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HISTORY A LEVEL > FRG 1945-89 > Flashcards

FRG 1945-89 Flashcards

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1
Q

What happened at the Yalta Conference?

A

USSR, Brit, USA and afrance agree to divide Germany into 4 parts
Agreed USSR would have sphere of influence on Europe
Decided there would be free elections in Poland- sphere of influence wasn’t compatible with this

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2
Q

When was the Yalta conference

A

4-11 Feb 1945

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3
Q

How did the Cold War begin

A

-soviet powers wanted to strengthen influence in a EE
-US wanted to stop communist expansionism
-divided through conflicting thoughts
-1948: tension: occupation of Germany
-soviets disrupted travel to and from Berlin
Western allies create Trizonia, despite soviet opp

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4
Q

What and when was the Berlin blockade

A

Berlin blockade: 24th June 1948

  • Stalin wanted to ensure soviet dominance over Germany
  • felt unification of Germany would be a threat
  • in response to Trizonia formed created blockade
  • lane & water cut off in non soviet Berlin
  • rail and road traffic stopped into city
  • 25 June food supplies stopped
  • Stalin hoped would force western allies out
  • western allies began air lifts in response
  • at height, could see plane full of supplies every 30 seconds
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5
Q

When was the FRG established and what was it?

A
  • 23 May 1949
  • Country no longer officially occupied, still allied military presence
  • GDR dominated east
  • lasted this way for 41 years
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6
Q

When and what was the Potsdam Conference

A

-17 July- 2 August 1945
- agreed to split G into 4 zones
- DENAZIFICATION:
•remove positions of power or influence from those contributed to regime
•Nazi party banned
• senior Nazi and leading members arrested
• legal system denazified
- considerable enthusiasm about this but was deemed impractical

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7
Q

Examples of denazification

A

Allied soldiers forced to local populations to visit death camps
BERGEN BELSEN example
Made people see atrocities Nazis had enforced
Attempt to denazify population

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8
Q

What were the war crimes trials

A
  • Another process of denazification
  • jurisdiction of 4 judges (each from occupying powers) presented with criminals
  • first trial: 23 people trialled, mainly Nazi officials
  • Georing sentenced to death, commits suicide night before
  • gestapo, ss, judges and doctors helping regime also classed as criminals
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9
Q

What was education like in FRG?

A
  • attempt to denazify German educational system e.g. removing swastika from Nuremberg Stadium
  • new curricula, new textbooks
  • German teachers sent on re education programmes
  • British and French teachers sent
  • Americans brought 5 mill books with them
  • created American style system in FRG
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10
Q

What did NATO achieve?

A

-Germany joined NATO 1955
- created substantial economic development
WIRTSCHAFTSWUNDER (economic miracle)
-higher living standards achieved

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11
Q

What was western Germany like in FRG

A

Democratic
Prosperous
Mainly stable
Western orientated pro US policy

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12
Q

What were the features of the Basic Law

A

-acted as a constitution
• Budenstag creates:
-elected by universal suffrage
-held every 4 years
- half based on proportional rep hal on first past the post system
• Chancellor head of gov
- most powerful politician
- president elected chancellor
- needed support of Budenstag to be elected
• President only in power for 2 5 yr terms
- elected by the Federal Convention:
Half Bundestag half local state parliaments
Main power: ceramonial powers
• Budensrat- local state parliaments, had veto over Budenstag
• Federal Constitution court- rule what was constitutional
• Federal system- state parliaments elected every 4/5 years,

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13
Q

Why was the basic law set in place?

A

-to fix problems of Weimar Constitution, create stable democracy
- restricted power to the president
- parties needed 5% vote to even get representation: aim to eliminate small extremist groups
-chancellor and gov only brought down by vote of no confidence
Another party had to take place had to have more than half support of budenstag
- only half used for PR
- emphasised human rights
- constitutional court upheld basic civil right- determine illegal gov actions

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14
Q

2 main parties in FRG

A

CDU- left over catholic and conservative centre party

  • new party didn’t promote Catholicism, attracted right wing and centrist Protestants
  • andenauer anti socialist

SPD- remained underground ring WW2

  • initially Marxist party
  • Schumacher leader
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15
Q

When was Adenauer elected

A

August 1949 elections
CDU strongest party in elections
Support of right wing Free Democrats
Chancellor of Budenstag

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16
Q

integration under Adenauer :

A

Denounced denazification was not the way
•necessary to rebuild harmonious unified Germany
• Hans Globke state sec found to be involved with anti Semitic laws not sacked
• ordered reduced times for war criminals

Restitution:
• believed Germany make amends with Jewish people
• Claims Conference support and pay 3 bill Deutschmark to Israel (support from SPD, not CDU or other Germans)

Western oriented foreign policy:
• believed future with western allies and western foreign policy
• pushed for NATO (achieved 1955)
• rejected Stalin’s approach to create independent & non aligned Germany 1952
• created degree of unity with France with European coal and steel committee and later with EEC

Social market economy:
• A and Erhard: mixed economic model
• combine capitalism with social welfare
• helped with strong economy and harmony

17
Q

When is Erhard assigned

A

1963, doesn’t unify Germany

18
Q

Economic miracle WIRTSCHAFTSWUNDER

A 
Jobs: unemployment fell: 11%-2%
Econ growth: national income 845 b Deutschmark- 1,633 Deutschmark 
Industry: 150% increase 
New deleopments like VW developed 
Living: income rose after 1952
19
Q

Why war miracle?

A

Deutschmark:

  • new currency DM introduced
  • Replaced RM
  • DM same as RM but exchange= 6.5 DM to 100 RM
  • broke up black market
  • Savings lost but got rid of debt

Korean War: 1950 war meant war supplies needed.

  • FRG banned from producing these but industrial goods, chemical, steel, electrical now greater demand
  • NATO allowed them to rearm and produce war materials again

End of price controls:

  • ended price controls in British and us zones
  • increased supply goods, stimulated economy

Loans

  • banks given money to loan to industries
  • 50% increase
  • Investment Aid Law: subsidies assist with indust development
  • investment in education social/ culture infrantstucture

Tax cuts:
Stimulate econ
Increase money people had increased production of foods
Tax less 18% if low income

Marshall plan
USA gave 1.5b to Germany

Erhard: create social market econ:

  • combine capitalist free enterprise with gov oversight
  • ownership by state in parts like railways, state provisions of welfare service
  • involvement in commercial enterprise: established by Brit managers in plants like VW was extended after war
  • workers rep boards had right to be consulted about major decisions

Workers:

  1. 6 mill came from GDR to FRG
    - engineers, doctors
20
Q

Nature of support for FRG

A

Support for system:
- support for democratic regime after fascist defeat
- success in econ policy and international countries= support
80-90% turnout in elections

CDU/ CSU

  • Germany had catholic roots so CDU and CSU desirable- gain catholic support
  • conservative stance gained Protestant support
  • grew from 31% 1949- 50.2% 1957
  • focus on welfare and social market economy favourable

SPD

  • Lost support due to radicalism and success of Christian Democrats
  • 1959 decided to drop anti clerical policies: unpopular with German people
  • move away from Marxism successful
  • adopt centre left position
  • not good because disillusionment of SPD= new left movement
21
Q

Maintaining control under Willy Brandt 1969-74

A
  • strained relations with Eastern Europe when Berlin Wall 1961
  • struggling gov due to economy and rise of inflation in 70s
  • disappointing, many had high hopes for him but Ostpolotik success
22
Q

What was Ostpolotik

A
  • normalising relations with Eastern Europe
  • visited east Germany, recognised as 2 independent states in 73
  • knelt as Warsaw Ghetto as acknowledged of Jew suffering
  • visited Poland in 1970, signed agreement recognising Poland’s post war boarders
23
Q

Schmidt in power 1974-82

A
  • continued Ostpolotik
  • formed coalition with FDP after 1974
  • tensions between party caused, rise of inflation
  • lost vote of confidence in budenstag 1982
24
Q

Helmut Khol 1982-90

A

Continued with Ostpolotik and EEC

worked with Reagan and Gorbachev to end Cold War

25
Q

Economic challenges

A

Recession:

  • mid 60s
  • inflation grew
  • not that bad only 3.8&4% but scared people - lost confidence
  • reichsmark worthless
  • black market thriving (1kg sugar 1947: RM1, now RM120-180
  • guest workers only temp
    1. 3 mill 1966-991,000 1967
26
Q

What was the grand coalition?

A

Kissinger entered grand coalition with SPD

27
Q

GC response to failing econ

A
  • Stabilisation law 1967: designed to improve co op between fed gov, employers and employees in econ difficulty
  • reduce public spending , tax rise: VAT: 10%-12%
  • Greater central gov powers direct economic policies

Raising DM value:

  • demand for DM to be revalued
  • wanted higher value against other currencies
  • grand coalition couldn’t agree: collapse
  • Brandt comes in, raises to 9%

1973 Oil Restock:

  • OPEC announced members increase oil price 70%, reducing output 5%
  • increased production shocked oil importing countries like West Germany- relied on cheap oil
  • hit badly, unemployment rose
    1973: econ growth 5.3%, unemployment rate: 1.2%
    1975: econ growth 0.4% unemployment rate: 4.7%
28
Q

How did gov cope with oil shock 1973

A

Fairly well

  • high import levels
  • switch from nuclear power
  • public work schemes= job creation
  • support in private sector- 7-8b DM
  • EEC
29
Q

What was the EEC

A
  • built on success of European coal and Steel community
  • aim to promote European harmony & prosperity
  • created common market: customs union
    1973: Schmidt creates EMS- harmonise currencies, prevent inflation
  • DM key currency in setting exchange rates
30
Q

Political dissent:

A
  • beginning of war little, people tired, rising level of prosperity= not needed
  • but Young became part of “new left”
31
Q

What were the new left

A
  • opp group frustrated by limits of German democracy
  • failure to confront Nazi past
  • became conflict with old and young: old want to forget, young want to confront
  • sit ins took place
32
Q

What opp was there ?

A

Student movement:
- underfunding, teacher shortages, lack student rep= tensions 60s
- SDS became pop- Dutschke lead campaign : against Vietnam war, nuclear proliferation, prevent Nazi retain power in FRG
-1968 Dutschke shot by Neo Nazi- uproar
- student movement lack support from wider society
RESPONSE: gov expenditure increased on higher ed

Radical policies and RAF 
- leftist group
- funding from east Germany 
- end consumerism , against Vietnam war 
- 1968 Meinhof and Baader bomb department store Frankfurt 
-1970s turn to assassination/ kidnap:
28 murdered
1977: April, murder Siegfried Buback, German Attorney General killed

Neo Nazism:

  • existed in FRG- Socialist Reich Party
  • never got 5% vote though

Green:

  • feminist supported
  • example of less extremist activity
  • peaceful democratic stance- politically oppressed favoured
33
Q

Response to extremism

A
  • overuse of article 48 meant no more in FRG
  • west German authorities tried to introduce provisions to enable act on emergency
  • were allowed to ban parties undermining democracy eg Socialst Reich Party

Emergency power:
- attempts in 1958,60,63- all fail. SPD not support
May 1968 becomes law: gave gov power to:
-suspect civil liberties
-intercept mail
- tap phones
- search homes
- objection: made feel like authoritarianism
But restrictions :
- only 6 months, Budenstag decided when emergency
- Bundestag remained in session during emergency, had to declare national emergency

Gov action 70s:
- operation track down RAF, banned far left from public service jobs
1973- Bundestag make prison conditions harsher for terrorist activities
- Events at German Autumn:
Restricted RAF rights to lawyers/ others
6,000 under police surveillance

80s:
Focus on Neo Nazi, RAF threat decline

34
Q

What was the socialist reich party?

A
  • ex Nazis banned from constitution 1952
  • denied legitimacy of FRG
  • promote Lebensraum and anti semitism
  • 10,000 members
  • gained 2 reps at budenstag
35
Q

Change of living

A
  • prosperous
  • 1959-65: car ownership increased 12 million
  • 1980s 95% West Germans owned washing machines, televisions, went on 2 holidays

Cost of living:

  • plentiful supply- consumer goods, low inflation
  • 1989 cost of living in Brit 25% higher
  • high productivity growth between 50-70= improved living standard
  • basic food cost fell
  • cost of living increase 6% inflation worsened
  • 80s: cost of living fell, living standard rose

Housing:

  • housing shortages
  • 4 million homes destroyed by allied bombings
  • quality of housing improved: reduction of outside toilets
  • buildings got central heating
36
Q

Role of women

A
  • men and women equal, however Nazi traditional values continued

Woman in workplace:
- gov promoted idea women needed to return to wives and mothers after conscription in war
- women in part of war effort e.g. rubber women who cleared bomb damage- refused to give up job
- female employment: 44.4% in 1950, 50% in 1970
- women not employed on equal basis •earning 65-78% in same occupation of men
- politics: women not political power
• occupies 15% representatives in Bundestag
• only small amount of women in managerial jobs
- woman homemaker still felt

Feminism, divorce, abortion laws, greens :
-60s onwards feminist views taken
- challenged views of women
- 1977 divorce Law: allowed no fault divorce
• provision of finance gave support to homemakers supporting family
- 76- abortion law in first 12 weeks of pregnancy for certain circumstance
- feminist disagree but not chanced
- Green Party saw women in politics

37
Q

Attitudes to ethnic minorities

A

Guest workers: heavily relied upon

  • increased labour supply
    50s: agreement with Italy:
  • 100,000 workers
  • Yugoslavia workers encouraged
  • not given citizenship like German workers

Turkish GW 60s

HISTORY A LEVEL (3 decks)

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