Skip to content

Results:

1 - 10 of 14

Documents

July 4, 1953

Telephonogram from Miroshnichenko and Lun’kov to Soviet High Commissioner V. Semyonov Regarding Inter-zone Travel

Telegram describing discontent of the German population living in East Berlin at the disruption caused by the restrictions imposed on intra-zones travel as a result of the events of 17 June 1953. The telegram recommends actions to be taken to improve the movement of people across the Berlin border.

June 17, 1953

Telephonogram from Vladimir Semyonov and Marshal Vasilii Sokolovskii to Vyacheslav Molotov and Nikolai Bulganin Reporting on the Situation in East Berlin, as of 11:00 p.m. CET

Cable to the Soviet leadership describing the situation in East Berlin after the imposition of the curfew. The cable reports that at least 700 people have been arrested in East Germany, 300 of which were in the Soviet sector of Berlin. East German police and Soviet troops have taken control of the border of East Berlin to prevent "provocateur elements" from entering the Soviet sector.

July 1, 1953

Telephonogram from Miroshnichenko and Lunkov to Semenov, [early July 1953]

On 17 June, the Soviet military had stopped all cross-sector travel, causing widespread resentment among many East Germans who worked in the Western sectors or crossed them on their way to work. Under pressure from the East German population in the days following the uprising, SED leaders and local Soviet High Commission officials urged Semenov, then in Moscow for the Extraordinary CPSU Plenum, to normalize the traffic situation in Berlin. Semenov, following Molotov’s orders, informed Ulbricht that the question of free movement across the sector border “must be decided by the [German] comrades themselves, taking the situation into account.” On 7 July, tram and metro traffic between the sectors in Berlin was restored.

July 15, 1953

Memorandum from S. Kruglov to G.M. Malenkov

Kruglov reports on the arrest of organizers during the East German protests.

June 18, 1953

Secret Telephone Report by V. Semenov and V. Sokolovski in Berlin to V. M. Molotov, 18 June 1953, Morning

On June 18th the Soviets began actively to include German organizations and SED party organizations to restore order in Berlin. At 9:30 a.m. at the Brandenburg gates, employees of the people's police of the GDR were fired upon from the direction of West Berlin. The people's police fired several shots in return, as a result of which one West Berlin policeman was killed.

June 19, 1953

Secret Telephonogram from V. Semenov and V. Sokolovskii in Berlin to V. Molotov and N.A. Bulganin (1), 19 June 1953, Midnight

According to Semenov and Sokolovskii the mood of the populace had improved. They reported that the commandants of the Western sectors of Berlin had issued a decree to the effect that any demonstrations in West Berlin could only take place after receiving permission from the commandants. The need for this decree was based on the situation which has arisen and on the preservation of security and order.

June 19, 1953

Secret Telephonogram from V. Semenov and V. Sokolovskii to V. Molotov and N. Bulganin (2), 19 June 1953, 7:50 p.m.

V. Semenov and V. Sokolovskii stated that in Berlin all enterprises were working at normal capacity and life in Berlin was proceeding normally.

June 19, 1953

Telephonogram from V. Semenov and V. Sokolovskii in Berlin to V. Molotov and N.A. Bulganin, 19 June 1953 (2)

According to V. Semenev and V. Sokolovskii there were small remnants of strikes in some comparatively minor points throughout the Republic. In the provinces of the GDR there was also evidence of the dispatch of American agents from West Berlin and West Germany.

June 19, 1953

Telephonogram from V. Semenov and V. Sokolovskii in Berlin to V. Molotov and N.A. Bulganin (3), 19 June 1953, 5:35 p.m.

Semenov and Sokolovskii described the alleged capture of infiltrating parachutists in the night of 17 June.

June 20, 1953

Telephonogram from V. Semenov and V. Sokolovskii in Berlin to V. Molotov and N.A. Bulganin, 20 June 1953, 5:50 p.m.

V. Semenov and V. Sokolovsk stated that, although the the situation in the GDR and in East Berlin is generally peaceful, there are still some local strike movements in several areas.

Pagination