Aspects of life in Germany, 1945-89

Question 1

By 1955, what did the FRG start doing?

Answer 1

Looking overseas to recruit people, in order to find people (mainly unskilled) to work in Germany’s INDUSTRIAL sector on a TEMPORARY basis.

Question 2

What did the FRG sign re ethnic minorities?

Answer 2

Recruitment agreements with Italy (1955), Spain and Greece (1960), Turkey (1961), Morocco (1963) and Tunisia (1965). The people were called ‘guest workers’.

Question 3

What were the 3 main reasons why the FRG recruited foreign workers?

Answer 3

1.During the 1950s, Germany experienced a so called “Wirtschaftswunder” or “economic miracle”, and needed labourers. The rapid growth of the West German economy from the early part of the 1950s meant that a constantly expanding workforce was needed. The return of more than 4 million prisoners of war, the influx of 4.7 million refugees of working age from former German territories, and the 1.8 million migrants from East Germany ensured a constant supply of new workers for the expanding economy. The labour shortage was made worse once the Berlin Wall was erected in August 1961, which reduced the large scale flow of East German immigration virtually to zero overnight and the FRG looked elsewhere for recruitment pools. From 1960 to the stop on recruitment in 1973, the number of foreign workers grew from 280,000 to 2.6 million.

2. The Federal Republic saw it as a form of developmental aid. It was hoped that the guest workers would learn useful skills in Germany.

Question 4

Ethnic minorities:

What did the FRG experience during the 1950s?

Answer 4

Wirtschaftswunder (economic miracle)

Question 5

Ethnic minorities:

What meant that a constantly expanding workforce was needed?

Answer 5

The rapid growth of the West German economy from the early part of the 1950s.

Question 6

Ethnic minorities:

How many prisoners of war returned?

Answer 6

4 million

Question 7

Ethnic minorities:

Influx of refugees to FRG?

Answer 7

4.7 million

Question 8

Ethnic minorities:

What did the FRG see?

Answer 8

The influx of 4.7 million refugees of working age from former German territories.

Question 9

Ethnic minorities:

How many migrants from East Germany ensured a constant supply of new workers for the expanding economy?

Answer 9

1.8 million

Question 10

Ethnic minorities:

What was a labour shortage made worse by?

Answer 10

Creation of the Berlin Wall in August 1961, which reduced the large scale flow of East German immigration to zero overnight.

Question 11

Ethnic minorities:

From 1960 to the stop on recruitment in 1973, what did the number of foreign workers in the FRG grow by?

Answer 11

280,000 to 2.6 million

Question 12

Ethnic minorities:

What did the FRG see recruiting foreign workers as?

Answer 12

Developmental aid - it was hoped that the guest workers would learn useful skills in Germany, which could help them build their own countries after returning home.

Question 13

Ethnic minorities:

What did guest workers often belong to?

Answer 13

‘Ethnic Associations’

Question 14

Ethnic minorities:

What were ‘Ethnic Associations’?

Answer 14

Guest workers often belonged to them. They were groups of people who came from the same country as guest workers. West Germans were divided over these organisations.

Question 15

Ethnic minorities:

Why were West Germans divided over ‘Ethnic Associations’?

Answer 15

Some felt it helped the newcomers settle in, helping them learn the language and understand cultural differences. Other West Germans felt these associations slowed, or even stopped, the newcomers from integrating in West German life.

Question 16

Ethnic minorities in the FRG: Evidence of tolerance 1950s and 1960s

What did the government guarantee?

Answer 16

The govt guaranteed non-German workers the same wages.

Question 17

Ethnic minorities in the FRG: Evidence of tolerance 1950s and 1960s

What were signed with various countries?

Answer 17

Labour recruitment treaties were a number of different countries e.g Spain and Greece, Turkey

Question 18

Ethnic minorities in the FRG: Evidence of tolerance 1950s and 1960s

What was set up re Labour recruitment treaties?

Answer 18

The Federal Office for Labour Recruitment was set up in Nuremberg to run offices in the countries which West Germany had labour recruitment treaties.

Question 19

Ethnic minorities in the FRG: Evidence of tolerance 1950s and 1960s

In 1964, what percentage of workers in Germany had been living in the FRG for at least 3 years?

Answer 19

25%

Question 20

Ethnic minorities in the FRG: Evidence of tolerance 1950s and 1960s

What speech was made in 1964?

Answer 20

The minister for labour, Theodor Blank, made a speech to mark the occasion of the millionth guest worker arriving in the FRG. He said that guest workers had been the foundation of Germany’s success and that, as their labour pool was likely to continue shrinking (only 22% of the German population were under 15 years of age), guest workers would continue to be important.

Blank assured the guest workers they would receive welfare and child benefits if they bought their families over.

Question 21

Ethnic minorities in the FRG: Evidence of tolerance 1950s and 1960s

When did Theodor Blank give a speech about the millionth guest worker?

Answer 21

1964

Question 22

Ethnic minorities in the FRG: Evidence of tolerance 1950s and 1960s

What did Theodor Blank say in his speech?

Answer 22

Assured the guest workers they would receive welfare and child benefits if they bought their families over. Said guest workers had been the foundation for Germany’s success.

Question 23

Ethnic minorities in the FRG: Evidence of tolerance 1950s and 1960s

What helped guest workers adjust to work?

Answer 23

Unions - however less helpful about long-term assimilation

Question 24

Ethnic minorities in the FRG: Evidence of tolerance 1950s and 1960s

Who did guest workers have support from?

Answer 24

• Unions
• Church organisations e.g Catholic organisation called Caritas and Protestant organisation Diakonisches Werk.

Question 25

Ethnic minorities in the FRG: Evidence of tolerance 1950s and 1960s

List two church organisations that supported guest workers

Answer 25

• Caritas (Catholic)
• Diakonisches Werk (Protestant)

Question 26

Ethnic minorities in the FRG: Evidence of intolerance 1950s and 1960s

In the 1950s, what did unions think about recruiting workers from abroad?

Answer 26

Unions disliked the idea of recruiting workers from abroad. They were concerned that foreign workers would drive wages down, accept less favourable working conditions and, therefore, undercut existing workers. The government agreed to give German workers preference when hiring.

Question 27

Ethnic minorities in the FRG: Evidence of intolerance 1950s and 1960s

Why did unions dislike the idea of guest workers?

Answer 27

Tey were concerned that foreign workers would drive wages down, accept less favourable working conditions and, therefore, UNDERCUT EXISTING WAGES.

Question 28

Ethnic minorities in the FRG: Evidence of intolerance 1950s and 1960s

What did government agree?

Answer 28

To give German workers preference when hiring.

Question 29

Who was Minster for Labour?

Answer 29

Theodor Blank

Question 30

Ethnic minorities in the FRG: Evidence of intolerance 1950s and 1960s

What kind of accommodation did employers provide for guest workers?

Answer 30

Employers provided basic accommodation for migrant workers, often in dormitories near factories and outside towns which CUT THEM OFF from the local community.

Question 31

Ethnic minorities in the FRG: Evidence of intolerance 1950s and 1960s

What kind of work did guest workers have?

Answer 31

Jobs that Germans didn’t want e.g heavy manual labour.

Question 32

Ethnic minorities in the FRG:

From 1961-1973, how many German workers switched from industrial or agricultural work to white collar jobs?

Answer 32

Approx 3 million (as guest workers took the industrial or agricultural jobs)

Question 33

Ethnic minorities in the FRG:

Approx how many Germans left jobs in mining and how many guest workers took their place?

Answer 33

870,000 Germans left mining jobs and 1.1 million guest workers took these jobs.

Question 34

Ethnic minorities in the FRG: Evidence of intolerance 1950s and 1960s

What did foreign workers become known as and what did this suggest?

Answer 34

Became known as ‘guest workers,’ which underlined the German attitude of the time - they were guests, so their stay would be temporary. There was no intention to give them citizenship rights as citizenship as defined in the Basic Law was based on German blood not residence.

Question 35

Ethnic minorities in the FRG: Evidence of intolerance 1950s and 1960s

Basic Law

Answer 35

There was no intention to give them citizenship rights as citizenship as defined in the Basic Law was based on German BLOOD not RESIDENCE.

Question 36

Ethnic minorities in the FRG: Evidence of intolerance 1950s and 1960s

Example of how foreign workers did not have the same rights as German citizens

Answer 36

Even if their contracts were renewed, it was on a year-by-year basis.

Question 37

Ethnic minorities in the FRG: Evidence of intolerance 1950s and 1960s

What did the temporary recession of 1966 produce towards guest workers?

Answer 37

A significant amount of hostility to foreign workers, especially those who did not speak much German or try to integrate. At this time, many landlords refused to take guest workers as tenants, which helped confine them to living amongst other guess workers in the poorest areas.

Question 38

Ethnic minorities in the FRG: Evidence of intolerance 1950s and 1960s

Where did many guest workers settle?

Answer 38

Poorer urban areas as a result of economic necessity

Question 39

Ethnic minorities in the FRG: Evidence of tolerance 1970s and 1980s

In 1974, what did Ford car works in Cologne offer guest workers?

Answer 39

‘Voluntary severance packages’ (paid to employees on the early termination of a contract) based on the time working in the factory.

Question 40

Ethnic minorities in the FRG: Evidence of tolerance 1970s and 1980s

In 1975, what did the govt give guest workers’ children?

Answer 40

1975 - govt gave guest workers’ children the same benefits as other children due to the rise in unemployed guest workers.

Question 41

Ethnic minorities in the FRG: Evidence of tolerance 1970s and 1980s

1974

Answer 41

Ford in Cologne - ‘Voluntary severance packages’ (paid to employees on the early termination of a contract) based on the time working in the factory.

Question 42

Ethnic minorities in the FRG: Evidence of tolerance 1970s and 1980s

1975

Answer 42

Govt gave guest workers’ children the same benefits as other children due to the rise in unemployed guest workers.

Question 43

Ethnic minorities in the FRG: Evidence of tolerance 1970s and 1980s

What happened in 1977??

Answer 43

The ban on accepting foreign workers in Germany was lifted.

Question 44

Ethnic minorities in the FRG: Evidence of tolerance 1970s and 1980s

WHAT HAPPENED IN 1978?

Answer 44

The first Federal Commissioner for Foreigners’ Affairs was appointed by Helmut Schmidt to work for the rights of foreign workers and to promote their integration. At the same time, a clear set of rules for applying for unrestricted residence (but not citizenship) was laid down.

Question 45

Ethnic minorities in the FRG: Evidence of tolerance 1970s and 1980s

When was the first Federal Commissioner for Foreigners’ Affairs?

Answer 45

1978 - appointed by Helmut Schmidt

Question 46

Ethnic minorities in the FRG: Evidence of tolerance 1970s and 1980s

Number of foreign children in schools?

Answer 46

Rose from 165,000 in 1976 to almost 200,000 in 1983

Question 47

Ethnic minorities in the FRG: Evidence of tolerance 1970s and 1980s

What was government policy laid down in the Basic Law and what did the govt try to persuade the Lander to do?

Answer 47

The government policy, as laid down in the Basic Law, was to provide ‘democratic education’: equal opportunity to all. The government tried to persuade the Länder to provide mixed-culture learning groups with classes of Germans and the children of guest workers.

Question 48

Ethnic minorities in the FRG: Evidence of intolerance 1970s and 1980s

During the 1970s, how did the oil crisis and sudden rise in unemployment affect guest workers?

Answer 48

Guest workers were again under pressure to leave jobs and Germany. In November 1973, the govt put a stop on hiring foreign workers and banned permits for families of workers already in the country. The number of guest workers fell to just under 2 million.

Question 49

Ethnic minorities in the FRG: Evidence of intolerance 1970s and 1980s

What happened in November 1973?

Answer 49

The govt put a stop on hiring foreign workers and banned permits for families of workers already in the country. The number of guest workers fell to just under 2 million.

Question 50

When did the government put a stop on hiring foreign workers? What did the number of guest workers fall to?

Answer 50

November 1973

Number of guest workers fell to 2 million.

Question 51

Ethnic minorities in the FRG: Evidence of intolerance 1970s and 1980s

What percentage of foreign children in schools were Muslim and how did the govt react to this?

Answer 51

Most Muslim guest workers children started school at the age of 6, with no preschool education and language help. Preschool education was largely run by Christian schools.

Question 52

Ethnic minorities in the FRG: Evidence of intolerance 1970s and 1980s

Despite the large number of Muslim children, what was preschool education largely run by?

Answer 52

Christian schools

Question 53

Ethnic minorities in the FRG: Evidence of intolerance 1970s and 1980s

What kind of schools attracted hostility?

Answer 53

Koran schools

Question 54

Ethnic minorities in the FRG: Evidence of intolerance 1970s and 1980s

What were the problems with education provision?

Answer 54

There were significant problems with education provision. Many groups of ethnic minorities set their own national schools because their children were not learning in state schools. This did not help the integration of minority groups. Koran schools, in particular, attracted a lot of hostility.

Question 55

Ethnic minorities in the FRG: Evidence of intolerance 1970s and 1980s

Guest workers’ children?

Answer 55

• Guest worker children were not citizens and were expected to return home after the age of 18.
• Crime rates higher among GW children.
• 70% of them failed to gain the Abitur.
• More than 50% of GW teenagers were unemployed.
• From 1977 they weren’t allowed to have paid employment.

Question 56

Ethnic minorities in the FRG: Evidence of intolerance 1970s and 1980s

Were GW children welcomed?

Answer 56

Not really, they were expected to return home after the age of 18.

Question 57

Ethnic minorities in the FRG: Evidence of intolerance 1970s and 1980s

From 1977…

Answer 57

GW children weren’t allowed to have paid employment.

Question 58

Ethnic minorities in the FRG: Evidence of intolerance 1970s and 1980s

While politicians and people generally continued to view guest workers as temporary residents, what was the attitude of GWs?

Answer 58

There was little incentive for minority groups of West Germans themselves to work for assimilation.

Question 59

Ethnic minorities in the FRG: Evidence of intolerance 1970s and 1980s

Examples of far right attacks on minority groups?

Answer 59

There were 6 bombings of Jewish memorials and GW accommodation between 1979 and 1980.

Question 60

Why did the treatment of minorities vary during the years of the FRG?

Answer 60

Treatment varied depending on:
- The success of the economy and rates of employment (if there was a recession for example, and there was lots of unemployment, guess workers were under pressure to leave. Other times when the economy was expanding, a constantly expanding workforce was needed.
- Opportunities (or lack of opportunities) for assimilation presented by the government.
- Attitudes of West German population to minorities/attitudes of ethnic minorities themselves.

Question 61

Number of foreign workers from 1960-73? Where were lots from?

Answer 61

280,000 - 2.6 million

Lots from Turkey

Question 62

Ethnic minorities

1.1 million

Answer 62

Guest workers took jobs in mining in the 1950s and 1960s.

Question 63

Ethnic minorities

60%

Answer 63

Of foreign children in schools were Muslim

Question 64

Ethnic associations

Answer 64

Guest workers belonged to

Question 65

1977

Answer 65

Ban on accepting foreign workers in Germany was lifted.

Question 66

Do guest workers ever gain citizenship?

Answer 66

NO

Question 67

Summaries positive attitudes towards guest workers.

Answer 67

• More and more migrants were able to come over to Germany.
• Many settled and created businesses which boosted the economy.
• Many later brought their families over and have created a life in Germany.
• Countries realisation that they need these guest workers to maintain the economy.
• Encouragement in propaganda to treat workers well.
• Labour and Social Affairs minister Theodor Blank dedicated 50 million DM to accommodation for guest workers while also granting social welfare and child benefits.
• German literacy and language classes set up for guest workers families - however many men didn’t let their wives attend.

Question 68

How much did money did Theodore Blank dedicate to accommodate for guest workers?

Answer 68

50 million DM

Question 69

What was set up for guest workers families?

Answer 69

German literacy and language classes - however many did

Question 70

What was set up for guest workers families?

Answer 70

German literacy and language classes - however many men didn’t let their wives attend.

Question 71

Summarise negative attitudes towards guest workers.

Answer 71

• The term ‘guest workers’ suggests that Germany didn’t want this to be a permeant migration. Never given citizenship.
• Basic Law granted German citizenship based on ‘German blood’ meaning there was no intention to grant guest workers migration.
• Many guest workers were accused of taking jobs from Germans and being a burden on the state.
• After the 1973 oil crisis, the govt banned recruitment of foreign workers.
• 1975: financial incentives offered to guest workers to return home.
• Even children born in the FRG weren’t seen as German and expected to go ‘home’ when they turned 18.
• Schools weren’t adapting to help guest worker children leading to unemployment and poor education.
• Far right attacks on guest worker accommodation took place.
• Unions often hostile.

Question 72

By 1978, what could GWs apply for?

Answer 72

Residency but not citizenship.

Question 73

How would you describe the culture in FRG?

Answer 73

Cultural and generational tensions

Question 74

Why did cultural tensions exist in the FRG?

Answer 74

With the growing influence of US culture during the 1950s and 1960s, which was seen as undermining traditional German values.

Question 75

Culture:

What was seen as a threat to moral values supported by the Catholic and Protestant churches within Germany?

Answer 75

• The social liberalisation in the 1960s
• Youth protest
• The espousal of alternative lifestyles

Question 76

Culture:

What did conservative forces fear?

Answer 76

The growth of TV and consumerism.

Question 77

Culture:

In what ways were traditional German culture and class divisions weakened during the 1960s and 1970s?

Answer 77

Because the expansion of CONSUMERISM and MATERIALISM provided Germans with common values that eroded the old class divides.

Question 78

Culture:

What did polls show? (despite the image portrayed in the media and elsewhere)

Answer 78

That most young people shared their parents’ conservative values.

Question 79

Culture:

What helped give West Germans a greater sense of unity?

Answer 79

Sport

(especially with the success of the West German football team on the international stage)

Question 80

Culture:

What term was applied by the media to youth gangs and anti-social/criminal behaviour?

Answer 80

Hooligans

Question 81

Culture:

Evidence that teenagers in the FRG were largely out of control

Answer 81

• Sociologist Heinz Kluth did acknowledge their presence, though writing in 1956, he was anxious to assure readers that the phenomenon was limited to small groups in urban centres and one should beware stereotyping all young people as criminals and gang members.
• Journalist Albert Brusemann wrote that in 1954 560,000 young people had come before the courts, 25 per cent of them under the age of 14. However, many came from dysfunctional families.

Question 82

Culture:

What did journalist Albert Brusemann write in 1954 about young people?

Answer 82

560,000 young people had come before the courts - hooligans.

Question 83

Culture:

What seemed under threat 1949-89 and why?

Answer 83

Germany’s traditional cultural values and class divisions seemed under threat.

Because the FRG became more affected by influences from Western Europe and the USA.

Question 84

Culture:

What did the FRG become more affected by and why?

Answer 84

Influences from Western Europe and the USA, because of the presence of occupying powers (particularly the USA).

Question 85

Culture:

As a result of more Western Europe/American influence, what did the FRG become?

Answer 85

More cosmopolitan

Question 86

Culture:

Why were US influences persuasive?

Answer 86

They were associated with affluence and exciting lifestyles.

Question 87

Culture:

What US influences continued into the 1950s?

Answer 87

The adoption of:
- blue jeans
- chewing gum
- rock ‘n’ roll
- Coca-Cola

Cultural commodities from the US + MORE DEFIANCE

Question 88

Culture:

What were blue jeans, chewing gum, coke etc.

Answer 88

Cultural commodities from the USA

Question 89

Culture:

What were cultural commodities from the USA associated with? e.g blue jeans, coke, chewing gum

Answer 89

A breakdown of deference to authority and youth rebellion, as exemplified by the so-called hooligans.

Question 90

Culture:

Was the image of hooligans typical for the majority of young people?

Answer 90

No - Youth Ring

Question 91

Culture:

November 1946

Answer 91

The German Youth Ring had been created

Question 92

Culture:

When was the German Youth Ring created?

Answer 92

November 1946

Question 93

Culture:

Why was the German Youth Ring created?

Answer 93

As an umbrella organisation for all youth organisations and set up workshops to train leaders, produce resources and offer expertise in healthy activities such as singing, folk dancing and hikes - traditional German pastimes.

Question 94

Culture:

What did the German Youth Ring do?

Answer 94

Set up workshops to train leaders, produce resources and offer expertise in healthy activities such as singing, folk dancing and hikes - traditional German pastimes.

Question 95

Culture:

What did the Youth Ring embrace?

Answer 95

Embraced organisations such as the Boy Scouts and religious youth groups.

Question 96

Culture:

What had more members - Youth Rings or ‘hooligan’ groups?

Answer 96

Youth Ring groups - had lots more members.

Question 97

Culture:

What did polls in 1968 show about young people?

Answer 97

They weren’t all protestors or hooligans, and most were well integrated into society/tended to hold the same values as their parents.

Question 98

Culture:

What most youth rebellion actually liked?

Answer 98

The same as that in other western countries - generational rebellion about the length of hair, style of clothes, choice of music and preference in hanging out with friends rather than doing homework, and was largely conducted inside the home rather than on the streets. Ideas of the New Left and terrorism were far from their mind.

Question 99

Culture:

What was most youth rebellion?

Answer 99

Generational

Question 100

Culture:

German Youth Ring?

Answer 100

Very popular!

Question 101

Culture:

What was one of the roles that culture played in the FRG?

Answer 101

To offer a mirror to society and comment on what it showed.

Question 102

Culture:

What did new cultural developments reflect in FRG society?

Answer 102

Tensions with FRG society.

Question 103

Culture:

Despite new cultural developments causing tension, what did most people actually want?

Answer 103

They preferred to be entertained.

Question 104

Culture:

What made the FRG more self-confident?

Answer 104

Sporting success, especially football

Question 105

Culture:

What were cultural tensions revealed in?

Answer 105

The realm of literature

Question 106

Culture:

What did new authors emerge on?

Answer 106

The background of the experiences of the war and post-war period.

Question 107

Culture:

Who was Günter Grass?

Answer 107

• A former member of the Waffen SS and German novelist.
• Author of The Tin Drum (1959)

Question 108

Culture:

Who wrote The Tin Drum?

Answer 108

Günter Grass

Question 109

Culture:

What was The Tin Drum about?

Answer 109

The Nazi and immediate post-war period as written by an inmate of a mental asylum. Metaphor for the banality of Nazi Germany.

Question 110

Culture:

After writing The Tin Drum, what did Grass turn to?

Answer 110

More contemporary periods and issues such as The Flounder - this was a controversial novel.

Question 111

Culture:

What is Gunter Grass’s The Flounder about?

Answer 111

Feminism which many feminists attacked as male-chauvinist, and others saw it as a feminist tract.

Question 112

Culture:

When was The Flounder by Gunter Grass published?

Answer 112

1978

Question 113

Culture:

What did people think of Gunter Grass’s The Flounder?

Answer 113

Many feminists attacked it as male-chauvinist, while others conversely saw it in fact as a feminist tract.

Question 114

Culture:

Who received the Nobel Prize for literature in 1972?

Answer 114

Heinrich Böll - a more accessible writer, yet much of his work caused political controversy

Question 115

Culture:

Example of Heinrich Böll’s work

Answer 115

The Clown (1963)

Question 116

Culture:

What kind of response was Heinrich Böll’s The Clown met with?

Answer 116

In 1963, the publication was criticised in the West German press for its negative portrayal of the Catholic Church and the CDU Party.

Question 117

Culture:

What was Heinrich Böll particular critical of?

Answer 117

Aspects of the conservative nature of the Catholic Church, even though he was a committed Catholic himself.

Question 118

Culture:

In the 1970s, what was Heinrich Böll criticised for?

Answer 118

Being sympathetic towards terrorism when he insisted upon the correct and fair application of the law in the case of the Baader-Meinhof Gang.

Question 119

Culture:

Examples of cultural tensions (diagram)

Answer 119

• Fear of US influence e.g rock and roll music
• Fear of youth rebellion e.g hooligans
• Literature questioning society eg Gunter Grass
• New cinema questing society e.g Rainer Fassbinder

Question 120

Culture:

Generational rebellion short-lived (diagram)

Answer 120

• Fear of US influence e.g rock and roll music
• Fear of youth rebellion e.g hooligans

Question 121

Culture:

Popular culture conservative (diagram)

Answer 121

• Literature questioning society eg Gunter Grass
• New cinema questing society e.g Rainer Fassbinder

Question 122

Culture:

Cultural cohesion

Answer 122

Sporting success gave national pride

Question 123

Culture:

What must be remembered about literature?

Answer 123

That most citizens did not read “highbrow literature’, preferring thrillers and romances that rarely questioned society, aiming simply to entertain.

Question 124

Culture:

What successful post-war writer, with worldwide sales of more than 12 million, set his most successful novels in Nazi Germany?

Answer 124

H.H. Kirst

Question 125

Culture:

As in all western countries, what happened to cinema attendance?

Answer 125

It fell, from a peak of 817.5 million visits in 1956 to 172.2 million by 1969.

Question 126

Culture:

Statistic for cinema attendance falling in West Germany

Answer 126

817.5 million visits in 1956

172.2 million by 1969

Question 127

Culture:

What were many films aimed at?

Answer 127

Commercial success - featured simple plots set in Alpine or other scenic settings.

Question 128

Culture:

What happened when viewers tired of films with simple plots in scenic settings?

Answer 128

They stayed home to watch TV.

Question 129

Culture:

What happened in February 1962?

Answer 129

More serious cinematographers issued a manifesto which introduced the New Cinema movement.

Question 130

Culture:

When was the New Cinema movement from?

Answer 130

February 1962

Question 131

Culture:

What was the distinction between the New Cinema movement and normal films?

Answer 131

The principal distinction was that it reflected new as opposed to old cinematic ideas and its proponents would pursue artistic excellence rather than commercial success. For this reason funding was always a problem, but out of it emerged undoubted cinematic masterpieces.

Some of its adherents, such as Werner Herzog and Wim Wenders, were to find later success in Hollywood.

Question 132

Culture:

Examples of adherents to the New Cinema movement

Answer 132

• Werner Herzog
• Wim Wenders

Both found later success in Hollywood.

Question 133

Culture:

Example of ambitious, imagination films

Answer 133

Hertzog’s ‘Aguirre: The Wrath of God’ (1972) and ‘Fitzcarraldo’ (1982)

Question 134

Culture:

What was Hertzog’s ‘Aguirre: The Wrath of God’ (1972) about?

Answer 134

Depicts how a Conquistador quest for treasure descends into death and madness.

Question 135

Culture:

What was Hertzog’s ‘Fitzcarraldo’ (1982) about?

Answer 135

The tale of an adventurer who attempts to bring opera to the Amazonian rain forest.

Question 136

Culture:

Example of a more prosaic director

Answer 136

Rainer Werner Fassbinder

Question 137

Culture:

Films by Rainer Fassbinder

Answer 137

• Fear Eats the Soul (1974) showed a love affair between a 60-year-old widow and a much younger migrant worker.
• The Marriage of Maria Braun (1979) whose amoral heroine has been seen as a cypher for the ruthlessness of post-war FRG society with its emphasis on materialism and greed.

Question 138

Culture:

What was Rainer Fassbinder’s The Marriage of Maria Braun (1979) about?

Answer 138

An amoral heroine who has been seen as a cypher for the ruthlessness of post-war FRG society with its emphasis on materialism and greed.

Question 139

Culture:

Did the generation of directors e.g Hertzog, Wenders and Fassbinder, move on?

Answer 139

Yes, the generation moved on (Fassbinder died in 1982), and cinema in the 1980s largely relinquished its innovative spirit and began again to cater mainly for diminishing audiences, which were down to 101.6 million visits by 1989.

Question 140

Culture:

By 1989, what were cinema visits down to?

Answer 140

101.6 million visits by 1989.

Question 141

Culture:

What was the most successful FRG film of the 1980s?

Answer 141

Perhaps Wolfgang Petersen’s Das Boot (1981), set in the claustrophobic conditions of a U-boat. Most films, however, were comedies and crime capers.

Question 142

Culture:

When was Wolfgang Petersen’s ‘Das Boot’ released?

Answer 142

1981

Question 143

Culture:

By the 1980s, what were most films about?

Answer 143

Comedies/crime

Question 144

Culture:

After WWII, what became the most popular sport within the FRG?

Answer 144

Football

Question 145

Culture:

Why was football important in the culture of the FRG?

Answer 145

It performed a significant role in helping to provide West Germany with a clear sense of identity and unity in the period 1949-89.

Question 146

Culture:

What did the West German football team develop that was important for the FRG?

Answer 146

A well-deserved reputation for efficiency, team work and flair, which many saw as fundamental characteristics of the FRG itself.

Question 147

Culture:

When did West Germany win the FIFA World Cup?

Answer 147

1954 and 1974 (where it acted as host)

Question 148

Culture:

What happened when West Germany won the World Cup in 1954 and 1974?

Answer 148

With the progress made with Adenauer’s political and economic policies, it helped raise national pride.

Question 149

Culture:

Who principal players of the West German football team became both national and international icons of FRG success?

Answer 149

Franz Beckenbauer

Question 150

Conclusion about FRG culture

Answer 150

German culture should be understood within the broader context of the time. Indeed, culture reflected the values of the Weimar Republic from 1918 to 1932, the values of the Nazis from 1933 to 1945, and a renewed commitment to liberalism following the establishment of the Federal Republic.

Question 151

Culture under the FRG summarise table

Answer 151

• International influences - USA.
• Reflected tensions + liberalism within society BUT most people also preferred to just be entertained.
• Literature - new authors like Gunter Grass wrote The Tin Drum and The Flounder and Heinrich Boll wrote The Clown which was criticised for its negative portrayal of the Catholic Church and the CDU.
• New Cinema movement to pursue artistic excellence rather than commercial success e.g films like Fitzcarraldo 1982 and Fassbinder The Marriage of Maria Braun. But many were still comedies and thrillers.
• Football helped provide Germany with a sense of West German identity. 1954 and 1974 WG won the World Cup.

Question 152

What cultural tensions existed in the FRG from 1960s?

Answer 152

Old vs young - many of the older generation wanted to see 1945 as the ‘year zero’ and many of the younger generation wanted to conform the past. This was expressed in the culture movements of the time:

• Older generations wanted a familiar, traditional German culture and comfortable consumerist lifestyle (after the shortages and upheavals of the 1940s). In contrast, the younger generation pressed for a less consumerist lifestyle & culture which confronted the immediate past rather than embracing the distant or American culture.

BUT some older people like Alexander and Margarete Mitscherlich published a highly influential & widely read book in 1967 called The Inability to Mourn, which said Germany had to face its past.

AND TENSIONS BETWEEN GROWING INFLUENCE OF AMERICA IN UNDERMINING TRADITIONAL GERMAN VALUES

Question 153

What tensions existed between the old and young?

Answer 153

1. Much of the older generation wanted to see 1945 as the ‘year zero’ and many of the younger generation wanted to conform the past.
2. Older generations wanted a familiar, traditional German culture and comfortable consumerist lifestyle (after the shortages and upheavals of the 1940s). In contrast, the younger generation pressed for a less consumerist lifestyle & culture which confronted the immediate past rather than embracing the distant or American culture.

Older want traditional culture and consumerism, younger pole want less consumerist lifestyle.

Question 154

Who published “The Inability to Mourn”?

Answer 154

Alexander and Margarete Mitscherlich (they were psychoanalysts)

Question 155

When was “The Inability to Mourn” published?

Answer 155

1967

Question 156

What examples of unity are there?

Answer 156

• Expansion of consumerism and materialism that provided Germans with common values that eroded the traditional values.
• Football
• Youths sharing same values as parents.

Question 157

What evidence is there that not all young people were hooligans?

Answer 157

The German Youth Ring

Question 158

What influenced culture in the FRG?

Answer 158

• De-Nazification
• Allies
• Growing number of social movements
• Regional cultures

Question 159

How did de-Nazification influence culture?

Answer 159

Nazi controls on German culture were removed, the ‘degenerate’ culture the Nazis banned was reintroduced, and a free press was re-established (although this ran alongside Allied-influenced newspapers which were urged to discuss ‘democratic’ themes). It was hard to retain culture (e.g. the music of Wagner) which the Nazis had approved of.

Question 160

How did the Allies influence culture?

Answer 160

Many Germans adopted the cultural offerings that the Allies introduced in their zones (e.g. Hollywood movies in the American zone and William Shakespeare in the British zone). American films flooded the West German market after 1945.

Question 161

How did the social movements influence culture?

Answer 161

From the 1950s, there was a growing number of social movements in West Germany (e.g. the anti-nuclear movement in light of the Cold War; a rejection of consumerism and the desire for a peaceful, equal society).

Question 162

In contrast to the strongly nationalist culture the Nazis sought to develop, what began to develop?

Answer 162

‘Regional’ cultures

Question 163

Culture:

Until the 1960s, what was one of the most popular film genres?

Answer 163

Heimatfilm (‘homeland’ film) - films about Germany. The films were set in beautiful, rural locations with escapist, romantic plots - a contrast to the bombed cities and economic and political problem of everyday life.

Question 164

Das neue Kino

Answer 164

‘New German Cinema’

Question 165

As well as artistic excellence, what did New German cinema focus on?

Answer 165

The ‘unassimilated past’ of Nazi Germany or the social problems of the FRG.

Question 166

Example of Alexander Kluge film

Answer 166

Yesterday Girl (1966) - considered the problems of an East German female migrant worker in the FRG.

Question 167

Who directed Yesterday Girl in 1966?

Answer 167

Alexander Kluge

Question 168

Volker Schlöndorff film

Answer 168

Young Törless (1966) - examined German persecution of the Jews

Question 169

Aims: FRG culture

Answer 169

• Want to regain their image as leaders of European Culture after the war.
• Remove Nazi controls and reintroduce cultural experimentation.
• Influenced by democracy but also a desire to remember traditional German culture e.g Wagner.

Question 170

Influenced by: FRG culture

Answer 170

• International/cosmopolitan especially Western Europe; blue jeans, chewing gum, rock n roll, coca-cola.
• Allied Occupation Council 1945-49
  -Wide issues and social movements such as CND (Campaign for nuclear disarmament) and Vietnam War.
• Germany’s past (Holocaust)

Question 171

What did “The Inability to Mourn” actually lead to?

Answer 171

Some Lander reforming their curriculum and teaching Nazi Germany in schools.

Question 172

Did all culture divide generations?

Answer 172

No - many from all ages were drawn to social movements that wanted to change society for the better.

Question 173

Originally what was film like?

Answer 173

Traditional and image at escapism in Alpine settings.

Question 174

What was different about Nazi culture compared to FRG? re regional

Answer 174

Regional culture in FRG, whereas Nazis had tried to create a nationalistic one.

Question 175

SUMMARY OF FRG CULTURE

Answer 175

The time period saw many cultural and generational tensions as well as the growing influence of American culture. There was a renewed commitment to liberalism following the war. Culture had cosmopolitan influences.

Question 176

What is Gunter Grass and Heinrich Boll an example of?

Answer 176

Freedom of expression

Question 177

By 1980s, what was being made again?

Answer 177

Blockbuster films - to try and draw in more audiences.