defeated the Viet Cong in northern Vietnam, reannexed the puppet Cambodian state, and reestablished the colonial Indochinese government based in Saigon. This is a marketed success for colonisalism over the forces of decolonialisation across the world. This would be in turn supported by the lack of real outcry following reports of Dutch excesses in Java concerning the repression of the nationalism by the native populace.
Now, gentlemen, is the report you wish to hear. In 1951, following years of negotiations with the British and American governments, the American and British occupation zones were abandoned in favour of returning control to the German State. In return, the People's Republic of Germany would remove political opposition to political opposition, and join the UN as a part of the Allied sphere of influence.
This coup d'etat could only have been possible by the friendliness of the Austrian government, without which agreements could never have been reached. While the Soviets were suspicious of the alliance between the PRG and the Republic of Austria, they did not kick up enough fuss in order to really impede negotiations.
However, this has resulted in the removal of the majority of Soviet support from the PRG. Technologies, materials, teachers, and aid were removed with haste by the Soviets. Although President Comrade von Einsendel has become close to Stalin, he has taken the entire occurrence quite personally. It is unknown if actions will be taken against the PRG by the Soviets, however President Comrade von Einsendel maintains that none such issues are to occur.
For the future, our main aim is to engage the French much like we have engaged the British and Americans. However, due to French hostility and the recent power they have displayed across the world such entente between our governments would take major concessions on our part to enjoy any sort of success. In the Second Five Year Plan, this issue will be among the forefront of those addressed.
I return the attention to Comrade Pieck, who will dictate to this body the next within this body to deliver their report."
WP "Thank you Comrade Ulbricht. I know we are all excited to enjoy ourselves on our success, however we do need the report of Comrade Loch on the domestic front of the PRG. I would thank Comrade Grotewohl to refrain from drinking during this session, and keep the enjoyment until the execution of our duties. I now turn the attention to the previously stated Comrade Loch to give his report."
Hans Loch (HL) "Thank you Comrade Secretary. Domestically we have made major strides in advancing the life of the average citizen of our Glorious Republic. In 1947 we finished the connection of the nation via telephone network. Now, while not extensively known within the government, the goal of this Five Year Plan was reconstruction and education. To that end we have in the last five years, enforced compulsory secondary education as well as doubled the amount of technical schools and universities. This has allowed for the formation of a system where students can engage freely into any and all of the three sections of education during their time.
Following this, the reconstruction of the autobahn and the adoption of highspeed rail networks in the East were achieved by 1950, with the refitting of both to meet the inclusion of the former American and British occupation zones competed as of today at 2:31 pm. Furthermore, advances in the computer sciences have been noted in higher learning universities in Saxony and Pomerania, however are of no interest to the government as of yet.
Perhaps most importantly to the party are the changes in the demographics. The former East German portion of this state exceeded some 10 million individuals as of December of 1947, and with the renationalisation of the occupation zones jumped 3x to a total approximated size of 33 million individuals. A classically liberal rogue party was founded in 1948 by Comrade Christian Lindner, however no efforts at removing this party to reeducation camps have been done on the basis of our agreement with the Americans and our wish to not trigger a political war with the West. The best news is that the Social Democracy Party was absorbed into the Communist Party in November of 1952, uniting the Left and establishing an understanding between the various factions at play.
Perhaps most interestingly is that, regardless of the amount of propaganda instilled in the populace, the rise of populist politicians within and without the party have been noted across the nation. In a report I shall file tomorrow, addressing this issue as well as the future of our Party and Communism will be the primary goals of the Second Five Year Plan.
I thank the Comrade Secretary, and as such turn attention over to him."
WP "Thank you Comrade Loch. With that, we have finished this session of the State Council. I dismiss us until January 2nd, 1958, where another full meeting shall be done on the completion of the Second Five Year Plan of the People's Republic of Germany."
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((Just trying out a new format for writing to distinguish it from my other AAR, any and all feedback is appreciated))