The book is dedicated to rarely covered events - the uprising of GDR workers in June 1953, which still causes controversy among researchers and the public. What was it: the first uprising against Stalinism or an attempt by external forces to use the mistakes of the East German leadership for their own purposes? Based on the documents, a dynamic panorama of the confrontation between the diplomatic and intelligence services of the USSR, USA, France and England on German soil is given. In June 1953, the entire post-war development of Europe could have gone completely differently. But the historical chance for this was missed. The author-diplomat from the new generation of Russian experts on Germany introduces many new facts and information into the reader’s circulation, provides biographies of the main political figures, and provides factual material characterizing the economies of the two Germanys. The book is written brightly and captivatingly and presents interest for the widest range of readers.