FRG Flashcards
When is the FRG formed?
May 1949
what were the economic issues faced by the FRG?
disagreements over zone administration
- weak economy post-war
- link to currency reform which was necessary (high inflation due to trading)
what were the priorities of the Western powers?
nuclear aid, Truman Doctrine and Marshall plan
what years were the Adenauer era?
1949-1963
what were the aims of the FRG in political terms?
It was recognised that the constitution of the Weimar Republic had allowed Hitler to gain power. The new democracy ensured that threats from the left or right would be prevented.
The FRG was to remain under the control of the Occupation Statute set up in 1949 and allowed the USA, Britain and France to control the area until it was declared a sovereign state in 1955.
The ‘Basic Law’ was not a constitution but allowed for flexibility should Germany be reunified. Applied to all Germans regardless of geography- including those under Polish and Soviet rule
what was Occupation Statute and when was it?
1949- allowed USA, Britain and France to control the area until it was declared a sovereign state in 1955
what was Basic Law also known as?
The Bonn Republic
for how long did the president rule in the Bonn Republic?
reduced from 7 to 5 years
the presidents powers dramatically diminished
now a symbolic role and no Article 48
how was the President elected in the Bonn Republic?
Chosen by Bundenstag and by equal number of people of lander
not elected by the German people
how was parliament organised?
Into the Bundestag (new Reichstag)- federal government, lower chamber
Bundesrat- federal council-upper chamber
what was the role of the chancellor now like?
had more power than the president unlike in Nazi Germany
Chancellor is elected by President and the Bundestag
how are coalitions avoided in the Bonn Republic that were prevalent in Weimar era?
introducing a constructive vote of no confidence. Also, in 1953- 5% hurdle or the 1 constituency rule was introduced. This increased to 3 in 1957. Favoured larger parties rather than coalitions!
what is meant by the term party pluralism?
parties could not be abolished unless they acted against the constitution
no referendums were allowed in order to avoid division
why may some historians argue the situation in 1945 was worse than that of 1918?
- Imposed democracy
- Total defeat and occupation
- Territorial losses
- Immigration
what was the Bonn Republic’s electoral system like?
the constitution prevented the abolition of political parties
mixed member political representation- representatives for 1/2 seats in Bundestag through majority vote (first past the post) other half from party lists on proportional representation basis
what was the supreme court like?
left and right extremists were banned during the 1950’s- communists banned in 1956 despite support
investigated anti-democratic activities
what was the CDU/CSU?
Christian Democratic Union/Christian Social Union
What was the FDP?
Free Democratic Party
what parties were in the constitution?
CDU/CSU, FDP, KPD, SPD
what coalition existed in 1949?
CDU/CSU, FDP and others
what coalition existed in 1953?
CDU/CSU and FDP
what coalition existed in 1957?
CDU/CSU majority
what coalition existed in 1961?
CDU/CSU and FDP
what did the 1949 election highlight?
democracy was persevering although the KPD came 4th (Germans not yet willing to turn away from extremism) (advocated for dictatorship-context)