FRG, 1945-89: Opposition, Control & Consent

Question 1

What were the Year Zero protests?

Answer 1

• Adanauers policy, essentially tried to forgot Nazi period
• 1960s, students protested with ‘what did you do in the war daddy?’
• Opposed Kiesinger as Chancellor

Question 2

What were the anti-war protests?

Answer 2

• Students and the hippie movement protested the Vietnam war in 1967
• APO used peaceful techniques, such as sit ins
• General protests for peace and disarmament in the 1950s

Question 3

How did the USA and capitalism cause opposition in the FRG?

Answer 3

• Unhappy with US and Western influence

- Seen through the Baader-Meinhof group

Question 4

What were the anti-nuclear protests?

Answer 4

• 1980s, Schmidt proposed deployment of medium range missiles in Western Europe
• Mass demonstration, creation of Die Gruene

Question 5

What were the emergency law protests?

Answer 5

• 1968, laws would give powers to tap phone lines and search homes
• Methods in place to stop this being another Enabling Act
• 80,000 workers and students protested, however the law was still passed

Question 6

Who were the APO?

Answer 6

• Intellectual left wing group, set up in 1967
• Attracted KPD members and university students
• Protested against issues like the Vietnam war

Question 7

Who were the SDS?

Answer 7

• Student movement, 1961
• Protested the attempt to put time limits on courses at the free university of Berlin
• Protested the Shah of Iran’s visit in 1967

Question 8

What was the Baader-Meinhof group?

Answer 8

• Also known as the Red Army Faction (RAF), 1970
• Led by Andreas Baader and Ulrike Meinhof
• Far left terrorist group, aimed to topple the govt.
• Carried out bombings, assassinations and shootings, e.g. 28 people killed, bombing of department store in Frankfurt in 1968

Question 9

What was the Red Autumn?

Answer 9

• Activity of the RAF peaked in autumn 1977
• 5th September, Schleyer (President of Employers Association) kidnapped, RAF demanded release of members in prison
• These members, including Baader, were found dead in prison, Schleyer was killed, members hijacked a German plane in response

Question 10

What were the emergency laws?

Answer 10

• 1968, supplement to basic law
• Gave the police greater powers and surveillance
• Limited to ensure it did not become another Enabling Act like in 1933

Question 11

What two parties were banned in the FRG and why was this?

Answer 11

• Socialist Reich Party, 1952 and the KPD in 1956

- Weimar constitution banned any parties that were a threat to democracy and wanted to overthrow the state

Question 12

What was the employment ban?

Answer 12

• 1949, stopped members of extreme parties entering government jobs
• Affected around 100 people

Question 13

What was the Anti-Radical Decree?

Answer 13

-1972, allowed political vetting (checks and refusals) for any public sector job

Question 14

What evidence is there of extreme police control in the FRG?

Answer 14

• 1967, Benno Ohenserg, student protester, was shot dead by a police officer
• Increased anger towards the police

Question 15

What was the Federal Intelligence Service in the FRG called and what did they do?

Answer 15

• BND, set up in 1956
• Established to investigate any opposition towards the constitution
• Had to be respectful of the Basic Law

Question 16

When was the green party formed and why was this important?

Answer 16

• Die Gruene set up in 1980
• Created due to concerns on the environment and nuclear weapons, gave a democratic option for opposition, less need for protest

Question 17

What was the Spiegel Affair?

Answer 17

• Talk of intimidation and gagging of the German press
• Journalists, publishers and professional associates all rallied around the newspapers
• Rallies for press freedom, led to Adenauers resignation