Colonel William A. Phillips

The Peasants Mutual Aid Association (German: Vereinigung der gegenseitigen Bauernhilfe, VdgB) was an East German mass organization for peasants and farmers, later also gardeners. It was founded in the 1945–1946 period and was a participant in the National Front. From 1950 to 1963 and again in 1986, it had representation in the Volkskammer.[1]

In 1989, a GDR publication put the membership of the VdgB at 632,000 persons.[2] During the Peaceful Revolution, the VdgB suffered because of its extensive connections with the ruling Socialist Unity Party.[3] In February 1990, it changed its name to the Farmers Association of the GDR but was unable to make the transition from East German society to that of a reunified Germany. It was fully liquidated in 1994.

From 1979 to 1990, the VdgB operated the Ringberghaus, a large hotel east of the city of Suhl. The hotel's purpose was to provide accommodation for farmers on holiday in the Thuringian Forest, and a VdgB voucher was required for lodging.

Chairmen of the VdgB

Name Term Party
Otto Körting November 1947 – March 1950 SPD, SED
Friedrich Wehmer March 1950 – February 1964 SED
Ernst Wulf March 1964 – October 1979 SED
Fritz Zeuner October 1979 – September 1982 SED
Fritz Dallmann September 1982 – March 1990 SED
Karl Dämmrich 1990 SPD

References

  1. ^ Gert-Joachim Glaessner. The Unification Process in Germany: From Dictatorship to Democracy. 1992. p. 33.
  2. ^ The German Democratic Republic. Berlin: Panorama DDR. 1989. p. 37.
  3. ^ Jonathan Osmond & Rachel Alsop. German Reunification: A Reference Guide and Commentary. 1992. p. 211.

External links

source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peasants_Mutual_Aid_Association