economy in the FRG Flashcards
which German industries were banned in 1945?
munitions and armaments
what German industries had their outputs restricted?
chemical industries
how were reparations to be paid?
by equipment and machinery from all zones
how did the French and the USSR take reparations?
by dismantling factories
what effect did war and reparations have on economic recovery in Germany?
was made very difficult by heavy allied bombing, targeted at German factories as well as cities
whole cities needed to be rebuilt alongside industry
what happened to the Reichsmark after WW2?
it’s value became worthless
a black market had evolved as a result
why was economic recovery difficult in the early FRG years?
transport and communication crossed zones which made trade difficult
military commanders were in charge of the different zones so the zones were all ran differently (esp the Soviet zone)
how many German POWs decided to stay in France instead of returning to Germany and why?
160,000
many saw Germany’s economic and physical decimation as well as allied occupation too much to deal with
how many refugees came to Germany?
10 million
would be a vital asset for Germany’s economic recovery
when was the Marshall Plan?
1948
how much aid was given to West-German zones in 1948 by the Marshall Plan?
$1.5 billion
when was the Deutschmark introduced?
June 1948
how many DM were each adult given when the DM was introduced?
DM60
how many DM for RM100?
DM6.5
what did the introduction of the DM do for the economy?
greater confidence in German currency
as wages now were meaningful workers started working more and saving
led to a consumer goods market forming
black market was broken up
economy was stabilised
LIKE Rentenmark w/Weimar
who introduced the DM?
Ludwig Erhard
when was Erhard made Minister for Economics in the FRG?
September 1949
what kind of economy did Erhard believe in?
a social market economy
what was a social market economy?
a free market economy with elements of social support for the poorest
when was all but essential rationing ended?
June 1948
for how long did Erhard keep wages fixed?
until November 1948
why did Erhard keep wages fixed?
to ensure businesses could recover and establish themselves
what was the Equalisation of Burdens Act of 1952?
system of compensation which was generated through a tax placed on all assets
money raised from this act was distributed to help German start again
what issues did Erhard’s reforms face?
machinery had to be replaced
new workers needed to be trained
many businesses could not afford to pay wages of workers so many workers were laid off
unemployed in 1948
442,000
unemployed in 1949
937,000
unemployed in 1950
1,800,000
unemployed in 1955
1,000,000
car production in 1959
4.5 times greater than in 1950
steel production in 1959
doubled from 1950
what was Germany’s new economy focussed on?
consumer goods market
who opposed Erhard’s social market economy?
the EC and the Bundestag
Britain
industrialists