The East German Writers Union and the Role of Literary Intellectuals In
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Writing in Red: The East German Writers Union and the Role of Literary Intellectuals in the German Democratic Republic, 1971-90 Thomas William Goldstein A dissertation submitted to the faculty of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Department of History. Chapel Hill 2010 Approved by: Konrad H. Jarausch Christopher Browning Chad Bryant Karen Hagemann Lloyd Kramer ©2010 Thomas William Goldstein ALL RIGHTS RESERVED ii Abstract Thomas William Goldstein Writing in Red The East German Writers Union and the Role of Literary Intellectuals in the German Democratic Republic, 1971-90 (Under the direction of Konrad H. Jarausch) Since its creation in 1950 as a subsidiary of the Cultural League, the East German Writers Union embodied a fundamental tension, one that was never resolved during the course of its forty-year existence. The union served two masters – the state and its members – and as such, often found it difficult fulfilling the expectations of both. In this way, the union was an expression of a basic contradiction in the relationship between writers and the state: the ruling Socialist Unity Party (SED) demanded ideological compliance, yet these writers also claimed to be critical, engaged intellectuals. This dissertation examines how literary intellectuals and SED cultural officials contested and debated the differing and sometimes contradictory functions of the Writers Union and how each utilized it to shape relationships and identities within the literary community and beyond it. The union was a crucial site for constructing a group image for writers, both in terms of external characteristics (values and goals for participation in wider society) and internal characteristics (norms and acceptable behavioral patterns guiding interactions with other union members). In examining the Writers Union, this project speaks to ongoing historical debates about the institutional means through which writers interacted with the dictatorship as well as debates on the nature of the East German dictatorship more generally. Its methods probe two interrelated topics: the significance iii of the Writers Union as a professional institution for the lives of its members, and the role of East German writers as public intellectuals under a socialist dictatorship. In the end, there were always powerful disincentives to using occasions provided by the union to articulate criticisms of socialism in East Germany, but by the late 1980s, writers dissatisfied with certain aspects of real existing socialism had found new ways to express their concerns through the union, and in the process expanded the limits of permissible speech under the dictatorship. iv For Elizabeth v Acknowledgments A project of this nature cannot be accomplished without the help of countless individuals, and I am delighted to thank many of them here. Funding for my research trips to Germany was provided by the Deutsche Akademischer Austausch Dienst , without which the entire project would have been impossible. While in Germany, I was aided by numerous archivists who worked diligently and thoughtfully in procuring relevant materials for my project and whose gracious help made my time there enjoyable and stimulating. Particularly helpful was the entire staff of the Akademie der Künste archive in Berlin, where I spent the majority of my time and where everyday I was greeted by friendly faces, endless patience with my language skills, and tireless assistance. I would also like to extend my deep gratitude to Michael Müller of the German Federal Archives, Raphaela Schröder of the BStU, and Monika Schmidt of Berlin’s State Archives. Various colleagues and people familiar with the subject matter also read parts of this dissertation and provided invaluable, timely feedback. At UNC, Philipp Stelzel and Jenifer Parks offered suggestions and much-needed encouragement; Chad Bryant and Brandon Hunziker each read different sections and aided my overall conceptualization with their comments; and Christopher Browning, Karen Hagemann, and Lloyd Kramer gave critical and constructive feedback. Discussions about my project with Matthias Middell were especially thought-provoking. Among historians, two individuals were particularly influential. Jeffrey Herf started me on this path many years ago when I was an undergraduate, and this dissertation is in many ways a continuation of the questions he vi inspired me to ask back then. His continued interest in my progress has helped make this process all the more rewarding. Finally, Konrad H. Jarausch guided this project from its beginnings, and it is largely because of his generous support, challenging questions, suggestions for improvement, and scholarly example that this project developed as it did. His influence on the following pages is immeasurable, as is my gratitude for everything he has inspired me to do over these past seven years. It goes without saying that any errors or shortcomings are my responsibility. A fringe benefit of this project has been to remind me how very fortunate I am to have the boundless support of friends and family. I am very lucky to have a family, especially my parents, Karen and Mark Goldstein, whose unending faith in my abilities and loving encouragement have given me great comfort throughout my life. Mark and Patricia Smith have been more than I could ever ask as parents-in-law, and they have been a steadying presence during my graduate career. Deserving special mention is Nancy Marie Tanneberger, who assisted in the conceptualization of this project and its logistical realization. More importantly, though she may not know it, her friendship and kindness while I was living in Berlin came at just the right moment and helped make my time there an experience I will never forget. Finally, this dissertation would not have been possible without Elizabeth Parish Smith, who has been by my side at every step of this process and without whose love and support over these many years I would have achieved nothing. She has been my unflagging inspiration, and it is to her that I dedicate this dissertation. vii Table of Contents List of Tables ............................................................................................................ xi List of Figures .......................................................................................................... xii List of Abbreviations .............................................................................................. xiii Introduction ............................................................................................................... 1 The East German Writers Union ....................................................... 5 East German Literature ..................................................................... 8 The East German Writers Union in Comparative Perspective ........ 11 Historiography ................................................................................. 18 Theory and Methods ........................................................................ 29 Organization .................................................................................... 43 Chapter 1 The Evolution of German Writers Associations, 1842-1970 .......... 48 Early Writers Associations in Imperial Germany, 1842-1909 ........ 50 Writers Associations of the Late Imperial and Weimar Period, 1909-1933 ........................................................................................ 55 Writers under Nazism: Gleichschaltung and the Reichsschriftumskammer, 1933-45 ................................................. 75 Cultural Associations in Occupied Germany: From Unity to Division, 1945-49 ............................................................................ 92 East German Cultural Policy under Ulbricht, 1949-70 .................. 113 Conclusions .................................................................................... 133 Chapter 2 The Socioeconomic Functions of the Writers Union, 1971-90...... 136 viii Membership Issues ........................................................................ 140 Publishing Opportunities ............................................................... 149 Publicity ......................................................................................... 165 Socioeconomic Aid ........................................................................ 175 Travel in the West .......................................................................... 192 Social Recognition ......................................................................... 203 Youth Development Work ............................................................. 212 Societal Influence ........................................................................... 228 Conclusions .................................................................................... 231 Chapter 3 The Era of No Taboos? 1971-75 .................................................... 236 Ostpolitik and Delimitation ............................................................ 241 Shaping Real Existing Socialism ................................................... 251 Socialism vs. Imperialism .............................................................. 257 The Seventh Writers Congress, 1973 ............................................. 267 Remaining Taboos .......................................................................... 300 Conclusions ...................................................................................