GDR jokes
With widespread censorship of literature, the media and the arts, political jokes were one of the main outlets for internal criticism of the German Democratic Republic (East Germany). After reunification, these became known as DDR-Witze (GDR jokes). Common formats included the Radio Yerevan-style joke (Q&A, starting with "Question to Radio Yerevan...") and a three-way comparison of the US, USSR and GDR (or their leaders), with the GDR coming off worst (or at least, most absurd). Examples: Question to Radio Yerevan: "Is it true that fleas could start a revolution?" Answer: "In principle yes, as the blood of the working classes flows in them..." Question to Radio Yerevan: "What's the difference between capitalism and socialism?" Answer: "Capitalism is the exploitation of man by man. Socialism is the exact opposite." After his death, Erich Honecker stands at the gates of heaven. St Peter looks amazed - "What are you doing here? Go to Hell!" Half a year later two little devils knock at the gates. St Peter looks amazed - "What are you doing here? You must be lost!" They reply: "No, we're the first refugees..." The US, the USSR and the GDR want to raise the Titanic together. The US is interested in the gold treasure and the safe full of diamonds. The USSR is interested in the technology. And the GDR is interested in the band that played on as everything collapsed around it... An elderly grandmother addresses a policeman in East Berlin. "Excuse me, can you direct me to the "Principle" department store?" The policeman is bemused - "There isn't one called that." She replies: "But there must be. Our Chairman of the State Council Erich Honecker said that in Principle, there are no shortages..."
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