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The Five-Year Plan for 1951-1955 (1950)

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II. Agriculture

1. The most important agricultural objective for the years 1951 to 1955 is to increase crop yields and animal stocks as much as possible in order to meet the population’s food needs mainly from the republic’s own resources. Over the course of five years, peacetime levels must be surpassed as regards the volume of agricultural production, the level of crop yields, and the productivity of stock-breeding. Total yields for basic crops are set as follows for 1955 (gross yields):

Grains and legumes

7,312,500 tons

Oleaginous and fibrous plants (grains)

279,000 tons

Sugar beets

6,804,000 tons

Potatoes

17,000,000 tons



The gross yields of agricultural crops must be increased as follows over the median yearly yields of the prewar period (1934 to 1938):

Grain and legumes

about 111 percent

Oleaginous and fibrous plants

about 708 percent

Sugar beets

about 125.7 percent

Potatoes

about 125.4 percent



[ . . . ]

VI. The Allocation and Training of Workers for the National Economy

1. A large number of newly trained workers, technicians, engineers, and specialists are needed for all branches of industry and agriculture in order to ensure that the national economy of the republic progresses as laid out in the Five-Year Plan.

In contrast to West Germany, where the forced unemployment of millions is worsening – and will continue to worsen – the German Democratic Republic is already suffering from a shortage of workers in some branches of industry. To prevent an even more severe shortage, measures must be taken both to provide the national economy with the required workers, technicians, and engineers, and to continue mechanizing the production process, particularly in areas such as coal and ore mining. This will allow the country to overcome its shortage of workers and to achieve the projected production levels.

2. The number of employees in the national economy is set at 7.6 million for 1955. They fall into the following categories:

Industry

2,800,000

Transportation

468,000

Construction

570,000



Compared with 1950, the total number of employees must grow to 113.3%, or by 890,000 persons. Of these, 448,000 will work in industry, 230,000 in construction, 25,000 in transportation, and 56,000 in commerce. [ . . . ]



Source: Protokoll des III. Parteitages der SED (20.-24. Juli 1950) [Protocol of the III. Party Congress of the SED (July 20-24, 1950)]. East Berlin, 1951, p. 276, 278-80, 296-97; reprinted in H. Weber, Von der SBZ zur DDR 1945-1968 [From the Soviet Occupation Zone to the GDR 1945-1968]. Hannover, 1968, p. 283-85.

Translation: Adam Blauhut

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