After the protests, the Americans were quickly the subject of blame due to their hand in the uprising directing events via RIAS. The Americans, sensing weakness within the GDR, decided to instate food distribution programs in the hopes of inciting another revolution.
"the message [of the protesters] was the same as in the RIAS broadcasts."
Naumov, Report on the Events in Berlin on 16 and 17 June 1953
"the government in East Berlin blamed the [RIAS] for inciting the [East German Uprising]"
Plaum, And Never Tune in to RIAS Again!
"[The SED] realized the crucial significance of RIAS broadcasts for the spreading of the uprising."
Ostermann- The United States, the East German Uprising of 1953, and the Limits of Rollback
The RIAS broadcasts provided communication between cities, alerting people of the plans to strike on the 17th (Naumov). This let the revolution spread to other cities such as Leipzig.
(RIAS Archives- RIAS Building in Berlin)
Eine freie stimme der freien welt - A free voice of the free world
President Eisenhower, in a letter to West German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer wrote "the conduct of the German Communist leaders during the event and their actions since the event, all indicate the complete political bankruptcy of the SED."
Eisenhower, Dwight. Letter to Konrad Adenauer
Image of "Red Police Smash at German Rebels" The Mobile Press Register [Atlanta] 21 June 1953 pp 1
"the workers' chant was, 'We want free elections.' In this phrase, the people clearly and simply summed up their yearning"
Eisenhower, Dwight. Letter to Konrad Adenauer
"It has always seemed to me…that there can be no solution without free elections and the formation of a free all-German government, leading to unification"
Eisenhower, Dwight. Letter to Konrad Adenauer
The newspaper article on the right, published a few days after the uprising, reports on arrests in the GDR. The article compares this police crackdown to a similar event that happened under Hitler, and puts emphasis on the fact that East Germany and Russia were communist.
"[The USA launched] a plan which placed food packages... for distribution to the East Germans...with distribution commencing on July 27 [1953]"
Ostermann, The United States, the East German Uprising of 1953, and the Limits of Rollback
(United Press Journal Blog- People line up for food from the West)
These packages were meant to highlight the instability in East Germany, and incite further unrest within the GDR.
"Later that fall... numerous people were found guilty of 'nefarious activities' as 'Western agents.'"
Ostermann- The United States, the East German Uprising of 1953, and the Limits of Rollback
"By arresting workers... connected with the food packages, the GDR’s rulers used the food program to expand the scope of action"
Ostermann, The United States, the East German Uprising of 1953, and the Limits of Rollback
