https://doi.org/10.24546/00181219
このアイテムのアクセス数:16件(2024-04-19 10:41 集計)
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Unofficial civil groups in East Germany were not watched with much interest in the world until the time of "change" in 1989. But they had already begun their activities in the late 1960's. Leading figures of important civil groups were the people who refused to take any weapons in their hands. Their activities caused a great peace movement in the GDR during the late 70's and early 80's. They always worked for a society without any constraints. Those who refused to take up arms for 27 years, from the introduction of military conscription in 1962 until 1989, are estimated at just under 90,000. The evangelical Church supported them. The National People's Army had a noncombatant "construction units" since 1964, which allowed the recruits objecting to arms to fulfill their duty. This kind of a system was the only such example among all the Eastern European countries. As to the background for implementation of "construction units", four factors can be identified, i.e. the pacifist attitude of the Church, change of the State's policy towards the Church, opposition to the introduction of military conscription and the dilemma that the state faced. (1) The Church publicly documented their concern about the dehumanizing effects of militarization at their synods. And they supported young German service recruits who might decide to resist military service for reasons of conscience. They demand that the state provide legal protection for conscientious objectors. (2) The government's harsh oppression against the Church, which characterized the policy until 1953, was changed because of the "new course" in the Soviet Union after Stalin's death. And the Church and the State began to build a stable relationship, "Church in Socialism (Kirche im Sozialismus)", through regular meetings. It means that the Church is responsible for religion, and the State for politics; that they keep to their own boundaries, so that they can co-exist. (3) Facing military conscription, more than 1,500 young people refused to serve in the army. Their reasons were their pacifist attitudes, Germany's past, that caused terrible wars twice, opposition to weapons of mass destruction, and the fear of German-German war under the cold war structure. The Church supported them by giving spiritual guidance to the young persons affected, as well as petitioning the State to guarantee the right of con- science. (4) Nevertheless, the State could not accept the right of conscientious objectors, as the East German army had to fulfill its responsibilities concerning the Warsaw Pact. They might not be able to recruit enough soldiers for that need. On the other hand, the government had to promote its democratic character in the international community, in order to overcome the so called "Hallstein-Doctorine". The East German government wanted to avoid a bad reputation that could result from repressing conscientious objectors, while that right was regarded as an absolute right in West Germany's Basic Law. Therefore, the State ordered on September 7th 1964 the formation of the "construction units (Baueinheiten)". "Construction soldiers (Bausoldaten)" work excluded the carrying of arms, but the units remained under military administration. Construction projects were primarily related to military sites and installations. They were directly involved in military-related activity, and the oath was required. The State tried to hide the existence of construction soldiers, and they were not popular among the people. The State also regarded them as hostile to socialism and humiliated the construction soldiers. Career and educational oppotunities were closed for them. Conscientious Objectors protested both by appeals to authorities and by refusing oath or military training at camps. It was unacceptable for them to obey the State unconditionally and to work for the military, which always needs an enemy. Therefore, after finishing their service, they organized into civil groups to work for a peaceful society without constraints. The issue of conscientious objectors has taken on a clearer profile since 1981, when specific proposals were advocated by christian ex-construction soldiers to provide a community peace service. A steadily growing number of objectors, keeping in touch, meeting and discussing issues such as peace, human rights and environmental problems have provided a vital nucleus for unofficial civil movements. The existence of conscientious objectors has been always one of the critical issues for sound relations between the State and the Church as it concerns one's conscience and at the same time, duty of Statedefense. It also brings into conflict the different understandings of peace, which was one of the central issues for both, the Church and Marxist-Leninism theory. What the State feared most was that those groups would instill their principle of the desirability of a constraint free society. As this was a crucial issue, the government wanted them to isolate those people from other soldiers. Ironically, however, this gave them an opportunity to meet each other. Those objectors have continuously worked for peace. They contributed to the "change" in 1989 through their active engagement for a constraint free society. Although the "change" unintentionally encouraged so many (too many, perhaps) people to escape to "brilliant" West Germany, they kept being active within East Germany. They therefore could play an important role, when the socialist government was to fall down. They finally obtained the registration for civilian service in March 1990, which is the most progressive in the world, but this lasted only until the German Democratic Republic came to an end, by being incorporated into the Federal Republic of Germany on October 3rd 1990.
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