Deutsche Post East German uprising of 1953 (Volksaufstand vom 17. Juni 1953)

DEUTSCHE POST on 17 June 2003 issued a commemorative First Day Cover stamp marking the 50th  anniversary of the East German Uprising of 1953 (Volksaufstand vom 17. Juni 1953). The cachet on this FDC shows East Berliners throwing rocks at Soviet T-34/85 tanks from the Group of Soviet Forces based in East Germany (German Democratic Republic, GDR) in during the 1953 Uprising. Postmark cancellation originated from Berlin Central Post Office.

The East German Uprising was a revolt that occurred in the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) from 16 to 17 June 1953. It began with strike action by construction workers in East Berlin on 16 June against work quotas during the Sovietization process in East Germany. 

Demonstrations in East Berlin turned into a widespread uprising against the Government of East Germany and the ruling Socialist Unity Party the next day, involving over one million people in about 700 localities across the country. Protests against declining living standards and unpopular Sovietisation policies led to a wave of strikes and protests that were not easily brought under control and threatened to overthrow the East German government. 

The uprising in East Berlin was violently suppressed by tanks of the Soviet forces in Germany and the Kasernierte Volkspolizei. Demonstrations continued in over 500 towns and villages for several more days before eventually dying out.

In memory of the 1953 East German uprising, West Germany established the Day of German Unity as an annual national holiday on 17 June. Upon German reunification in October 1990, the holiday was moved to 3 October, the date of formal reunification. The extension of the Unter den Linden boulevard to the west of the Brandenburg Gate, called Charlottenburger Chaussee, was renamed Strasse des 17. Juni ("17 June Street")

Source: Wikipedia