FGR and GDR 1949-1963

Question 1

What was the Bonn Republic’s Constitution?

Answer 1

Rights- human rights couldn’t be suspended
President- ceremonial, 5 years and only re-elected once, chosen by mix of Lander and Bundestag, less power than in Weimar
Parliament- Bundestag and Bundesrat. Chancellor in charge of and chosen by Bundestag, Chancellor only bought down by ‘constructive vote of no confidence’.
Electoral System- pluralism protected unlike in Weimar, no referendums as the Nazis had used, mix of PR and first past the post, parties with less than 5% of vote banned
Supreme Court and democratic rights- agency to investigate anti-democratic activity, Constitution court
Extremism- banned Socialist Reich Party and Communist party in 1956

Question 2

What problems did Adenauer face?

Answer 2

Recession 1949-1950, unemployment and prices rose
Housing and influx of refugees
Occupation Statute still in place

Question 3

What were Adenauer’s aims?

Answer 3

Western Integration- protection from communist from the West, overcome occupation statute
Reunification- wouldn’t concede to communist terms, Magnet Theory
Economic Policy- create stability via free market with social regulation. Boom of Korean war.
Social- better living standards, industrial peace, unity and stop communist threat

Question 4

Outline the 1957 elections

Answer 4

CDU total majority
Higher turnout of 87%
Les splinter groups and more support for larger democratic parties

Question 5

How serious a threat was the SPD to the CDU

Answer 5

1) Kept Marxist ideology of nationalisation and a worker’s party. Argued against ‘social market’ and promise of better living standards as well as policy with the West.
2) 1952 Schumacher replaced with Ollenhauer. People saw benefits of CDU and feared communism so liked Western integration.
3) Lost at 1957 election and 1959 Brandt launched liberal economic plan and saw need for reintegration and militarization. Embraced middle classes.

Question 6

What was the concept of the ‘social market’ economy

Answer 6

3rd way between unrestrained capitalism and over-regulated socialism. Ensure political and economic freedom but ability to intervene to defend interests.

Question 7

What were the effects of the social market policy?

Answer 7

1949-1952 Initial recession: higher prices but not wages, more imports, not enough demand for growth and high unemployment = pressure to change policy
1952 Boom
Economic growth: average of 8% annual growth until 1965
GNP: by 1960 had doubled, more coal mined, motorization and VW
Balance of trade: turned positive by 1952 due to exports. 3rd biggest economy and good reputation eg ‘Made in Germany’
Unemployment: full employment until 1970s and supported 3 million refugees from GDR
Agriculture: proportion of workforce halved but production rose by 25%

Question 8

What reasons apart from the social market policy contributed to the Economic miracle?

Answer 8

World Trade: USA reducing tariffs 1954, Korean War, Marshall Plan and OEEC opening up European markets and reintegration
Refugees: skilled, motivated workers
Industrial Peace: 1951 Co-determination law and 1952 Worker’s Constitution Law = sense of responsibility and less strikes
Consumption demand: housing and programs to buy property, rise in demand for consumer goods
Financial Stability: 1957 Bundesbank was independent and watched over currency to prevent inflation
Govt expenditure: no army until 1955 = more to spend on social policy

Question 9

Social Change: paying Isreal

Answer 9

1951 speech did not accept guilt but moral responsibility to pay. Reparations finalized in 1952 and set within Germany’s means.

Question 10

Social Change: Integration of Trade Unions

Answer 10

16 trade unions seen as one under German Federation of Trade Unions with co-ordinated activities so stronger negotiating powers.
Didn’t revolutionize economy but peace via Co-determination Law of 1951 giving worker’s representatives on boards and extended by Constitutions Law of 1952 setting up workers councils.
Less strikes and improving relations between trade Unions and government.

Question 11

Social Change: Welfare State

Answer 11

Unemployment benefit, accident insurance, sickness insurance, pensions in 1957, public assistance, family welfare.
1950s state supported building new houses in the form of social housing.

Question 12

Social Change: education

Answer 12

Lack of change under allies
1949 responsibility went to Lander and no change as:
lack of schools, shortage of resources and good teachers.
Abolition of fees 1958, Dusseldorf agreement 1955
Limited change as:
hid problems with economy, conservative opinions, suspicions due to GDR reform, Lander couldn’t agree

Question 13

Social Change: Women

Answer 13

1949 Basic law giving equal rights. 1957 they could work without husband’s permission. Gadgets etc made it easier to be in home and work but:
still 40% pay gap, not many female students at uni, emphasis on 3 Ks.

Question 14

What kind of society had the FGR become?

Answer 14

Consumerist: 1950s rise in living conditions, 40 hr working week, higher pay so more families owned technology but complacent and smug?
Without me mentality: not interested in international politics eg people didn’t want militarization but did trust Adenauer
Coca-cola: influence of US in late 1950s. Associated with rebellion etc by older generation
Modern industrial: social mobility, less agricultural work, but similar distribution of wealth

Question 15

How did the FGR integrate economically with the West?

Answer 15

Petersburg Agreement 1949- join international Ruhr Council
European Council 1950- set European standards in Europe
ECSC 1951- supranational organization to oversee French and German steel and coal production and FGR treated as equal partner in the Ruhr
EEC- customs measures to harmonize transportation systems, economic policy and allow mobility of labor and countries had a very close union.
OEEC 1948- administer Marshall Plan and work on recovery

Question 16

How did the FGR integrate with the West politically?

Answer 16

Negotiated the Paris Treaties in 1954 agreed
-FGR a sovereign state but still Western troops present
- West European Union included FGR and let them have an army but their was resistance from SPD and CDU to militarization
NATO in 1949
Saar plebiscite led to it joining FGR in 1957
1963: French-German treaty

Question 17

What were relations with the GDR like?

Answer 17

Wasn’t recognized as legitimate and FRG refused to trade with countries who recognized via Hallestein Doctrine.
March 1952 Stalin Notes- offer reunification but declined as it would leave Germany neutral and weak leading to some criticism that Adenauer didn’t peruse reunification.
Came to a head in Berlin Crisis.

Question 18

What led to Adenauer’s downfall?

Answer 18

1959- withdrew from running for President which lost him support and was seen as disrespectful to the position
TV dispute 1958-61- national television company controlled by govt was ruled unconstitutional.
1961 election and coalition- ignored Berlin Wall and carried on campaigning and had to enter into coalition with FDP with condition he would step down in 4 yrs
Der Spiegel Affair- left wing newspaper printed plans for a NATO attack and were arrested. Criticism of Strauss whom Adenauer defended. FDP members resigned so Adenauer was forced to sack Strauss and step down year after.
Foreign Policy- seen as hard line in late 1950s becuase he refused to recognize GDR and suspicions of USA over Berlin crisis.
1963- poor elections at Lander and he had to accept Erhard as his successor.

Question 19

How powerful was the SED within the GDR?

Answer 19

Politbureau-Ulbircht, Pieck and Grotewhol had control of decision making. Demanded loyalty to USSR and SED from party member purge via Party Control Comission.
Did allow party pluralism but mostly puppet parties with little influence eg CDUD and LDPD. NDPD and DBD created as non-communist parties to secure agricultural votes and disguise dictatorship.
Puppet organizations like Federation of Trade Unions and Free German Youth.
Volkskammer made a list of ‘approved’ candidates and effectively fixed election results.

Question 20

What role did the judiciary play in the GDR?

Answer 20

By 1950 most were members of SED and had been ‘retrained’ and were under control of SED and Supreme Court.
Used ‘subversive agitation’ as an umbrella term for opposers to intimidate people.
Show trials for those who opposed Ulbricht controlled by Poltibureau.

Question 21

What role did the Statsi play in the GDR?

Answer 21

Linked with soviet secret intelligence service. Made in 1950. Had military hierachy many memebers by 1955. Use of IMs to keep control. Ordered by the Politbureau.
Invaded privacy eg letters, bugging houses with rights to detain and torture people without trial.

Question 22

What role did the military forces play in the GDR?

Answer 22

People’s Police 1949- paramilitary units, oversaw frontiers eg Berlin Wall
National People’s Army 1956- influences by Soviets. Traditional army and means of controlling population.
SMAD- Soviet troops meant to defend GDR in event of NATO attack and last resort for internal trouble.

Question 23

What was the Worker’s rising?

Answer 23

June 1953 a demonstrations against 10% increase in production and working hours spread all over the country.

Question 24

Why did the Worker’s rising fail?

Answer 24

Soviet intervention
Poor organisation due to spontaneous protest
West refusing to help due to Cold War tensions

Question 25

Consequences of the worker’s uprising

Answer 25

Purge of Party- 1954 many removed and replaced
Security- strengthened with more power to Statsi and increased agents
Concessions- withdrew work norms, lowered prices of basic foods, more consumer goods and constrains on farmers reduced
Some embarrassment to Ulbricht but mostly improved his position

Question 26

Effects of Khrushchev’s de-stalinisation

Answer 26

Poland appointed Gomulka to introduce moderate reform
Nagy pushed for withdrawal from Warsaw pact in Hungary
Open criticism of the FGR and pushing for a ‘third way’ by critics

Question 27

Why was their no movement for de-stalinization in the FGR? How did Ulbricht survive?

Answer 27

Ulbricht had better discipline and the Statsi had more power
Hungary was harshly put down by Soviet troops in 1956
Concessions = less discontent
Marxist rebels were quickly removed
Ulbricht was made chairman of the Council of the State after the failure of his replacements.
He showed skill and ruthlessness

Question 28

Social Changes GDR: Welfare

Answer 28

Free health care, pensions, free accident insurance, no unemployment benefits as there was full employment.
1950s building new houses took off but were dreary soviet-style tower blocks

Question 29

Social Change GDR: Education

Answer 29

Aims: equal opportunity, prioritizing practical work via ‘twinning’ schools with factories, commitment to socialism.
Law for Democratization of German Schools 1946:
expand pre-school, abolition of private and religious schools, centralized curriculum
Further changes in 1560s: Polytechnics became compulsory, 1 day practical work a week for 14+, Russia as 1st foreign language, emphasize o military training

Lack of self-expression, had to conform to progress through education but raised standards as more working class in school and uni.

Question 30

Social Change GDR: Youth organizations

Answer 30

FDJ aims: indoctrinate socialism, military training, recreation, community projects, train future leaders of GDR.

Hitler -like. Very solemn with initialization tests and oaths of allegiance. Rebellion with rise of Western styles and rejecting repression.
Did provide good opportunities etc

Question 31

Social Change GDR: Church

Answer 31

Religious freedom but seen as a threat.
Departement for Ecclesiastal Affairs: abolish RE, religious matters ignored by media, no financial support to Church.
Hard for Christians to progress and IMs spied on congregations. Many clergy etc labeled service in 1952.
Jungendweihe: pledge to the GDR initially conflicted with Christian consciences. Increasingly atheist and Christianity was niche.

Question 32

Social Change GDR: Women

Answer 32

Equal but difficult due to repelled pensions and widows left by refugees. 
Family: lots of child support, support for childcare, limit abortions. Many working moms had low paying jobs and responsibilities at home until 1966 Family Law.
Education and career: more girls in school and uni during 1950s. But put helping working class students before female equality. Many still had poor salaries 1961 survey highlighted lack of equality so introduced legislation in late 1960s.

Question 33

Social Change FGR: Standard of living, workers, equality and dissent

Answer 33

SOL: not many products in shops and HO-Shops very expensive. Did provide subsidies and low prices for rent and transport.
Workers: Trade Unions ineffective as they were purged to ensure loyalty to SED. Did negotiate on working conditions etc
Equality: closer to being classless than FRG. More wealth in FRG but less of really rich in the GDR. Idea it was easier to improve your life etc.
Dissent: intelligista and churches expressed criticisms. Harder to rebel after 1953. Could refuse to vote, dress in ‘Western styles’ and resist collectivization etc.

Question 34

What was the GDR’s 2 year plan?

Answer 34

Plan to extend nationalization

By 1950- industrial production mostly under the control of VEBs and SAGs and state controlled banking.

Question 35

What were the success and failures of the 5 year plan in 1951

Answer 35

Overfullfilled many targets and production doubled.

But overdependent on heavy industry- focus on domestic goods would have made people happier
Centralized planning- discouraged private initiatives, slow planning processes made it hard to react to short-term needs
Productivity- quotas put pressure on workers and many went West, too ideological

Question 36

Outline the successes and failures of the 5 year plan in 1956

Answer 36

‘Modernization’
Nuclear energy in 1957.
Rise in consumer goods, no more rations and less refuggess

No focus on infrastructure and transport, short on hard currency

Question 37

Outline the failure of the 7 year plan 1959

Answer 37

Overconfident targets for production, consumer goods and extending collectivization.
More refugees and decline in growth rate from 1960.

Question 38

How effective was the redistribution of farm land in the GDR?

Answer 38

Effective: reinforced egalitarian spirit

Not effective: farms not modernized, refugees had little experience, yields decreased

Question 39

How was collectivization enforced and what were the results?

Answer 39

5 year plan didn’t focus on it.
Voluntary collectivization via LPGs which attracted small-scale farmers but alienated larger farmers and meant much land wasn’t farmed.
Uprising of 1953 slowed pace of de-stalinization and left farms independent.
1960- collectivization enforced with arrests, SED officials and confiscations.
Results: short term failed- many farmers left, decline in food production and rationing. Long term- more productivity and more efficient due to more investment from govt.

Question 40

what events led to the creation of the Berlin Wall in August 1961

Answer 40

Khrushchev’s Ultimatum: demanded western withdrawal by the Berlin Crisis. Rejected by the USA that West Berlin was part of GDR.
GDR Seven Year Plan failed
Forced Collectivization resulted in decline in food production.

Question 41

What were the reaction to the Berlin wall

Answer 41

USA: promised to protect West Berlin but did nothing to stand up to GDR due to Cold War tensions
GDR: saw it as a success as its stopped refugees but people thought it showed failings of the GDR
FRG: didn’t mention it or act on it. Didn’t visit until 22nd August and received lots of criticism from Berliners