1963-1983 Flashcards

1
Q

Who was Chancellor of West Germany between 1963-1966?

A

Ludwig Erhard

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2
Q

What percentage of the vote did the CDU/CSU in the 1965 elections?

A

47.6%

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3
Q

What was the new society that Erhard wanted to launch?

A

‘Disciplined society’

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4
Q

What happened in 1965 that meant Erhard’s popularity was lessened?

A

Economic recession

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5
Q

What was inflation running at by 1966?

A

4%

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6
Q

What two things did Erhard do to combat high inflation?

A

Cut spending, raised interest rates

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7
Q

What did Erhard want people to do for free to combat the recession? (‘Disciplined society’)

A

Work an extra hour for free

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8
Q

Over what were there disputes amongst the coalition?

A

How to deal with the recession

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9
Q

What did Erhard fail to persuade the Americans to do?

A

Accept the cuts in the FRG’s contribution to the stationing of US troops in West Germany

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10
Q

Who resigned from the coalition in 1966?

A

FDP

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11
Q

In which month was Erhard forced to resign?

A

November 1966

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12
Q

Who replaced Erhard as CDU/CSU leader and Chancellor?

A

Kurt Georg Kiesinger

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13
Q

Who was there a temporary alliance between in December 1966?

A

CDU/CSU/SPD

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14
Q

What did this give the SPD the chance to show?

A

They could govern

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15
Q

What were people worried about with the Grand Coalition?

A

Turning into a one-party state

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16
Q

What were some considered successes of Kiesinger?

A
  • Welcomed ‘Grand Coalition’
  • Constitution gave power back to Bundestag
  • DKP (Communists) allowed, showing strength in democracy
  • More control of taxation
  • Restored economic confidence
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17
Q

What were some considered failures of Kiesinger?

A
  • Criticism from the left
  • Right-wing NPD gained strength
  • Disagreement on foreign policy
18
Q

When were the Emergency Laws passed?

A

May 1968

19
Q

What did the Emergency Laws mean and who wasn’t happy?

A

The Bundestag was allowed to take emergency measures at times of extreme civil unrest, which was criticised by left-wing students who thought it was a reversion back to Article 48

20
Q

What was an example of the social modernisation that Kiesinger had implemented?

A

Decriminalisation of adultery and adult homosexuality

21
Q

What policy did the SPD favour?

A

Ostpolitik

22
Q

Who’s policy was Ostpolitik and what was it trying to do?

A

Willy Brandt’s, it was seeking German unification through a belief of sustained period of contact over many years

23
Q

What achievement did Brandt get for this policy in 1971?

A

Nobel Peace Prize

24
Q

Which coalition was formed in 1969, which left Willy Brandt as Chancellor?

A

SPD/FDP

25
Q

What was the SPD/FDP coalition the first example of?

A

A socialist party in power in FRG

26
Q

How was Brandt characteristically different to Adenauer?

A

Brandt was more common, hated empty promises and ideological posing, whereas Adenauer was self-important and arrogant

27
Q

What was Brandt constantly ridiculed for by the CDU?

A

His illegitimate birth

28
Q

What were some examples of Brandt’s education reforms?

A
  • School leaving age was raised to 16
  • The 1971 Educational Support Law provided grants for students from poorer families
  • Expenditure on school buildings and research was expanded
29
Q

What were some examples of Brandt’s employment reforms?

A
  • Spending on job creation schemes increased
  • Social housing budget was increased by over 1/3
  • A new Factory Law was passed in January 1972 giving workers a greater say in management decisions
30
Q

What were some examples of Brandt’s social reforms?

A
  • Pensions rose by about 5%
  • Sickness benefits rose by nearly 10%
  • Family, health, accident and unemployment allowances all increased
31
Q

What were some examples of Brandt’s liberalisation reforms?

A
  • Voting age was lowered to 18 years
  • Censorship and laws against homosexuality and abortion were relaxed
  • Limited criminal sentences, and promoted rehabilitation rather than punishment
32
Q

What were some considered failures of Brandt?

A
  • High inflation
  • Strong measures to battle terrorism were criticised
  • Oil price rises
  • Strikes and conflicts with trade unions
  • Resigned when a close advisor was outed as an East German spy
  • Criticised for making Ostpolitik the pure focus
33
Q

What was the Guillaume Affair?

A

Gunter Guillaume was a close advisor of Brant and joined the SPD in 1957. He was revealed as an East German soy in April 1974 and was sentenced to thirteen years, which discredited Brandt.

34
Q

Who took over from Brandt in 1974?

A

Helmut Schmidt

35
Q

What was the main issue that Schmidt had to deal with and why?

A

Terrorism meant that the state became more authoritarian, which was criticised even more by people and confirmed their Neo-Fascist reputation

36
Q

What continued criticism of the overly-powerful state?

A

Dismissal of many public sector employees labelled as ‘unreliable’ (left-wing)

37
Q

Why was Schmidt criticised by environmental groups?

A

Pro-nuclear policy and his 1979 decision to allow the US to station short-range nuclear missiles on German soil

38
Q

What were some considered successes of Schmidt?

A
  • Less left wing than Brandt
  • Continued Ostpolitik
  • Experienced in economics and finance
  • Tough and decisive
39
Q

Up until what point did the SPD/FDP retain power, leading to Kohl taking over?

A

1982

40
Q

In which election did CDU/FDP gain a 58 seat majority?

A

March 1983