1949 East German Constitutional Assembly election

Elections for the Third German People's Congress were held in East Germany on 15 and 16 May 1949.^[1] Voters were presented with a "Unity List" from the "Bloc of the Anti-Fascist Democratic Parties," which was dominated by the Communist-leaning Socialist Unity Party of Germany (SED).^[2]

1949 East German Constitutional Assembly election

← 1938 (pre-partition) 15–16 May 1949 1950 →
All 1,525 seats in the German People's Congress
Turnout	95.23%
First party   Leader Wilhelm Pieck Party SED Alliance Democratic Bloc Leader since 22 April 1946 Seats won 1,525
Chairman of the Council of Ministers after election Otto Grotewohl SED

Ballot paper

Overview

The ballot was worded "I am for the unity of Germany and a just peace treaty. I therefore vote for the following list of candidates for the Third German People's Congress."^[3] with voters having the options of voting "yes" and "no".^[4] (German: Ich bin für die Einheit Deutschland und einen gerechten Friedensvertrag. Ich stimme darum für die nachstehende Kandidatenliste zum Dritten Deutschen Volkskongreß.)^[5] In much of the country, the vote was not secret.^[6]

According to official figures, 95.2 percent of eligible voters cast their ballots, with 66 percent approving the list.^[2] This was the lowest level of support ever recorded for an SED-dominated bloc during the four decades of Communist rule, despite the election taking place under conditions that significantly constrained genuine political competition. In all subsequent elections until the Peaceful Revolution four decades later, the National Front, which succeeded the Democratic Bloc, would consistently claim 99 percent or more of the vote.^[6]

Results

Party or alliance				Votes	%	Seats
	Democratic Bloc		Socialist Unity Party	7,943,949	66.07	450
			Christian Democratic Union			225
			Liberal Democratic Party			225
			Cooperatives			100
			Democratic Farmers' Party			75
			National Democratic Party			75
			Democratic Women's League			50
			Free German Trade Union Federation			50
			Free German Youth			50
			Cultural Association			50
			Peasants Mutual Aid Association			50
			Union of Persecutees of the Nazi Regime			50
			Social Democratic Party (East Berlin)			25
			Independents			50
Against				4,080,272	33.93	–
Total				12,024,221	100.00	1,525
Valid votes				12,024,221	93.30
Invalid/blank votes				863,013	6.70
Total votes				12,887,234	100.00
Registered voters/turnout				13,533,071	95.23
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

Aftermath

The Constitutional Assembly adopted East Germany's first constitution in October, and proclaimed the establishment of the German Democratic Republic on 7 October. It then transformed itself into the first Volkskammer.