1953, june 16 - 18 - soviet troops quash general strike in east berlin
several hundred construction workers in east berlin began a general strike on june 16, 1953. the next day they were joined by more than 500,000 other workers in the country. the general strike and ensuing riots were the first uprising against a communist government after the second world war. the revolt died when soviet troops killed dozens of workers and arrested thousands more.
newly declassified documents show that the united states was prepared to supply arms to help east german workers in a huge labour uprising. the documents show that the united states did not provoke the uprising, as has been speculated. instead both it and the soviet union were caught by surprise. however the u.s. was ready to support the workers if anti-communist revolts spread around east berlin and into other countries, especially china.
from solinet's archive of labor news