Berlin (East), capital of the GDR

East Berlin was the capital of the German Democratic Republic (GDR) as well as the seat of the government, despite being a Soviet occupied sector.

Regularly there were grand military parades of the Nationalen Volksarmee (NVA) that also engaged the young citizens from the East part of the city.

West Berlin became the Mekka for the young men who rejected the military services from the entire Federal Republic of Germany (FRG). They did not have to go to the army if they lived there because of agreements with the allied forces.

All parties of the GDR had their headquarters in East Berlin. The city was officially the political and cultural center of the country. However, since 1950 it was not possible to choose any one of these parties and only together they formed the block of the "Nationalen Front".

At the elections the citizens could choose to submit their vote for this block or not. In any case, and with whatever means, the turnout of the elections would regularly result in a 99% overall agreement for the candidates of the ?national front?. This, however, was not the result of a very free election.