***Adenauer - Political Stability or not? Flashcards

1
Q

What were the main problems Adenauer was facing in 1949?

A
  • Political: Disconnect between FRG and GDR
  • Economic: Recession
  • Social: Infrastructure destroyed by the war
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2
Q

What was Adenauer’s view on the German question?

A

He believed that reunification had to be on the terms of ensuring a Western capital-orientated state - he did not want to make concessions to communism. He believed in the magnet theory; with Western support, West Germany could attract East Germans.

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3
Q

What was Adenauer’s stance towards Western Integration?

A

He mistrusted and feared the Soviet’s and wanted protection from the West. He wanted to revise the restrictions of the Occupational Statute and become a strong economic partner of the West.

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4
Q

What was Adenauer’s social policy?

A

He wanted the poor and refugees to be helped by social legislation, industrial peace and a growth in living standards in the hopes that this would counter the threat of communism.

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5
Q

What was Adenauer’s economic policy?

A

He wanted to create economic stability by using a social market policy. This aimed to create a free market with limited social regulations by the state - the economic miracle.

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6
Q

What kind of ministers did Adenauer appoint?

A

Weak ministers who he treated as mere advisers - criticised for this.

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7
Q

What was Adenauer’s leadership known as?

A

A chancellor democracy, suggesting that he had more power than the Basic Law allowed.

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8
Q

In what way were Adenauer’s political moves seen as stability that went against the democratic spirit of the basic law?

A

The removing of parties and changes in vote allocations. This was stabilising but resulted in a three party house with shifting coalitions.

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9
Q

What was the benefit of Adenauer’s forceful personality?

A

He kept FRG coalitions working together until 1957 when the CDU/CSU won a majority.

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10
Q

Why was Adenauer’s focus on greater European integration criticised?

A

The SPD argued the focus on the West would stop Germany becoming united.

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11
Q

Which parties were banned under Adenauer?

A

In 1952 the extreme right-wing Socialist Reich Party and in 1956 the KPD.

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12
Q

What were the 2 main sources of criticism towards Adenauer from the SPD and FDP?

A
  1. His authoritarian style and forceful management of the Bundestag.
  2. His Atlanticist approach (ties with the West).
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13
Q

How did Adenauer exclude left wing political opposition?

A

He changed vote allocations and seats in the Bundestag, making it harder for small parties to gain seats.

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14
Q

What did Adenauer denounce?

A

De-nazification. He preferred to integrate ex-Nazis into post-War Germany (Year Zero approach).

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15
Q

Why did Adenauer adopt a Year Zero approach?

A

He wanted to be able to quickly build a Federal and regional civil service. He argued that it was the only way to establish an effective civil service.

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16
Q

What happened to all government workers in 1939?

A

They were given the choice to either join the Nazis or lose their jobs. Adenauer used this as justification for his employment of ex-Nazis into the civil service.

17
Q

What was Article 131?

A

An article added to the Basic Law in 1951 which allowed ex-Nazis to work in the civil service.

18
Q

Who did Adenauer refuse to sack?

A

Hans Globke, his state secretary who had drafted anti-semitic laws.

19
Q

How did Adenauer respond to the building of the Berlin Wall in 1961?

A

He didn’t - his indifference to unification was criticised. However. ultimately the wall eased tensions.

20
Q

What was the extent of stability by 1961?

A

The FRG was a stable, prosperous state at the heart of Europe.

21
Q

What happened with the FDP in 1956?

A

They broke away from Adenauer’s coalition and supported the SPD in protest against the Hallstein Doctrine.

22
Q

How did the free market economy benefit the FRG?

A

It helped to create social harmony and strong economic growth leading to stability.

23
Q

What did Adenauer attempt to do in 1961?

A

Tried to set up a government controlled television station. But the Supreme Court intervened.

24
Q

What was the Der Spiegel Incident?

A

In 1962 the magazine Der Spiegel published an article criticising the performance of West German troops in recent NATO exercises. Adenauer supported the arrest of the journalists who had been critical.

25
Q

What did the FDP minister do in response to the arrests of the journalists and how did Adenauer cope with this?

A

He resigned in protest. Adenauer only managed to get an SPD coalition by promising to resign in 1963.

26
Q

How did Adenauer support Jewish victims?

A

He supported a Claims Conference for Jewish victims of Nazism and a payment of 3 billion DM to Israel. However many in the CDU opposed this.

27
Q

How did Adenauer strengthen links with Europe?

A

1) He pushed for Germany’s membership of NATO which was attained in 1955.
2) He created a degree of unity with France through the creation of the European Coal and Steel Community.
3) In 1957 Germany joined the EEC again strengthening links with France.

28
Q

Which doctrine did the SPD criticise?

A

The Hallstein Doctrine which refused to recognise East Germany as a separate country.

29
Q

How many terms did Adenauer have in office?

A

4 - the last of which saw problems emerging.

30
Q

What kind of policies did Adenauer develop which created stability?

A

Policies which appealed to the middle ground of politics and appealed to moderates.

31
Q

What law was Adenauer instrumental in drawing up?

A

The Basic Law in 1949

32
Q

How did Adenauer help to rebuild infrastructure?

A

He built 4 million new homes for Germans and helped refugees to integrate into the FRG.

33
Q

What policy allowed workers to participate in the decision making process within the workplace?

A

The co-determination policy.

34
Q

How did the policy of co-determination lead to stability?

A

It reduced tension between worker and employer and allowed his government to focus on growing the economy and led to fewer strikes.

35
Q

When was Adenauer allowed to take control of foreign policy?

A

1951

36
Q

How did Adenauer help to raise the international status of the FRG?

A

He sought and achieved Germany’s entry into the Council of Europe and the OEEC.

37
Q

What voting statistics are evidence of instability?

A

The CDU vote fell from 50% in 1957 to 46% in 1961.

38
Q

What happened to the SPD by the late 1950s?

A

It was modernising and becoming a viable alternative to the CDU. It’s focus was on German reunification.

39
Q

By when did Adenauer’s political judgement seem to be in decline?

A

1961 - was in his eighties