Adenauer and Erhard Flashcards
who was Konrad Adenauer?
Chancellor of West Germany between 1949 and 1963
how did Adenauer consolidate his power as chancellor?
he would appoint weak ministers which would make him look better than he was
when was Adenauer foreign minister?
till 1955
what was the ‘chancellor democracy’?
many believed that Adenauer’s power was bigger than what the Basic Law allowed
why was there little change in FRG governance under Adenauer?
the 5% rule meant that the Bundestag remained a 3 party government which meant that there was little change in policy making
what was Adenauer’s relationship with the left-wing?
he excluded the left-wing from government by not entering coalitions with them which meant they fell foul to the 5% rule
when and what was Article 131 of the Basic Law?
introduced in May 1951
allowed ex-Nazis to take roles in the Civil Service
why was Adenauer criticised for employing ex-Nazis?
this went against his principle of a ‘year zero’ for Germany as it had brought in the very people Germans looked to distance themselves from
when did the FRG join the ECSC?
in 1951
when did the FRG join NATO?
1955
what was the Hallstein Doctrine?
refusal to recognise the legality of the GDR
non recognition of East Germany and those who recognise them
what was the TV station affair?
in 1961 Adenauer tried to set up a government controlled TV station which would help in the upcoming elections
however the Supreme Court ruled it unconstitutional
Adenauer was against the Basic Law
what was the der Spiegel affair?
a magazine called Der Spiegel published an article which criticised the performance of West German troops in NATO drills
Adenauer supported the arrest of the journalists
This meant that Adenauer was going against the Basic Law
what did Adenauer do after the der Spiegel affair to remain in power?
he promised to resign in 1963
what party were Adenauer, Kiesenger and Erhard?
CDU
what did the CDU split into in the 1960s?
Atlanticists and Gaullists
what were Atlanticists?
those who wanted to carry on working with the West
what were Gaullists?
those prepared to work with France and shift to cooperation with East-Germany (Ostpolitik)
who was Ludwig Erhard?
German Chancellor (1963-66)
German Finance Minister (1940-63)
what led to Erhard’s resignation?
to combat economic problems, he looked to increase taxation which was objected by FDP (liberals) ministers and led to his resignation
what was the Grand Coalition and who formed it?
CDU/CSU/SDP formed by Kiesenger
what did the Emergency Law of 1968 do?
increased Government repression
who were the Atlanticists?
Erhard and Adenauer
