1946 Soviet occupation zone state elections

State elections were held in the Soviet occupation zone of Germany on 20 October 1946 to elect the state legislatures of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Brandenburg, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia. They were the only elections held in the future territory of East Germany before the establishment of the German Democratic Republic in 1949.

1946 Soviet occupation zone state elections

20 October 1946
Registered11,454,837
Turnout91.0%
  Majority party Minority party Third party
 
Party SED CDU LDP
Seats won 249 133 121
Popular vote 4,690,119 2,411,829 2,420,121
Percentage 47.5% 24.5% 24.6%

  Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party
 
Party VdgB Kulturbund Frauenausschüsse
Seats won 15 1 0
Popular vote 284,375 19,149 18.340
Percentage 2.9% 0.2% 0.2
SED Electoral advertisement in East Berlin.

The Socialist Unity Party of Germany (SED), which was formed by the forced merger of the Communist Party and the Social Democratic Party in the Soviet occupation zone, became the strongest party, but only achieved an absolute majority in one state. The SED was created in view of the holding of elections in the Soviet zone, as a first step for future political reforms.

In addition to the SED, three other parties participated; the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the Peasants Mutual Aid Association (VdgB). Two other organizations participated but only in Saxony. The SED landslide victory was seen by Soviet authorities as a justification for the development of socialism in Eastern Germany. From then on, voters could only vote for a SED controlled unity list or reject it. The next state elections were held in 1950, after the establishment of the German Democratic Republic.

Results

Overall

Party Votes % Seats
Socialist Unity Party4,690,11947.5249
Liberal Democratic Party2,420,12124.6121
Christian Democratic Union2,411,82924.5133
Peasants Mutual Aid Association284,3752.915
Kulturbund19,1490.21
Frauenausschüsse18,3400.20
Invalid/blank votes579,344
Total10,423,276100519
Registered voters/turnout11,454,83791.0
Source:

Brandenburg

Party Votes % Seats
Socialist Unity Party634,78743.944
Christian Democratic Union442,63430.631
Liberal Democratic Party298,60720.620
Peasants Mutual Aid Association70,7914.95
Invalid/blank votes69,168
Total1,515,987100100
Registered voters/turnout1,655,98091.5
Source:

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

Party Votes % Seats
Socialist Unity Party551,59449.545
Christian Democratic Union379,82934.131
Liberal Democratic Party138,66212.511
Peasants Mutual Aid Association43,6633.93
Invalid/blank votes64,463
Total1,178,21110090
Registered voters/turnout1,308,72790.0
Source:

Saxony

Party Votes % Seats
Socialist Unity Party1,616,06849.159
Liberal Democratic Party813,22424.730
Christian Democratic Union766,85923.328
Peasants Mutual Aid Association57,3561.72
Kulturbund19,1490.61
Frauenausschüsse18,3400.60
Invalid/blank votes227,113
Total3,518,108100120
Registered voters/turnout3,803,41692.5
Source:

Saxony-Anhalt

Party Votes % Seats
Socialist Unity Party1,068,70345.851
Liberal Democratic Party696,66929.932
Christian Democratic Union507,76521.824
Peasants Mutual Aid Association57,3742.52
Invalid/blank votes142,673
Total2,473,184100109
Registered voters/turnout2,700,63391.6
Source:

Thuringia

Party Votes % Seats
Socialist Unity Party818,96749.350
Liberal Democratic Party472,95928.528
Christian Democratic Union314,74218.919
Peasants Mutual Aid Association55,1913.33
Invalid/blank votes75,927
Total1,737,786100100
Registered voters/turnout1,986,08187.5
Source:

See also

References

    • Martin Broszat, Gerhard Braas, Hermann Weber (1993). SBZ-Handbuch, ISBN 3-486-55262-7.
    • Mathias Tullner (1997). Zwischen Demokratie und Diktatur. Die Kommunalwahlen und die Wahlen zum Provinziallandtag in Sachsen-Anhalt im Jahre 1946, Magdeburgo, pp. 95–98.
    • Richard Schachtner (1956). Die deutschen Nachkriegswahlen: Wahlergebnisse in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland, in den deutschen Bundesländern, in West-Berlin, im Saarland und in der Sowjetzone (DDR) 1946-19, Isar-Verlag, Múnich, pp. 77-78.
    • Günter Braun: Wahlen und Abstimmungen. In: Martin Broszat, Hermann Weber (1990). SBZ-Handbuch, Oldenbourg, Múnich, pp. 397, 396 & 418.
    • Herbert Gottwald (1994). Der Thüringer Landtag 1946-1952. Thüringer Landtag in Verbindung mit Wartburg Verlag, Jena, pp. 56, 81 & 101.
    • Karl-Heinz Hajna (2000). Die Landtagswahlen 1946 in der SBZ, Peter Lang, Frankfurt am Main, ISBN 3-631-35950-0
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