Chapter XXIX: Rise of the SED
As soon as the Soviets took control of all German and Austrian lands, the great priority of Marshal Zhukov was the consolidation of Soviet rule in the area. Unlike what happened in other European countries, the German people would not easily tolerate the imposition of a long Soviet occupation, and thus it was necessary to lay the groundwork for the formation of a friendly government in Germany. One of the first problems Zhukov faced was to eliminate the democratic consciousness of the people of Germany, for which he nominated Sergei Tuilpanov as responsible of pro -Soviet propaganda in the area, and trusted NKVD´s agent Ivan Serov as new Commissar of Internal Affairs for the occupation zone. Soon, Serov would become Zhukov’s right hand and one of the most important figures in the area of occupation, a fact that was reinforced when Zhukov accepted his request to create and direct a pro-soviet police throughout Germany.
Ivan Serov was a key figure in the Soviet occupation policy
Formed in late 1945, the Volkspolizei was initially headed by Serov and was entrusted the task of "keeping order in the streets and purging the country of the enemies of the proletariat." Mainly composed by former supporters of the KPD, the police force would serve as a real cleaning brigade, both to investigate any movements suspicious to the Soviets and to arrest all those who demanded more freedom and independence from Moscow. Throughout the year, thousands of former political activists were arrested and executed or sent to re-education camps, and by the end of the year there were few who dared to rise against the oppressive Soviet policies.
Members of the Volkspolizei interrogating a suspicious citizen
However, the fate of the main political leaders of the previous democratic era would be more theatrical, as Stalin had ordered that a public trial should be conducted against the Government of Vogel and against "all those groups and individuals who have worked against the establishment of the proletarian dictatorship in Germany”. Thus, all members of the previous government were accused of "crimes against the people and incitement to war", and so were several trade union or religious leaders and the leading politicians of the democratic opposition. With a large press coverage, the massive trial would be held in Potsdam and conducted by the Soviet judges Iona Nikitchenko, Alexander Volchkov and a representative of the Western Allies, the British judge Norman Birkett.
Once the trial started, Lieutenant-General Roman Andreyevich Rudenko began his turn as prosecutor, in which hundreds of dubious evidence and suspicious witness statements tended to ensure that the cabinets of Wels and Vogel had conspired in secret to install a German tyranny all across Europe. While no one doubted what the outcome of the trial would be, the British judge understood that it would not be possible to act with any impartiality in the matter, and announced his resignation to “participate in such legal farce “. However, the Russians did not hesitate to follow the course of the trial, during which all the defendants declared in order of importance.
Alexander Volchkov, Iona Nikitchenko and Norman Birkett
The climax came with the statement by former Chancellor Wels. Sick and exhausted, everything seemed to presage that Wels would argue health issues not to testify, but to the astonishment of all present he conducted a titanic effort and stood up saying that " the will of the German people would never be bowed down, and even after decades of oppression it would rise from the ashes “. The passionate speech he gave then was abruptly interrupted by the Soviet authorities, who gave order to close the hall and appointed a final date for the lecture of the verdict. Interestingly, Wels died in strange circumstances that same night, and a few days later the court considered guilty most of the defendants. Vogel, Hugenberg, Crispien and hundreds of democratic leaders were sentenced to death and executed the same day. The red devil took its toll in blood.
Former Reichsbank´s President Hjalmar Schacht facing the Soviet trial
For its part, the Soviet Union signed a new Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation with the Republic of Tuva, which effectively meant the annexation of the former state by USSR, and after the Soviet capture of Helsinki the Finnish armies finally surrendered. Following the guidelines of Stalin, another puppet government was established in Finland, and the long hand of communism had already reached Scandinavia.
Members of the Komintern in 1946
In the international arena, the British returned the provinces under British control to the Egyptians, fulfilling his promise to leave the military occupation after the danger of the Italian invasion had vanished. In Asia, the Americans once again made use of its nuclear arsenal, and the city of Saigon was reduced to ashes and was quickly captured by the troops of Chiang Kai Shek. In Brazil, the Brazilian Army defeated the allies once more and regained control of the jungles in the north. Undoubtedly, Brazil had managed to maintain its independence until now, but many wondered if Americans would not end using their nuclear arsenal against Vargas or if the Russians would not try to extend their claws to South America sooner or later.
The horror! The horror!
Back in Germany, Marshal Zhukov announced in a statement that “the progress made in the last year allowed a final step towards the liberation of Germany”, and after a long press statement the Soviet Occupation Zone announced the possibility that the "different political parties in Germany were integrated into the Sozialistische Einheitspartei Deutschlands”. Such an invitation was nothing but a direct order from Moscow, and the members of the SPD, CDU and KPD who were still alive were forced to join the new party. In a crowded meeting in Berlin, the General Secretary Walter Ulbricht announced that he reached “an agreement with the Soviet authorities for the creation of an independent German state”, but despite the applause and "spontaneous" demonstrations for this news, no one had any illusions: the USSR had achieved to create and control all the tools to control the future German government.
Walter Ulbricht announcing the agreement with the Soviet Union
