FRG 1949-1991

Question 1

When was Adenauer in charge?

Answer 1

1949-1963

Question 2

Successes of Adenauer

Answer 2

Establishment of democracy
Economic miracle

Question 3

Failures of Adenauer

Answer 3

Arrogance e.g. 1962 Der Spiegel Affair, 1959 Presidency Fiasco, 1961 Failure to go to the Berlin Wall
Growth of opposition e.g. SPD under Brandt, FPD leaving coalition in 1956,Youth movement and Schwabing riots

Question 4

Evidence for the successful establishment of democracy

Answer 4

5% Rule reduced fringe parties creating unworkable coalitions
Bans of extremist parties e.g. SRP 1952, KPD 1956

Question 5

How did Adenauer introduce as stable democracy?

Answer 5

1951 Reinstatement Act allowed fromer Nazis back into Civil Service (40-80% of the Civil service were former Nazis by mid 50s)
5% Rule
Ban of SRP in 1952 and KPD in 1956

Question 6

Evidence against successful establishment of democracy

Answer 6

The 5% rule and ban of SRP and KPD could arguably oppose the concept of democracy
The dismissal of integration with the East

Question 7

What were the checks and balances written into the constitution?

Answer 7

A number of measures implemented to safeguard West Germany from radical political change

Question 8

What was written into the constitution of the newly established West German democracy?

Answer 8

Guaranteed freedom of expression, assembly and association
Freedom of movement for West German citizens

Question 9

When was Erhard chancellor?

Answer 9

1963-1966

Question 10

What was the social and economic programme Erhard implemented?

Answer 10

“The Disciplined Society”

Question 11

What were the economic issues Erhard faced?

Answer 11

1965 A recession occurred leading to 4% inflation
Erhard implemented spending cuts and proposed that everyone work an extra hour per week
This led to a fall in the popularity of the CDU/CSU leading to the NPD gaining more seats and critics to argue the government’s handling of economic crises wasn’t dissimilar to Weimar

Question 12

When was Kiesinger chancellor?

Answer 12

1966-1969

Question 13

Examples of opposition to Kiesinger’s Nazi past

Answer 13

Student protests
Slapped by Beata Klarsfeld publicly

Question 14

When was Kiesinger’s grand coalition formed and what did it seek to solve?

Answer 14

1965
Economic Crisis

Question 15

Who was in Kiesinger’s grand coalition?

Answer 15

CDU/CSU and SPD

Question 16

How did Kiesinger’s grand coalition benefit the parties in it?

Answer 16

SPD - Gave them representation in the government to allow for future gains
CDU/CSU - Freed them of the FPD

Question 17

Why was there opposition to Kiesinger’s grand coalition?

Answer 17

The lack of opposition as a result of two parties on different ends of the political spectrum was feared to create a one party state

Question 18

When were the emergency laws introduced and why were they criticized?

Answer 18

1968
They were too reminiscent of Article 48, which had contributed to the failure of Weimar

Question 19

Why were there tensions between the parties within Kiesinger’s grand coalition?

Answer 19

SPD felt CDU/CSU was holding back on social reforms
CDU/CSU didn’t want to follow the policy of détente

Question 20

When was Brandt chancellor?

Answer 20

1969-1974

Question 21

Which parties were in Brandt’s coalition?

Answer 21

SPD and FPD

Question 22

What did Brandt promise and how was this acted upon once he was chancellor?

Answer 22

“Dare to Democracy”, to be the “chancellor of domestic reform”
Voting age lowered to 18, encouragement of train usage to protect the environment, pension schemes and schemes to enable people from poorer backgrounds to access better education

Question 23

What issues did Brandt’s social reforms create?

Answer 23

Inflation
This led to arguments within the coalition leading to the resignation of Schiller who was replaced by Schmidt

Question 24

How did terrorism create issues for Brandt?

Answer 24

His response was viewed as ineffective leading to opposition, especially from the SPD’s Jusos

Question 25

When was Brandt's vote of no confidence and what was the outcome?

Answer 25

He beat it by 2 votes which he only gained through bribery

Question 26

Evidence for opposition within Brandt's coalition regarding Ostpolitik

Answer 26

Members within the coalition opposing it deflected to the CDU/CSU

Question 27

Evidence for Brandt's popularity

Answer 27

1970 was awarded a key to the city of Berlin 1971 Nobel Peace Prize

Question 28

What was the outcome of the 1972 election?

Answer 28

The SPD's biggest victory ever CDU/CSU vote share fell

Question 29

Why did Brandt resign?

Answer 29

It was found that one of his closest advisors, Gunter Guillaume was an East German spy

Question 30

When was Schmidt chancellor?

Answer 30

1974-1982

Question 31

Why was Schmidt seen as a good fit for leader?

Answer 31

He had experience as Minister of Economics Had gained a reputation for tough action and decisiveness

Question 32

What was Schmidt's political position?

Answer 32

Right of the SPD Had little time for the left of his party and environmentalism This complimented the view of FPD leader Genscher

Question 33

What did Schmidt do with Ostpolitik?

Answer 33

Continued the policy

Question 34

How did Schmidt handle the Mogadishu Incident of 1977?

Answer 34

Wasn't phased by the murder of the German pilot, Jurgen Schumann Refused to negotiate with the RAF and PLO and used military force to return the 91 German hostages This increased his popularity

Question 35

What was the result of the 1976 election?

Answer 35

The SPD/FPD coalition only won a 2 seat majority

Question 36

Examples of Schmidt facing opposition from the Greens

Answer 36

Opposition to new airports and nuclear power stations The Greens became a party in 1979

Question 37

What was the state of the CDU/CSU by 1982?

Answer 37

Support for the CDU/CSU was on the rise, leading to Genscher reforming the CDU/CSU and FPD coalition leading to Schmidt's resignation

Question 38

When was Kohl chancellor?

Answer 38

1982 onwards

Question 39

How did Kohl revive the economy?

Answer 39

He prevented rising unemployment

Question 40

What was the result of the division Kohl faced?

Answer 40

A split led to the formation of the REP

Question 41

Examples of sleaze within Kohl's government

Answer 41

Industry had been making secret and illegal donations to coalition partners Lambsdorff had to step down as he exempted businesses from corporation tax as long as they mad epayments to the FPD

Question 42

What and when was the Bitburg Affair?

Answer 42

Kohl held a ceremony for 40th anniversary for the end of the second world war at a military ceremony 1985

Question 43

How did Kohl's coalition survive despite the instability?

Answer 43

The collapse of East Germany

Question 44

What were the economic developments of the 70s?

Answer 44

End of post-war continuous growth First major post-war recession in 1974 Cost of imports rose, none-oil commodities rose 70% and food items rose 100%

Question 45

What were the economic developments of the 80s?

Answer 45

Kohl abandoned high

Question 46

How did Adenauer and Erhard achieve the "economic miracle"?

Answer 46

1950 Construction Law which brought German industry up to a 1950s standard 1949 Bargaining Law allowed workers to make decisions within factories $1.4 billion in Marshall Aid

Question 47

Evidence for the "economic miracle"

Answer 47

Construction Law brought 4 million new houses by 1957 Growth was 8.2% in 1952, 6.2% in 1957

Question 48

Evidence against the "economic miracle"

Answer 48

Agriculture remained heavily subsidised $1.4 billion in Marshall Aid. However, France also received this and Germany experienced higher growth