1.1 Political and Governmental Change - FRG Flashcards
Revision
When was the Potsdam Conference?
17 July - 2 August 1945
What was decided at Potsdam?
Germany and Berlin divided into 4 zones
single economic unit
aim for same systems
What was the first party established and when?
KPD (more moderate socialism)
11 June 1945
What was the second party to form and when?
SPD (more radical than KPD)
15 June 1945
What did the initial right wing look like?
two faith-based parties CDU and CSU
joined together in 1949
What was the outcome of the October 1946 elections?
SED (KPD + SPD) won in Soviet zone, did much worse in others
When was Basic Law announced?
23 May 1949
What was the main concept of Basic Law?
free and liberal democracy
- equal rights to all citizens
- free speech
What did Articles 20 and 21 allow?
right to resist anyone undermining the constitution
right to ban any undemocratic parties
How was the President elected?
Every 5 years by Bundestag and Bundesrat
How was the Bundestag elected?
Ever 4 years, vote for both a regional representative and a party
How was the Bundesrat chosen?
representatives from and chosen by the Lander
When was the FRG’s first election?
14 August 1949
What was the outcome of the FRG’s first election?
CDU/CSU 31%
SPD 29%
Adenauer (CDU) became Chancellor
When was the GDR’s constitution announced?
7 October 1949
What was the Hallstein Doctrine?
1955
FRG refused to legally recognise GDR
FRG spoke for all of Germany
FRG would cut off relations with countries with relations to GDR
What countries did FRG cut off for having relations with the GDR?
Yugoslavia 1957
Cuba 1963
What is the order of all FRG chancellors and their parties?
Adenauer (CDU)
Erhard (CDU)
Kiesinger (CDU)
Brandt (SPD)
Schmidt (SPD)
Kohl (CDU)
When was Adenauer chancellor?
1949-63
What was Adenauer’s leadership style?
authoritarian, forceful
appointed weak ministers
amount of power criticised - ‘Chancellor democracy’
What did Adenauer do to voting?
1953 - changed vote allocation - harder for smaller parties to gain seats
1957 - limited even further - became 3 party house with shifting coalitions (CDU/CSU, SPD, FDP)
When was the Socialist Reich Party banned and why?
1952
extreme right wing
When was the KPD banned?
1956
When restoring the civil service, what was the policy?
Year zero
What did Article 131 do and when was it added?
allowed ex-Nazis in civil service
11 May 1951
How many ex-Nazis were working in the foreign ministry in 1952?
4
What were some of Adenauer’s concerning attempts to limit free speech?
Jan 1961 - tried to set up government controlled TV station - ruled unconstitutional by Supreme Court 28 Feb
Oct 1962 - supported arrest of Der Spiegel journalists who criticised FRG’s involvement in NATO
Why did Adenauer resign?
pressure - FDP ministers had resigned, SPD coalition secured only by resigning
What split happened within the CDU/CSU?
Atlanticists vs Gaulists
When was Erhard chancellor?
1963-6
What was Erhard’s international policy?
Atlanticist
What was Erhard’s concerning policy?
tried to introduce emergency laws to tap phones, search homes, open mail - SPD refused to support
What policy lead to Erhard’s resignation?
introduced heavy taxation- FDP ministers resigned - could not form a coalition so Erhard resigned
When was Kiesenger chancellor?
1966-9
What was Kiesinger?
former Nazi Party member
What was Germany like under Kiesinger?
economic downturn - opposition grew
noe-Nazi National Democratic Party gained 48 Laender seats
German Federation of Trade Unions
student protests
What did Kiesinger do to Basic Law?
28 June 1968 - amended to be more repressive and greater police power
When was Brandt chancellor?
1969-74
What were Brandt’s beliefs?
younger generation: critical of year zero, supported Ostpolitik (relations with GDR)
What changes did Brandt make?
decriminalised homosexuality
reduced voting age to 18
What did the CDU to try and get rid of Brandt?
‘constructive vote of no confidence’
Barzel named as replacement
failed by 2 votes
What did Brandt do in response to the CDU’s attempt to get rid of him?
Nov 1972 - called an early election
highest turnout ever, SPD won - vote of confidence in him
When did Brandt resign and why?
24 May 1974
despite his party’s support
advisor was discovered to be GDR spy
When was Schmidt chancellor and how?
1974-82
no viable CDU candidate
What were Schmidt’s policies?
high taxation and welfare cuts
conservative for an SPD member
Why did Schmidt fail to push through his economic policies?
growing opposition from Green Party
Why did Schmidt resign?
forced to by ‘constructive vote of no confidence’
1 Oct 1982
When was Kohl chancellor?
1982-98
What were Kohl’s policies?
Ostpolitik, stability
What was happening with all parties except the Green Party during Kohl’s chancellorship?
media was uncovering corruption
When did East Germany relax travel restrictions?
1 Jan 1989
When did East Germany remove all travel restrictions?
9 Nov 1989
