creation of the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG), 1945-49 Flashcards
LO: post-war Germany, growing divisions among the allies, political parties in the western zones, the Basic Law, federal elections
what problems did post-war German face?
- Hitler was dead, many leaders in hiding or arrested
- 4 million Germans dead, 10 million refugees
- Cities destroyed, no functioning institutions or economy
- Currency collapsed, widespread fear of starvation and disease
- 7 million adult men missing or prisoners of war
what was the agreement made at the Yalta Conference?
- Germany divided into 4 zones (USA, USSR, France, Britain)
- An Allied Control Council would oversee all 4 zones
when was the Yalta Conference?
February 1945
what decisions were made at the Potsdam Conference?
- de-Nazification
- demilitarisation and deindustrialisation
- democratisation of Germany
- reparations (countries took from their own zones)
- Berlin divided into 4 zones
when was the Potsdam Conference?
June 1945
how did the USA and UK economic merger create Bizonia and why?
after food shortages, the USA and Britain merged their zones to improve Germany’s recovery. Bizonia was created for cooperation
when was Bizonia created?
1946
how did Trizonia form?
France merged its zone with Bizonia to create Trizonia, making political unification of western zones more likely
when was Trizonia formed?
in 1949
what was the Truman Doctrine and why was it introduced?
- policy of ‘containment’ to stop the spread of communism
- introduced by President Truman, influenced by the Domino Theory
what was the Marshall Plan and its significance?
- a $13 billion aid plan for European recoery (1947)
- many European countries participated, but not Soviet-controlled states, marking the division of Europe
why did Stalin order the Berlin Blockade?
- Stalin wanted to control all of Berlin, which was in the Soviet-controlled zone
- blockade aimed to force West Berlin to join the soviet zone
when was the Berlin Blockade ordered?
June 1948
how did the Western powers respond to the Berlin Blockade?
- they organised an airlift, flying 4,641 tons of supplies daily
- 2.3 million tons were delivered, and the blockade was lifted by May 1949
what two main political parties emerged in post-war Western Germany?
- CDU/CSU (Christian Democratic Union/Christian Social Union), led by Konrad Adenauer, pro-capitalism and pro-western.
- SPD (Social Democratic Party), led by Kurt Schumacher, anti-communist and anti-NATO
when was the Basic Law created?
1949
what is the significance of the Basic Law?
- it served as the constitution of the FRG, ensuring democracy and limiting extremism
- considered provisional because sovereignty was limited by the Allies
what were the results of the first FRG federal elections and when was it?
August 1949
- CDU/CSU won 31.01% (139 seats)
- SPD won 29.22% (131 seats)
- First chancellor was Konrad Adenauer
what political challenge did Adenauer face as the first FRG chancellor?
to establish a stable democracy, prevent extremist parties, and gain independence from the Allies
what did the FDP and KPD get in the elections?
FDP: 11.92% (52 seats)
KPD: 5.74% (15 seats)
what was the Domino Theory?
if one country became communist, its neighbours would follow
when was the Marshall plan introduced?
June 1947
give some ways in which the cooperation between the Russians and Western powers broke down in March 1948?
- US zone suspended reparation payments to USSR in May 1946 due to Russia’s refusal to deliver food stocks
- The situation wa sexacerbated by external tensions like communist takeover of Czechoslovakia in Feb. 1948 and the Treaty of Brussels in March which set up the military alliance ‘Western European Union’
- March 1948 Russian representatives walked out of the Allied Control Council (ACC) over plans to introduce a new currency, the Deutschmark, in the 3 zones
what types of political party formed the Free Democratic Party (FDP)?
German liberal parties such as the Democratic Party
what were the similarities between the constitutions of West Germany and Weimar?
- Reichstag able to bring down chancellor’s govt by simple vote of no confidence. Bundestag is able to take control of govt through the ‘constructive vote of no confidence’
- elections every 4 years
- universal suffrage (21 in Weimar, 18 in FRG)
- both federal systems
- both allow for political parties
what were the differences between the West German and Weimar constitutions? (no explanation, just simple points)
- civil rights
- powers of president
- Bundestag support for chancellor and govt
- electoral system
- minimum requirement for representation
- FRG’s sovereignty limited
civil rights in Weimar and West German constitutions
FRG - rights are inalieable and standing above constitution
Weimar - possible to suspend rights by constitutional legislation (Article 48)
powers of president in Weimar and West German constitutions
Reichsprasident - extensive powers to dissolve Reichstag, appoint and dismiss the govt, pass emergency decrees, 7 years electoral cycle, could always re-elect
Bundesprasident - mainly ceremonial functions, limited powers in case of emergencies, elected by parlt and special reps for 5 years, only 1 re-election possible
Bundestag sypport for chancellor and govt in Weimar and West German constitutions
Bundestag - approved chancellor, able to take control of govt through ‘constructive vote of no confidence’, participated in election of the head of state and federal court judges
Reichstag - able to bring down chancellor’s govt by a simple vote of no confidence, main legislative power
electoral system in Weimar and West German constitutions
Weimar - plebiscites and referedums allowed, pure PR in Reichstag
FRG - plebiscites and referendums not allowed, mixed-member (+ FPTP) PR with a 5% hurdle in Bundestag elections
what was the impact of the differences between electoral systems in Weimar and West Germany?
pure PR in Reichstag led to many parties and made it more difficult to form a govt, whereas mixed-member PR leads to fewer parties in Bundestag and more stability
minimum requirement for representation in Weimar and West German constitutions
Bundestag - minimum 5% of vote to gain representation in Bundestag
Weimar - no minimum requirement
FRG sovereignty limited in West German constitution vs not limited in Weimar
FRG was not fully independent state in 1949 as the Allied High Commission under the Occupation Statute had the power to veto legislation; the new state had no control over its foreign policy; the AHC reserved the right to take over the govt if the democracy was at major risks
who were all of the chancellors in FRG until 1989, their periods in power and their party?
Konrad Adenauer, 1949-63 CDU
Ludwig Erhard, 1963-66 CDU
Kurt Kiesinger, 1966-69 CDU/CSU
Willy Brandt, 1969-74 SPD
Helmut Schmidt, 1974-82 SPD
Helmut Kohl, 1982-89 CDU
