Divided Germany: Federal Republic and DDR 1949 - 1963

Question 1

Who was Chancellor of West Germany?

Answer 1

Konrad Adenauer

Question 2

Which party was Konrad Adenauer from?

Answer 2

Christian Democrats (CDU)

Question 3

What was West Germany’s constitution?

Answer 3

The Basic Law

Question 4

Name three features of the Basic Law

Answer 4

Freedom of expression
All parties had to uphold democracy
Parties had to receive 5% of the total vote in order to represent

Question 5

Name two extremist parties that were banned in West Germany in 1952 and 1956

Answer 5

Socialist Reich Party (SRP) 1952
Communists (KPD) in 1956

Question 6

What % did wages increase by from 1949 - 1963?

Answer 6

400%

Question 7

Why was there an economic miracle in the West?

Answer 7

Less control on business so more competition
Currency reform ended inflation
Less tax on the wealthy so more money was in circulation

Question 8

How did the Korean war in 1950 - 1953 help West Germany?

Answer 8

Provided demand for resources that the Ruhr could supply

Question 9

What did Adenauer and the FRG join in 1949?

Answer 9

Organisation for European Economic Co-Operation (OEEC) and received $2 billion in Marshal Aid

Question 10

When did West Germany join NATO?

Answer 10

1955

Question 11

What was the Hallstein Doctrine?

Answer 11

Stated that West Germany would refuse diplomatic relations with any country that recognised East Berlin

Question 12

How did Adenauer win favour of those who had lost their homes in 1952?

Answer 12

The Equalisation of Burdens Act which taxed unaffected properties to support affected ones

Question 13

How many homes had been built by 1957?

Answer 13

4 million

Question 14

What shows that Adenauer failed with de-Nazification?

Answer 14

Most Nazis were exonerated for their crimes
and Law 131 gave former Nazis jobs

Question 15

How many civil servants were Nazis in the FRG?

Answer 15

40-80%

Question 16

What action taken by Adenauer in 1959 lost him initial popularity?

Answer 16

Withdrew from the run for president as his position as Chancellor was more powerful. This made him look power hungry which ruined his reputation

Question 17

What caused Adenauer’s resignation in 1962?

Answer 17

The Der Spiegel affair in which the government raided Der Spiegel newspaper offices following heavy criticism.

Question 18

When did Adenauer resign?

Answer 18

1963

Question 19

When did the DDR form?

Answer 19

1949

Question 20

When was the Stasi established?

Answer 20

1950

Question 21

When was there an uprising in the DDR?

Answer 21

16 June 1953

Question 22

Why was there an uprising in the DDR?

Answer 22

Protests over longer work with no pay as well as demanding the removal of Ulbricht

Question 23

What happened at the 1953 uprising?

Answer 23

Ulbricht called Soviet troops to disperse the uprising and the DDR increased the use of the Stasi

Question 24

What agricultural policy created by Stalin was implemented to the DDR in 1952?

Answer 24

Collectivisation

Question 25

Why did collectivisation fail in the DDR?

Answer 25

Farmers did not like the policy and fled to the West

Question 26

What Stalinist economic policy was used in factories throughout the 1950’s in the DDR?

Answer 26

Five Year Plans

Question 27

Why was the Five Year Plans in the DDR causing problems?

Answer 27

Quantity over quality made standard of living poor

Question 28

How did the SED fail to control the Church?

Answer 28

In 1963 there were 16 million Christians and Church land was never seized

Question 29

How many people left East Germany in 1955?

Answer 29

More than 2.5 million

Question 30

When was the Berlin wall built?

Answer 30

1961

Question 31

Why did the DDR build the Berlin wall?

Answer 31

Humiliation from their own population leaving the country

Question 32

Name a pro and a con for the Berlin wall?

Answer 32

Stabilised the DDR economy
Was used as Western propaganda to make communism look inferior

Question 33

What did West Germany give up on in 1951?

Answer 33

De-Nazification