1949 East German Constitutional Assembly election

none March 2017 East Germany 1949 parliamentary 95.23% 15–16 May 1949 1938 German parliamentary election and referendum 1938(pre-partition) 1950 East German general election 1950 List of Reichstag deputies in the Third Reich (4th electoral term) List of Provisional Volkskammer members All 1,525 seats in the German People's Congress Fotothek df roe-neg 0002793 004 Portrait Wilhelm Piecks im Publikum der Bachfeier.jpg Wilhelm Pieck Democratic Bloc Socialist Unity Party of Germany 22 April 1946 1,525 Chairman of the Council of Ministers Chairman of the Council of Ministers after election Otto Grotewohl Socialist Unity Party of Germany thumb|Ballot paper Elections for the Third German People's Congress were held in East Germany on 15 and 16 May 1949.Dirk Spilker (2006) The East German Leadership and the Division of Germany: Patriotism and Propaganda 1945-1953, Clarendon Press, p184 Voters were presented with a "Unity List" from the "Bloc of the Anti-Fascist Democratic Parties," which was dominated by the Communist-leaning Socialist Unity Party of Germany (SED). Overview The ballot was worded "I am for the unity of Germany and a just peace treaty. I therefore vote for the following list of candidates for the Third German People's Congress."Die Republik der Partei at Die Zeit with voters having the options of voting "yes" and "no".Ballot paper Direct Democracy (de Ich bin für die Einheit Deutschlands und einen gerechten Friedensvertrag. Ich stimme darum für die nachstehende Kandidatenliste zum Dritten Deutschen Volkskongreß.)Stimmzettel zum 3. Deutschen Volkskongress https://www.hdg.de/lemo/bestand/objekt/plakat-stimmzettel-mecklenburg-deutscher-volkskongress.html www.hdg.de 20 June 2025 de March 1949 In much of the country, the vote was not secret.Germany at Encyclopædia Britannica According to official figures, 95.2 percent of eligible voters cast their ballots, with 66 percent approving the list.Dieter Nohlen & Phillip Stöver (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, p771 978-3-8329-5609-7 This was the lowest level of support ever recorded for an SED-dominated bloc during the four decades of Communist rule, despite the election taking place under conditions that significantly constrained genuine political competition. In all subsequent elections until the Peaceful Revolution four decades later, the National Front, which succeeded the Democratic Bloc, would consistently claim 99 percent or more of the vote. Results File:1949 Volkskongress.svg Democratic Bloc 14 Socialist Unity Party 7943949 14 450 #DC241F Christian Democratic Union 225 Liberal Democratic Party 225 Cooperatives 100 #696969 Democratic Farmers' Party 75 National Democratic Party 75 Democratic Women's League 50 Free German Trade Union Federation 50 Free German Youth 50 Cultural Association 50 Peasants Mutual Aid Association 50 Union of Persecutees of the Nazi Regime 50 Social Democratic Party (East Berlin) 25 Independents 50 Against 4080272 863013 13533071 Nohlen & Stöver Aftermath The Constitutional Assembly adopted East Germany's first constitution in October, and proclaimed the establishment of the German Democratic Republic on 7 October. It then transformed itself into the first Volkskammer. References East German Constitutional Assembly election Category:Elections in East Germany Category:Single-candidate elections East Germany Category:Aftermath of World War II in Germany Category:German reunification East Germany Category:Constituent assembly elections in Europe