Divided Germany 1949-1963: Adenauer's foreign policy and the Reasons for his Fall

Question 1

What were the Aims of Adenauer’s Foreign Policy?

Answer 1

• Maintain peace and freedom for FRG
• Secure sovereignty
• Exploit economic, political and military strength of West through integration
• Oppose reunification attempts of FRG left neutral, as this would expose to communism.

Question 2

What were the 5 key reasons for Adenauer’s fall?

Answer 2

• Presidency fiasco and disputes with Erhard
• TV dispute
• Berlin Wall and the 1961 election
• Der Spiegel Affair
• Underlying Party Policy issues

Question 3

When did Adenauer gain his third term?

Answer 3

1957

Question 4

When did Adenauer resign?

Answer 4

1963

Question 5

What and when was the Presidency Fiasco?

Answer 5

• 1959
• Heuss retires in 1959 as President
• CDU encouraged Adenauer to go for Presidency
• Adenauer withdrew as he realised he’d have less power and couldn’t control party
• He wanted to retain stance on the USSR and GDR
• He wanted to block Erhard from becoming Chancellor
• His own party were trying to manipulate him out of chancellorship. His credibility was reduced

Question 6

What and when was the TV dispute?

Answer 6

• 1958-1961
• Adenauer set up a TV company called Deutschland Fernsehen-GmbH which was controlled by government
• SPD claimed this threatened freedom of media
• Company was declared unconstitutional and dissolved in 1961

Question 7

How did the 1961 election contribute to Adenauer’s downfall?

Answer 7

• SPD and CDU campaigned against each other
• Polls suggested Adenauer was still favoured over Brandt
• GDR erected Berlin Wall during campaign
• Berliners were horrified that Adenauer continued campaigning and only visited a week later
• Adenauer attacked Brandt, who was mayor of West Berlin. This made him seem cold
• FDP coalition was formed on condition that Adenauer step down within 4 years, which was humiliating

Question 8

What and when was the Der Spiegel Affair?

Answer 8

• 1962
• Left wing newspaper had criticised CDU minister of defence
• Published article about NATO plans in the same month as Cuban Missile Crisis
• Writer and editors were charged with treason
• This was seen as heavy handed censorship
• At first Adenauer defended Strauss, which was bad publicity
• The coalition was rescued following a crisis, but Adenauer had to step down within 1 year

Question 9

What were the underlying foreign policy issues for Adenauer?

Answer 9

• He had taken an uncompromising approach
• By late 1950s, context was changing but Adenauer didn’t adapt
• He committed to non-recognition of GDR
• Adenauer was suspicious of Britain and USA when they negotiated with GDR
• Atlanticists in the CDU pushed Erhard to replace Adenauer