Adenauer And The CDU Flashcards
Why was the CDU popular with Western occupying powers?
Because of its strong economic policies and its anti-communist stance
What did Ludwig Erhard’s economic programme do?
Meant that GNP trebled during the 1950s
How did Marshal Aid money help West Germany?
Helped them move to an advanced economy based on electronics, cars, banking and education
Why did the CDU receive large support from the Catholic Church?
It was seen as a strong barrier against communism because Adenauer was violently opposed to East Germany and believed reunification needed a compromise with the SED
Why was support from catholics crucial?
45% of West Germans were catholic as opposed to 30% in the pre-1945 united Germany
When was Adenauer elected as chancellor?
15th September 1949
When did Adenauer remain chancellor until?
1963
When did the CDU remain in power until?
1969
Who became the first president of the FRG?
Theodor Heuss
What did SPD leader Schumacher believe about Adenauer?
He criticised Adenauer as leading a weak coalition, similar to those that had failed during the Weimar period
Believed that Adenauer would become a puppet of the USA
What did Adenauer believe the survival of the West Germany and Europe lay in?
Greater economic and political cooperation
What did the European Coal and Steel Community do?
1951
Combined heavy industry in France, West Germany, Italy, Belgium, Holland and Luxembourg into one common market
What did the European Economic Community do?
1957
Abolished tariffs between member states and therefore improved West German exports - increases wages and stability
What did Adenauers social policies in the 1950s help?
Improve home-ownership and access to consumer goods
What happened to real wages between 1950-64?
They doubled
What were women discouraged from and why?
The workforce
CDU wanted women to focus on family life
What did Adenauer do during the Korean War?
Communist North Korea invaded the capitalist south
Adenauer fearing that Germany might attempt a similar invasion, proposed the creation of an FRG army of 150,000 men in 1950
What was the result of the 1953 election ands why is this?
CDU won 45.2%, a 14% increase from 1949
People of WG feared communist aggression and supported Adenauer
What happened on the 5th May 1955?
The General Treaty came into force which handed over control of foreign policy to the FRG within NATO
What was the FRG able to have?
It’s own military force
What did the 1957 election show?
The CDU became the first and only party to win an overall majority with 50.2%
What was the slogan of the CDU campaign?
‘No Experiments!’
What did the CDU campaign do?
Called for the people of WG to stick with the party that had successfully led the country since the end of the war and not to risk the unknown by supporting the SPD
What did Adenauer negotiate in 1955?
The release of Germanys prisoners of war from the USSR in return for the FRG’s recognition of the USSR
