| Peasants Mutual Aid Association | |
| Native Name: | Vereinigung der gegenseitigen Bauernhilfe |
| Native Name Lang: | de |
| Formation: | 1945–1946 |
| Dissolved: | 1990–1994 |
| Headquarters: | East Berlin |
| Location: | East Germany |
| Membership: | 632,000 |
| Membership Year: | 1989 |
| Leader Title: | Chairman |
| Leader Name: | Otto Körting (1947–1950) Friedrich Wehmer (1950–1964) Ernst Wulf (1964–1979) Fritz Zeuner (1979–1982) Fritz Dallman (1982–1990) Karl Dämmrich (1990) |
| Footnotes: | 1986 Volkskammer: |
The Peasants Mutual Aid Association (German: Vereinigung der gegenseitigen Bauernhilfe, VdgB) was an East German mass organization for peasants and farmers, later also gardeners. It was founded in the 1945–1946 period and was a participant in the National Front. From 1950 to 1963 and again in 1986, it had representation in the Volkskammer.[1]
In 1989, a GDR publication put the membership of the VdgB at 632,000 persons.[2] During the Peaceful Revolution, the VdgB suffered because of its extensive connections with the ruling Socialist Unity Party.[3] In February 1990, it changed its name to the Farmers Association of the GDR but was unable to make the transition from East German society to that of a reunified Germany. It was fully liquidated in 1994.
From 1979 to 1990, the VdgB operated the Ringberghaus, a large hotel east of the city of Suhl. The hotel's purpose was to provide accommodation for farmers on holiday in the Thuringian Forest, and a VdgB voucher was required for lodging.
| Name | Term | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|
| November 1947 – March 1950 | SPD, SED | ||
| March 1950 – February 1964 | SED | ||
| March 1964 – October 1979 | SED | ||
| October 1979 – September 1982 | SED | ||
| September 1982 – March 1990 | SED | ||
| 1990 | SPD |