Denazification - B4 Flashcards
What positions did Adenauer hold prior to becoming Chancellor?
Member of Z party and Lord Mayor of Cologne in 1917
What were Adenauer’s values?
Beleived that Prussian militarism and a culture of aggression caused both wars and was determined to rid Germany of these values.
What WW2 event ensured that Germans were anti-comminust?
The Rape of Berlin - 100,000 women raped by soviet forces
What Allied Control Council Law was Adenauer key to issuing?
1947 - Law 46 - “Prussia has de facto ceased to exist”
When was the new German constitution drafted and by who?
September 1949
Parliamentary Council
Role of President
- Elected by state representatives rather than popular vote. No control over military.
Role of Bundestag?
- Parties had to gain 5% of the vote to take their seats - half of the members represent constituencies and half Lander populations. Federal system with Lander controlling many laws
Role of Chancellor
Leader of the largest party becomes chancellor. Bundestag vote yes or no and 2/3 of the votes are needed to be appointed. Constructive vote of no confidence requires a candidate to have been agreed by Bundestag before another can be removed.
Elections
Proportional rep used every 4 years. Univeral suffrage over 18. Electorate votes once for a representative and again for a party.
Role of Bundesrat
69 representatives of the Lander with each group proportional to population. Federal taxes that affect Lander must be passed by them.
Civil service and judiciary
-Constitutional court were able to outlaw extreme political parties
- Politically independent and used as a political check and balance.
How was Berlin seperate from the country?
Berlin remained split between the Allies. Berliners could not vote in elections. 22 members of the Berlin Assembly sat in the Bundestag but could not vote. They could reject federal laws - rejected conscription in 1956.
What percentage of the vote did the CDU win in 1949 and which parties did they form a coalition with?
31% of the vote - coalition with FDP and German Party
What controversial element of the Weimar constitution was removed in the FRG?
Article 48
1949 elections
Why did the CDU win over the SPD?
They were more moderate - attractive to voters after Nazism for 12 years
1949 Elections
What % of the German population were Catholic?
37% Catholic and 59% Protestant in 1950
1949 Elections
What was attractive about Adenauers economic policies?
Anti-communist with heavy focus on economic development - Erhard was a reliable economics minister. Formed ECSC in 1951.
1949 Elections
Who did Adenauer seek to blame for Nazism?
Hitler himself - removed blame from ordinary Germans. 2/3 of his foreign office were previous Nazis.
1949 Elections
How long had Schumacher spent in Dachau?
10 years - heavily influenced his perception of the Nazis and his image. He was the only SPD member not to flee or collab with the Nazis.
1949 Elections
What economic plan did Schumacher propose and why was it disliked?
Proposed a planned economy under a Federal government. Too similar to dictatorial regime prior.