A Glimpse of Freedom: Allied Occupation and Political Resistance in East Germany

This paper exploits the idiosyncratic line of contact separating Allied and Soviet troops within East Germany at end WWII to study political resistance in a non-democracy. When Nazi surrendered, 40 percent what would become authoritarian German Democratic Republic was initially under control but ceded less than two months later. Brief exposure increased protests during major 1953 uprising. We use novel data on appointment local mayors retrospective survey argue that even “glimpse freedom” can foster civilian opposition dictatorship. (JEL D72, D74, N44, P16)