Federal Republic - PGC Flashcards
When did Germany sign the final surrender?
7th May 1945
Who took joint control of the German government?
USA, Britain, France and the USSR
What was Potsdam held to plan?
The reconstruction of Germany. It focused of disarming and demilitarising the country, decentralising and de-Nazifying it
What issues arose between the allies after Germany was defeated?
Their differences (specifically the communist USSR and the West) grew and the East and West became suspicious of each other
When did the KPD announce itself and what did they want?
11th June 1945 and they wanted German socialism with land reform, new education systems and a democratic government
When did the SPD announce itself and what did they want?
15th June 1945 after many of them had been in concentration camps. They wanted germans to have a greater say in government and wanted nationalisation of banks, land and key industries and a significant social welfare system
What happened to the Centre Party?
It tried unsuccessfully to re-establish itself
Which two significant church based groups were set up in 1945?
Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the Christian Social Union of Bavaria (CSU)
What was the biggest liberal group?
Liberal Democratic party
What did political groups in the FRG learn from Weimar?
By having a number of parties with similar aims, voters spread their votes over different parties, reducing their power.
Faith-based and Liberal parties in western zones created single parties
In 1947 which party did liberal groups form and join?
Free Democracy Party (FDP)
In 1947 which party did political groups join?
The CDU (except the CSU which stayed separate)
Between 1945 and 1947 which countries became communist?
Yugoslavia, Albania, Bulgaria, Hungary and Poland
Why did the USA set up the Marshall Plan?
To stop countries that may become communist such as Greece and Turkey
What did the KDP and SPD do in April 1946?
They joined to form a single party, the Socialist Unity Party of Germany (SED)
How did the October 1946 elections turn out?
The communists won in the Soviet zone but did badly in all other zones
What did the Basic Law promise?
- Equal rights to German citizens
- Free speech, the freedom to form unions or other groups, free assembly and no censorship
- State education for all, although private schooling was allowed
Which clauses in the Basic Law suggested it could be used to be more repressive?
It was possible to ban political parties if they undermined the FRG or its democratic principles
Who was the first FRG chancellor?
Konrad Adenauer, leader of the CDU, as they won 31% of the vote
Who led the GDR after it was set up 7th October 1949?
SED
How long was Adenauer chancellor of West Germany for?
From 1949 until 1963
Who criticised Adenauer and why?
SPD and FDP, because they objected his authoritarian style and forceful management of the Bundestag, some called his leadership a Chancellor democracy suggesting he had more power than the Basic law allowed. They criticised his appointment of weak ministers (except Erhard)
What policy agenda did Adenauer set out in the Bundestag on the 20th September 1949?
Policies concentrating on domestic economy and foreign policy, uniting Germany and working for closer European integration.
Who was especially critical of Adenauers focus on the West?
The SPD, many pointed out that working for closer European integration worked against uniting Germany. They didnāt like him working with the West but for others this was the fastest way for the FRG to be self governing and accepted in order to rebuild the economy
What about Adenauer reminded people of Nazi Policy in 1933?
He worked to exclude political opponents especially left-wing ones.
What changed in 1953 that made it harder for small parties to gain a seat?
Changes to vote allocations and seats in the Bundestag
When was the extreme right-wing Socialist Reich Party banned?
1952
When and why was the KPD banned?
It was declared unconstitutional in their attitude to democratic government and all members were stripped of their seats.
[Gap Fill] Many _________ germans at the time felt that in his haste to build a _______ and ________ ____ ________, Adenauer allowed too many __-_____ into the government. He argued that this was the only way to rapidly establish an ________ ____ _______.
Many younger germans at the time felt that in his haste to build a federal and regional civil service, Adenauer allowed too many ex-Nazis into the government. He argued that this was the only way to rapidly establish an effective civil service.
When was Article 131 added to the Basic Law and what did this include?
11th May 1951, it meant that ex-Naziās could work in civil service
When did Adenauer try to set up a government controlled television station and why did he attempt this?
In January 1961 because he realised television was going to play a major part in the next election campaigns
Why and when did Adenauerās attempt to set up a government controlled television station fail?
On 28th february 1961, because the Supreme court ruled it unconstitutional since the executive branch was interfering with the legislative branch
What did Der Spiegel publish in October 1962 and what did this lead to?
They published an article criticising the performance of West German troops in recent NATO exercises. This led to Adenauer supporting the arrest of journalists involved, ordered by Strauss, minister of defence. FDP ministers resigned in protest and Adenauer only got an SPD coalition by promising to resign the next year (1963)
Who were the two CDU chancellors after Adenauer?
Ludwig Erhard (1963-6) and Kurt Kiesinger (1966-9), both leading coalitions with the newly reformed SPD gaining influence
What were the CSU and CDU splitting over?
Atlanticists (people who wanted work with the west) and Gaullists (people who wanted to work with france but also co-operate with East Germany)
Which policies of Adenauers did Erhard follow?
Atlanticists policies
Which actions of Erhardās did the SPD refuse to support?
Introducing an emergency law to tap phones, search homes, open mail etc in times of serious political tension
What did Erhard do that caused FDP ministers to resign in 1966?
He introduced a budget that included very heavy taxation
What caused Erhard to resign?
He couldnāt form a coalition
What caused Erhard to resign?
He couldnāt form a coalition
What did the āGrand Coalition consist of?
CDU/CSU/SDP with Kurt Kiesenger as chancellor and SPD leader Willy Brandt as vice-chancellor and foreign minister
At what point in Germany did the Grand coalition form?
When the economy was in a downturn and there was growing political hostility towards the government, some of it violent.
Where did opposition come from against the Grand Coalition?
Small extremist political parties such as the neo-Nazi National Democratic Party, students and the German Federation of Trade Unions
What did Brandt push ahead with?
the policy of Ostpolitik which was opposed by the Bundestag. He decriminalised homosexuality and reduced the voting age to 18
What was discovered in 1974 about Brandt and what did this mean for him?
One of his advisors was a GDR spy and even though he didnāt know, he felt compelled to resign on the 24th May.
Helmut Schmidt
New SPD chancellor
What happened in regard to Helmut Schmidt on the 1st October 1982?
A constructive vote of no confidence that forced him to resign, getting replaced by the CDUās Helmut Kohl
What did Hungary do in regards to its boarders in 1989?
Opened its boarders to the west and lifted travel restrictions, pressuring the East to open its boarders.
1st January 1989, East Germany
East Germany relaxed its travel restrictions, by end of September 161,000 people had applied to emigrate
9th November 1989, East Germany
Travel restrictions lifted and people flooded through the Berlin Wall checkpoints
