Editing Eastern Bloc (section)

===1953 East Germany uprising===
{{main|Uprising of 1953 in East Germany}}
Three months after the death of [[Joseph Stalin]], a dramatic increase of emigration ([[Republikflucht]], [[brain drain]]) occurred from [[East Germany]] in the first half-year of 1953. Large numbers of East Germans traveled west through the only "loophole" left in the [[Eastern Bloc emigration and defection|Eastern Bloc emigration restrictions]], the Berlin sector border.<ref name="crampton278">{{Harvnb|Crampton|1997|p=278}}</ref> The East German government then raised "norms" – the amount each worker was required to produce – by 10%.<ref name="crampton278"/> Already disaffected East Germans, who could see the relative economic successes of West Germany within Berlin, became enraged.<ref name="crampton278"/> Angry building workers initiated street protests, and were soon joined by others in a march to the Berlin trade union headquarters.<ref name="crampton278"/>

While no official spoke to them at that location, by 2:00&nbsp;pm, the East German government agreed to withdraw the "norm" increases.<ref name="crampton279"/> However, the crisis had already escalated such that the demands were now political, including free elections, disbanding the army and resignation of the government.<ref name="crampton279">{{Harvnb|Crampton|1997|p=279}}</ref> By 17 June, strikes were recorded in 317 locations involving approximately 400,000 workers.<ref name="crampton279"/> When strikers set ruling [[Socialist Unity Party of Germany|SED]] party buildings aflame and tore the flag from the [[Brandenburg Gate]], SED General Secretary [[Walter Ulbricht]] left Berlin.<ref name="crampton279"/>

A major emergency was declared and the Soviet [[Red Army]] stormed some important buildings.<ref name="crampton279"/> Within hours, Soviet tanks arrived, but they did not immediately fire upon all workers.<ref name="crampton279"/> Rather, a gradual pressure was applied.<ref name="crampton279"/> Approximately 16 Soviet divisions with 20,000 soldiers from the [[Group of Soviet Forces in Germany]] using tanks, as well as 8,000 [[Kasernierte Volkspolizei]] members, were employed. Bloodshed could not be entirely avoided, with the official death toll standing at 21, while the actual casualty toll may have been much higher.<ref name="crampton279"/> Thereafter, 20,000 arrests took place along with 40 executions.<ref name="crampton279"/>