Democracy and Dictatorships- Divided Germany: The Federal Republic and the DDR 1949–1963 Flashcards
Creation of West Germany
May 1949, Trizonia
GDR and FDR
Deutsche Demokratische Republik = East Germany
German Democratic Republic = East Germany
BRD and FRG
FRG and BRD
Federal Republic of Germany = West Germany
Bundesrepublik Deutscheland = West Germany
Features of The Basic Law and Constitution of West Germany
- Small parties couldn’t get into power due to 5% needed to be represented;
- Extremist parties banned;
- Chancellor appointed by President with parliamentary approval;
Representative democracy- first past the post and proportional representation -> System doesn’t allow for extremists; - All Germans living in former German lands were allowed citizenship. All those under soviet or polish rule were able to move to West.
Why was it not a permanent constitution?
Law was temporary until Germany was united- committed Germany to work for unity.
Konrad Adenauer
Leader of the Christian Democratic Union Party
Adenauer’s Aims
- Western integration
- The reunification of Germany only as a Western Capitalist state
- Economic and Social stability
Why was there an Economic Miracle (1952-63)? - Existing West advantages
- Possessed large quantities of raw materials- coal and irons
- Didn’t suffer the loss of resources taken in reparations that the USSR inflicted on the East.
- Arrival of Refugees -> regular supply of labour
EM? - Policies in Bizonia 1947-49
- Removal of price controls, currency reform in 1948 stimulated business activity
- Removing wage controls -> less strikes and created a sense of ownership in the trade unions -> Co-determination law 1951, Works constitution Law 1952 -> Currency reform ended black market and reduced inflation
- Industrial production 51% June 1948 -> 78% December
LIMITATIONS- rise in prices not in wages, shortage of resources- caused a balance of payment deficit, recession ‘49-50
EM? - Ludwig Erhard and the ‘Social Market Economy’
- Social Market Economy - State regulations ended, free economy
- Social justice and security -> ‘Prosperity for all’
New currency provided stability
LIMITATIONS- 1950 insufficient demand and lack of foreign investment, difficult to sustain growth
EM? - Marshall Aid
- Benefited from aid, used to rebuild industry and stimulate the economy
LIMITATIONS- Oct ‘54 aid totalled only $2 bil US Dollars, in 1948-49- less than 5% of W. German national income - Role as stimulus for economy overestimated
EM? - Korean War
- Increased demands for good that the Ruhr could supply- reduced pressure on Erhard to abandon SME
- W. Germany able to take advantage of the inability of other nations to supply war materials needed- exports doubled
EM? - Industrial relations
- Rise in wages-> improvement in industrial relations lasted through 50s into 60s
- Workers had more disposable income available
- As living standards rose there was little reason to challenge the system and this also helped to create political stability - helped economy
EM? - Government stability (provided by Adenauer)
- Bundesbank 1957 provided political stability, controlling both money in circulation and interest rates-> inflation controlled, helped sustain recovery in second half of 1950s into 60s
- W. Germany didn’t have to pay extensive reps and defence cost limited- no army till NATO 1955
Adenauer Foreign Policy
- To create better relations with other nations, especially Europe and France
- Protection and security from USA
- More freedom/sovereignty to make own decisions
- United reunified Germany must be capitalist and democratic, not neutral as fear domination of USSR
Hallstein Doctrine
The belief that W. Germany shouldn’t recognise East Germany or have diplomatic relations with other states (except USSR) that continued to recognise it.
- Continued until 1969
Germany joins Council of Europe
1950- International organisation created in ‘49 to promote cooperation on legal standards, human rights and democratic values
- Improved Western relations, showed FRG distancing itself from GDR
W. Germany joins the European Coal and Steel Community
April 1951- Created by France as a supranational organisation to oversee German and French steel and coal production
- Allowed FRG to be treated as equal partner to France and helped trust to grow between the two.
Korean War
- Outbreak of war heightened fear of communism and made USA urge Europe to make greater contribution to own defence
- > EUROPEAN DEFENCE COMMUNITY set up under French control as idea of German rearmament was taken warily
- > weakened relations
- Germany couldn’t take part in war as not allowed an army
West Germany joins NATO and army created
1955- German NATO army created
- Improved Germany’s Western relations as showed they were a trusted nation
Adenauer visits Moscow and POWs return from USSR
1955- Visited Moscow and secured release of POW which won him support- didn’t sign deal
- Improved FRG’s Western relations -> communicate with USSR
Plebiscite (vote) reincorporates Saar into W. Germany
1955- Gave pop of Saar a vote 68% rejected terms, but 2/3 of Saar parliament wanted to reunify with West
- France and Germany negotiated to return Saar to FRG in ‘57
- Showed France trusted
West Germany signs the Treaty of Rome and joins European Economic Community
1957- customs union set out to harmonise trade and prices in agriculture
- Reassured France as Adenauer accepted division of Germany and made it clear FRG wouldn’t take independent steps to unity
West Germany joins European Atomic Energy Community
1957- EURATOM
- Showed trust to allow them to use atomic energy, which could be turned into bombs
Walter Ulbricht, SED
Leader of East Germany, Socialist Unity Party
How did Ulbricht achieve control?
- Stasi (State security service) 1950 -> regular police, border guards and also spys
- Democratic Centralism -> decisions at centre and passed down
- Volkskammer (Parliament) -> seats allocated before election -> SED guaranteed seats
- Lander replaced by Bezirke- smaller units, easier to control
East German Revolt
16th June 1953
Stalin’s death
March 1953
Why did the workers revolt in ‘53?
- Stalin’s death gave possibility for freedom with the New Course and so the workers were encouraged to take action and push boundaries.
- 1952 announcement ‘Building up Socialism’ put pressure to increase productivity. 10% rise in productivity, wages remain same in early June ‘53.
Strikers’ demands
- An end to increased work
- Ulbricht’s removal and end to his economic policies
- Democratic elections
4 Consequences of the riots
- Ulbricht’s position strengthened -> proved USSR backed him entirely, not giving in to rioters
- Increase in power of Stasi
- Policy on increased working hours ended, more consumer goods to improve living conditions
- Made clear West weren’t going to help
How did life change in GDR for WOMEN? - SED Aims
- Female emancipation was seen as an essential feature of socialist ideology
- > 1949 constitution ‘Men and Women are equal before the law’
How did life change in GDR for WOMEN? - how SED tried to achieve aims
- Increase employment of female labour
- State offered financial support for working mothers and improved health care
How did life change in GDR for WOMEN? - successes and failures of SED
+ Pregnant and nursing mothers enjoyed additional rations before 1958 -> then child benefit payments introduced
+ Female students at uni 1953 -> 20%, 1961 25%; Increased slowly but by 1980 half students were women
+ 1966 Family Law - state help, protection, equality
- Many mothers were working in unskilled, low paid jobs, not looking after children
- Abortion strictly limited until 1972
- Many women joined workforce for economic necessity rather than because of equal opportunity
How did life change in GDR for CHRISTIANS? - SED Aims
- SED wanted to remove Religion while still appearing tolerant of religious freedom -> gradual disappearance
How did life change in GDR for CHRISTIANS? - how SED tried to achieve aims
- Religious education was abolished in all schools and gradually the curriculum was replaced by Marxist-Leninist ideology
- Religious matters ignored by media
- No financial support -> difficult to maintain buildings
- > Governmental Department for Ecclesiastical Affairs
How did life change in GDR for CHRISTIANS? - successes and failures of SED
+ Over 50 clergymen and youth leaders were arrested and a Christian youth organisation, the Young Congregation was defined as anti-socialist 1952-53
+ Careers and promotions blocked for Christians
+ 1955 Jughendweihe - pledge to socialism and GDR -> atheist initiation ceremony
- In 1950 80% of population were Protestants and 10% Catholic
How did life change in GDR for YOUNG PEOPLE? - SED Aims
- Cleansing them from racist militarism and reactionary forces
- Build new socialist society: children equal opportunity, establish strong commitment to socialism, extend technical and practical skills-> linking theory and practice to modern industry
How did life change in GDR for YOUNG PEOPLE? - how SED tried to achieve aims
80% of teachers dismissed and emergency teacher training organised
- Law for Democratisation of German Schools 1946- abolish private and religious schools; centralised curriculum; abolish of selective schools- created Polytechnic Upper Schools
- Youth Groups: FDJ (14-25, ‘46), JP (10-14 ‘48), JP (6-10 ‘48)
How did life change in GDR for YOUNG PEOPLE? - successes and failures of SED
+ Werdau school pupils openly protested against first election of Volksammer- prison sentences 2-15yrs
+ Spent 7% on education vs 5% of West
+ 1951-58 Uni’s 21->46, students doubled 60,000
+ Youth organisations FDJ ‘46, age 14-25 -> not compulsory but by 1950 over 3 mil members
- Double life- 1960 many E. Germans tried to copy Western lifestyle -> SED set up radio DT64 (?), played 40% Western artists
- People overqualified but in low paying jobs
= Benefit- FDJ did have lots to offer- activities
The Seven Year Plan 1959 - what, successes, failures
Aim to align economic development with USSR, ‘61 built wall to stabilise work force
+ NOSPL brought greater flexibility and offered workers input-> share profits-> raised production levels
+ E. Germany ranked tenth in the world for economic production, by the early 1960s
- Industrial growth declined- increase no. of people leaving the East
- 1962 plan abandoned-> 1963 intoduced NOSPL
Collectivisation of Agriculture - what, successes, failures
Aim to build a socialist and fair system of agriculture, No individually owned farms- all replaced with LPGs
+ 1962 85% of farms collected
+ By 1970s East German farms more efficient than parts of Eastern/Western Europe
- 13% of farms abandoned, emigrated to West
- Contributed to food shortage-> 1953 revolt-> 1961 reintroduction of rationing
- Slow process-> 1958 1/3 farms collectivised
Berlin Wall Built - When
12th August 1961
October 27th 1961 - 18hr standoff between US and Soviet tanks
Berlin Wall Built - Why
- U-2 crisis, US spy shot down, angers Khrushchev-> ultimatum-> don’t want nuclear war
- Collectivisation -> 1961 reintroduction of rationing
- 7 yr plan too ambitious, economy slows
- > causes Refugees - 1953 331,000 -> 1961 207,000 ‘Brain Drain’
- > economic miracle in W. Germany, attracts E.
Berlin Wall Built - Consequences
- Nuclear war less likely
- Adenauer’s instance to only accept German unification on his terms (magnet theory) thrown-> shock and frustration for FRG
- GDR- politically a success; achieved its aims-> refugees dropped, stabilised country
- > reinforced failure of the GDR pre- 1961
Berlin Wall Built - Consequences
- Nuclear war less likely
- Adenauer’s instance to only accept German unification on his terms (magnet theory) thrown-> shock and frustration for FRG
- GDR- politically a success; achieved its aims-> refugees dropped, stabilised country
- > reinforced failure of the GDR pre- 1961
Spiegel Affair
FINISH
- 1962
- Political scandal, article in ‘Der Spiegel’ (W. Germany’s weekly political magazine) about the nation’s defence forces
- Conflict between Franz Josef Strauss (Federal minister of defence) and Rudolf Augstein (owner and editor)
- Impact- Adenauer formed new coalition with FDP, Dec ‘62
Adenauer Elections
1949, ‘53 - CDU largest party, coalition with FDP
1957 - CDU win absolute majority of seats in Bundestag
1959 - A offered opportunity to run for President, refused- less power than Chancellor
1961 - CDU most votes but +FDP coalition
