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The Better Concept. SPD. A European Germany

Poster
1990 (designed and printed)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This is a campaign poster issued by the SPD (Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands - German Social Democratic party) for the first and only free parliamentary elections ('Volkskammerwahl') in East Germany (GDR-German Democratic Republic) on the 18th of March 1990. The elections took place between the fall of the Berlin Wall in November 1989 and the reunification of East and West Germany.

The text - 'Das bessere Konzept - SPD - ein europäisches Deutschland' means 'The better concept - SPD - a European Germany'. The poster is an example of the SPD's retaliation against the aggressive smear campaign undertaken by the Alliance for Germany coalition parties.

The history of the SPD within the German Democratic Republic (GDR) ended in 1948, when it was forced to merge with the KPD (Communist party of Germany) to form the SED ('Sozialistische Einheitspartei Deutschlands - 'Socialist Unity Party of Germany'). The SPD was newly established (initially as the SDP) on the 7th of October 1989 - the anniversary of the founding of the GDR. For the election campaign the SPD was supported by its sister party in West Germany. One of the main arguments for voting for the SPD was the fact that the CDU-East (Christian Democratic Union) had been the partner of the SED since 1949 as a satellite party within the National Front. However, the SPD parties did not communicate a determined intention for German reunification – as the CDU did. This accounted for them losing the absolute majority they aspired to. On 26th of September 1990 SPD-East and SPD-West united.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Titles
  • The Better Concept. SPD. A European Germany (generic title)
  • Pro-democracy Poster Collection (named collection)
Materials and techniques
Lithograph printed in black, red and grey on paper
Brief description
Poster, lithograph, 'The better concept - SPD - a European Germany', issued by the SPD (Social Democratic Party) for their campaign for the first free parliamentary elections in the German Democratic Republic (GDR), GDR, 1990
Physical description
Poster comprising only text printed in red, grey, dark grey and black.
Dimensions
  • Height: 57.4cm
  • Width: 81.25cm
Marks and inscriptions
'Das bessere konzept SPD Ein Europäisches Deutschland'
Translation
'The better concept SPD. A European Germany'
Historical context
Poster issued by the Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands [Social Democratic Party of Germany] for the East German elections of 18 March 1990
Subject depicted
Summary
This is a campaign poster issued by the SPD (Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands - German Social Democratic party) for the first and only free parliamentary elections ('Volkskammerwahl') in East Germany (GDR-German Democratic Republic) on the 18th of March 1990. The elections took place between the fall of the Berlin Wall in November 1989 and the reunification of East and West Germany.

The text - 'Das bessere Konzept - SPD - ein europäisches Deutschland' means 'The better concept - SPD - a European Germany'. The poster is an example of the SPD's retaliation against the aggressive smear campaign undertaken by the Alliance for Germany coalition parties.

The history of the SPD within the German Democratic Republic (GDR) ended in 1948, when it was forced to merge with the KPD (Communist party of Germany) to form the SED ('Sozialistische Einheitspartei Deutschlands - 'Socialist Unity Party of Germany'). The SPD was newly established (initially as the SDP) on the 7th of October 1989 - the anniversary of the founding of the GDR. For the election campaign the SPD was supported by its sister party in West Germany. One of the main arguments for voting for the SPD was the fact that the CDU-East (Christian Democratic Union) had been the partner of the SED since 1949 as a satellite party within the National Front. However, the SPD parties did not communicate a determined intention for German reunification – as the CDU did. This accounted for them losing the absolute majority they aspired to. On 26th of September 1990 SPD-East and SPD-West united.
Collection
Accession number
E.3087-1990

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Record createdJanuary 26, 2009
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