THE SOCIALIST ANIMAL
Not only humans but also animals were enlisted in the service of East Germany. This film explores the relationship between humans and animals in the new socialist republic and how it evolved over the decades.
Whether chickens, sheep or spectacled bears – the 1950s ushered in a unique era for animals in East Germany. In the young socialist republic, animals, like humans, were enlisted to serve the state. After the war, shortages were widespread and meat was strictly rationed. Traditional pets, such as dogs and cats, were frowned upon, because they consumed meat rather than produced any. Small animal breeders, on the other hand, helped sustain the republic with their chickens, pigeons and rabbits. A prime example of a socialist model animal was Laika, the dog that was launched into space in 1957, propelling socialist states to the forefront of space exploration. The new Tierpark Berlin in Friedrichsfelde was built by volunteers, with state organisations donating polar bears and ostriches, the Stasi providing spectacled bears and China sending an alligator and panda Chi Chi. As collectivisation of agriculture took hold, land, machinery and livestock were consolidated under state control. By the late 60s, the era of industrial farming had begun with vast pig and cattle farms emerging. Cows, horses and purebred chickens also played a key role in generating foreign currency. Despite all this, East Germans continued to cherish their animals.