The Socialist Unity Party of Germany (SED), which was formed by the forced merger of the Communist Party and the Social Democratic Party in the Soviet occupation zone, became the largest party but achieved an absolute majority in only one state. The SED was created in view of the holding of elections in the Soviet zone, as a first step for future political reforms.
In addition to the SED, three other parties participated; the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the Peasants Mutual Aid Association (VdgB). Two other organizations participated but only in Saxony. The SED landslide victory was seen by Soviet authorities as a justification for the development of socialism in their zone. The occupation authorities quickly dropped all pretense of liberal democracy, and cajoled the other parties into forming a "coalition" in which only the SED had any real power. By the time of the elections for a constitutional assembly in 1949, voters only had the option of approving or rejecting a "unity list" put forward by the SED-dominated Democratic Bloc.
The next state elections were held in 1950, after the establishment of the German Democratic Republic.
Mathias Tullner (1997). Zwischen Demokratie und Diktatur. Die Kommunalwahlen und die Wahlen zum Provinziallandtag in Sachsen-Anhalt im Jahre 1946, Magdeburgo, pp. 95–98.
Richard Schachtner (1956). Die deutschen Nachkriegswahlen: Wahlergebnisse in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland, in den deutschen Bundesländern, in West-Berlin, im Saarland und in der Sowjetzone (DDR) 1946-19, Isar-Verlag, Múnich, pp. 77-78.
Günter Braun: Wahlen und Abstimmungen. In: Martin Broszat, Hermann Weber (1990). SBZ-Handbuch, Oldenbourg, Múnich, pp. 397, 396 & 418.
Herbert Gottwald (1994). Der Thüringer Landtag 1946-1952. Thüringer Landtag in Verbindung mit Wartburg Verlag, Jena, pp. 56, 81 & 101.
Karl-Heinz Hajna (2000). Die Landtagswahlen 1946 in der SBZ, Peter Lang, Frankfurt am Main, ISBN3-631-35950-0
February 16, 2024
1946, soviet, occupation, zone, state, elections, state, elections, were, held, soviet, occupation, zone, germany, october, 1946, elect, state, legislatures, mecklenburg, vorpommern, brandenburg, saxony, saxony, anhalt, thuringia, they, were, only, elections, . State elections were held in the Soviet occupation zone of Germany on 20 October 1946 to elect the state legislatures of Mecklenburg Vorpommern Brandenburg Saxony Saxony Anhalt and Thuringia They were the only elections held in the future territory of East Germany before the establishment of the German Democratic Republic in 1949 and the only free and fair elections in that part of Germany between 1932 and the Peaceful Revolution 1946 Soviet occupation zone state elections20 October 1946 1950 Registered11 454 837Turnout91 0 Majority party Minority party Third party Party SED CDU LDPSeats won 249 133 121Popular vote 4 685 304 2 411 033 2 418 841Percentage 47 57 24 48 24 56 Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party Party VdgB Kulturbund FrauenausschusseSeats won 15 1 0Popular vote 296 111 19 148 18 340Percentage 3 01 0 19 0 19 SED Electoral advertisement in East Berlin The Socialist Unity Party of Germany SED which was formed by the forced merger of the Communist Party and the Social Democratic Party in the Soviet occupation zone became the largest party but achieved an absolute majority in only one state The SED was created in view of the holding of elections in the Soviet zone as a first step for future political reforms In addition to the SED three other parties participated the Christian Democratic Union CDU the Liberal Democratic Party LDP and the Peasants Mutual Aid Association VdgB Two other organizations participated but only in Saxony The SED landslide victory was seen by Soviet authorities as a justification for the development of socialism in their zone The occupation authorities quickly dropped all pretense of liberal democracy and cajoled the other parties into forming a coalition in which only the SED had any real power By the time of the elections for a constitutional assembly in 1949 voters only had the option of approving or rejecting a unity list put forward by the SED dominated Democratic Bloc The next state elections were held in 1950 after the establishment of the German Democratic Republic Contents 1 Results 1 1 Overall 1 2 Brandenburg 1 3 Mecklenburg Vorpommern 1 4 Saxony 1 5 Saxony Anhalt 1 6 Thuringia 2 See also 3 ReferencesResults editOverall edit PartyVotes SeatsSocialist Unity Party of Germany4 685 30447 57249Liberal Democratic Party of Germany2 418 84124 56121Christian Democratic Union2 411 03324 48133Peasants Mutual Aid Association296 1113 0115Cultural Association19 1480 191Women s Committees18 3400 190Total9 848 777100 00519Valid votes9 848 77794 54Invalid blank votes569 2795 46Total votes10 418 056100 00Registered voters turnout11 449 62090 99Brandenburg edit PartyVotes SeatsSocialist Unity Party of Germany634 78643 5244Christian Democratic Union442 20630 3231Liberal Democratic Party of Germany298 31120 4520Peasants Mutual Aid Association83 2715 715Total1 458 574100 00100Valid votes1 458 57496 21Invalid blank votes57 4133 79Total votes1 515 987100 00Registered voters turnout1 655 98091 55Source Wahlen in DeutschlandMecklenburg Vorpommern edit PartyVotes SeatsSocialist Unity Party of Germany551 59449 5345Christian Democratic Union379 82934 1031Liberal Democratic Party of Germany138 66212 4511Peasants Mutual Aid Association43 6633 923Total1 113 748100 0090Valid votes1 113 74894 53Invalid blank votes64 4635 47Total votes1 178 211100 00Registered voters turnout1 308 72790 03Source Wahlen in DeutschlandSaxony edit PartyVotes SeatsSocialist Unity Party of Germany1 616 06849 1159Liberal Democratic Party of Germany813 22424 7130Christian Democratic Union766 85923 3028Peasants Mutual Aid Association57 3561 742Cultural Association19 1480 581Women s Committees18 3400 560Total3 290 995100 00120Valid votes3 290 99593 54Invalid blank votes227 1136 46Total votes3 518 108100 00Registered voters turnout3 803 41692 50Source Wahlen in DeutschlandSaxony Anhalt edit PartyVotes SeatsSocialist Unity Party of Germany1 063 88945 7951Liberal Democratic Party of Germany695 68529 9432Christian Democratic Union507 39721 8424Peasants Mutual Aid Association56 6302 442Total2 323 601100 00109Valid votes2 323 60194 15Invalid blank votes144 3635 85Total votes2 467 964100 00Registered voters turnout2 695 41691 56Source Wahlen in DeutschlandThuringia edit PartyVotes SeatsSocialist Unity Party of Germany818 96749 2850Liberal Democratic Party of Germany472 95928 4628Christian Democratic Union314 74218 9419Peasants Mutual Aid Association55 1913 323Total1 661 859100 00100Valid votes1 661 85995 63Invalid blank votes75 9274 37Total votes1 737 786100 00Registered voters turnout1 986 08187 50Source Wahlen in DeutschlandSee also editStates of East Germany 1946 Berlin state election also held in East Berlin References editMartin Broszat Gerhard Braas Hermann Weber 1993 SBZ Handbuch ISBN 3 486 55262 7 Mathias Tullner 1997 Zwischen Demokratie und Diktatur Die Kommunalwahlen und die Wahlen zum Provinziallandtag in Sachsen Anhalt im Jahre 1946 Magdeburgo pp 95 98 Richard Schachtner 1956 Die deutschen Nachkriegswahlen Wahlergebnisse in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland in den deutschen Bundeslandern in West Berlin im Saarland und in der Sowjetzone DDR 1946 19 Isar Verlag Munich pp 77 78 Gunter Braun Wahlen und Abstimmungen In Martin Broszat Hermann Weber 1990 SBZ Handbuch Oldenbourg Munich pp 397 396 amp 418 Herbert Gottwald 1994 Der Thuringer Landtag 1946 1952 Thuringer Landtag in Verbindung mit Wartburg Verlag Jena pp 56 81 amp 101 Karl Heinz Hajna 2000 Die Landtagswahlen 1946 in der SBZ Peter Lang Frankfurt am Main ISBN 3 631 35950 0 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 1946 Soviet occupation zone state elections amp oldid 1177678465, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
