Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) (West Germany) Flashcards
What was the Grundgesetz?
The constitution attempt to fix the Weimar Constitution
-Additional Member System used
-Bicameral (Bundesrat & Bundestag)
-18 Länder
-President elected every 5 years with a max. of 2 terms
-Bundestag elected every 4 years
-Bundesrat elected every 4/5 years depending on region
-Referendums banned
-Chancellor can’t resign without a replacement ready to take over
Why was Adenauer a good choice for president after WW2?
Catholic and from Rhineland so appealed to France.
Went against Hitler
What was the Marshall plan?
European recovery programme - with money from USA
Most given to France and UK.
Helped kickstart German economy
What was the Hallstein Doctrine?
Having no diplomatic relations with countries that recognised the GDR
Followed by Adenauer
How was Adenauer critisised?
Forceful management of the Bundestag
Appointing weak ministers so he could control them
Banned extremist parties (undemocratic)
Why was denazification impossible?
Almost all qualified people in government were Nazis, without employing them then there wouldn’t have been a functioning civil service.
What was the Der Spiegel affair?
Adenauer arrested journalists that criticised German army performances in NATO exercises.
Led to Adenauer resignation in 1963
What did Adenauer achieve?
Joined NATO 1955
What was the Grand Coalition?
CDU-CSU-SPD under Kiesinger
Could be seen as undemocratic as there is no viable opposition
Lots of opposition from students, trade unions and smaller parties claiming it was an elective dictatorship
Kiesinger revealed as a Nazi led to his resignation and the collapse of the coalition
Who was Brandt?
Chancellor 1969-1974
Followed Ostpolitik
Decriminalised homosexuality and decreased the voting age
Whilst signing the Treaty of Moscow 1970, he knelt at the Warsaw ghetto memorial, showing sympathy to the victims of the Nazi regime
Resigned after a senior member of his party was discovered as an East German spy, he still had a lot of support.
What was the Berlin Blockade?
March 1948 - Stalin tried to force west Germany to give up west Berlin by restricting supply. Allies flew supplies in and it ended May 1949
Why was the Berlin Wall erected?
Many Germans in East Berlin were fleeing communism, especially skilled and clever workers leading to East Germany being ‘brain dead’. The wall prevented more people from fleeing.
Who was Kohl?
Chancellor 1982-1998 (CDU)
Led the reunification and wiped out the RAF
Who was Erhard?
Minister of economics under Adenauer. Helped produce the Wirtschaftswunder
Chancellor 1963-1966 - Promoted social market economy (Mix of socialism and capitalism)
Had a weak relationship with France and had to step down after an economic downturn.
What was the Baader-Meinhof Gang?
Also known as the Red Army Faction. Communist terrorist group
In a survey 5% of Germans said they would harbour a RAF member
