The main aim of the thesis is to compare (by diachronic historical comparison) the basic aspects of political, economic and social development of the German Democratic Republic (GDR), between the years 1958 and 1963 with the overlap to the year 1968. The milestone between the two periods is the building of the Berlin wall in 1961. In this context, the thesis examines to what extent the inner development in the GDR after 1961 can be seen as (non)continual. In other words, the questions asked are, whether we can see the change of the political regime and socio-economic realities in the development of the country after 1961 as a natural continuation of the previous development, even while changing its means and reformulating its goals, but retaining its original character and focus, or if we need to approach the change of the political regime as a diversion from the previous development and as such to approach it as a qualitatively different regime.

From 1945 until the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) in the former German Democratic Republic (GDR) endured the hardships of existing as a religious organization under a Communist regime. An evaluation of the LDS Church within the category of general and minority religions, which serves as a microcosmic evaluation of religion in the GDR, constitutes one part of this study. The uniqueness of the LDS Church and its experience - especially its American ties, ironically earlier a liability and later an asset - make it a candidate for a more independent evaluation, and the second part of this study. The social aspect of religion in the GDR, as it related to those of faith - including the lives of LDS members, constitutes the final aspect of this study. The Leipzig branch of the LDS Church, upon which most of this reserach is based, serves as an example of religious conformity, while proving itself socially, politically, and culturally unique. By placing the LDS Church in the context of religion in general, as well as examinng the atypical experience of the Leipzig branch, a greater understanding can be had of the religious, political and social life within the former German Democratic Republic.