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[b]January 6th, 1950
East Berlin, German Democratic Republic[/b]

Certainly the GDR leadership had their eyes on events all over Europe, but there was one unlikely event in particular that had managed to capture Wilhelm Pieck's attention. The Cuban Revolution. The small Caribbean country that only lied a few hundred kilometres away from American shores had managed to shift to the socialist path, of all places. That was no small accomplishment and currently a small group of militias were occupying the capital, Havana. This was an event that could easily be exploited all across the GDR. Keeping this in mind, Pieck proceeded to make a single phone call. "I want you to ensure the events in Cuba are broadcasted all over the country. It could serve as a potential morale booster; if our brothers and sisters so close to American soil can protect socialist ideals then so can we, despite the presence of NATO so close to us." 

"Yes, comrade. I must ask though. Do we intend to make any sort of alliance with them?" A voice on the other side responded. Intelligence. They seemed to be the most efficient at relaying what information needed to be relayed and Pieck himself had even talked of transforming them into a formal security force of their own. There were simply just too many risks to run, being situated so close to the capitalist and imperialist west. Always they were seeking to sway good socialists away from their ideals into the decadence and consumerism of capitalism. Certainly it was something he hoped had not happened, but it had become inevitable in this battle of ideologies. 

"Fidel and his cronies are perhaps our key to gathering intelligence on America. Not to mention, valuable connections who are much more 'local' to the region." Pieck spoke, taking great care not to reveal the extent of his plans with Cuba. Almost simultaneously to the phone call, however, he was working on something else. A letter. A letter addressed to Fidel Castro: 

[i]To: Fidel Castro 
From: W. Pieck

I do not believe we have formally spoken before, but I do want to take an opportunity to congratulate you on furthering the struggle for socialism and the emancipation of the proletariat. This is a hallmark achievement, considering your location so close to American shores. Perhaps in the future that could serve as key for the embracing of socialist ideals by the American populace. 

In solidarity, Wilhelm Pieck[/i] 

Wilhelm Pieck read over his letter a couple times before finally sealing it up to be delivered to Fidel Castro's hands themselves. Certainly the man would take it has a gesture of friendship and even propose for discussion of further alliance. Being in a weak state currently, there wasn't much the GDR was able to offer, but Pieck began to see this time of economic hardship as opportunity to work together with others during their own struggles. Cuba was currently an obvious example of that. 

[b]January 11th, 1950
Leipzig, German Democratic Republic[/b]

Even in the furthest corners of the GDR, as expected, Fidel Castro began forming into a national sensation. From farmer to liberator the man stood tall on the television screens all across the GDR, championed as a great leader of the proletariat. This was an image that was further immortalized in groups all across the nation as they began singing songs and sharing stories of praise of the Latin American leader. It was one city in particular, however, that began pleading for the man himself to pay a visit to the GDR. Pieck soon took note of this and viewed it as a way to further foster German-Cuban relations. It was almost certain to be one of the leader's next moves once Castro responded to the first letter.