FRG: Creation Of The FRG Flashcards
What was the first party to announce itself and their aims
KPD June 11th 1945
They had kept going outside Germany under Nazis
Aims: controlling extremism (message of all the parties really in 50’s and 60’s). Also wanted ‘German socialism’ not capitalism, land reforms and a new educational system and democratic goverment.
When did the SPD reform and what were their new ideas/messages/ policies
Reformed on 15th June 1945 after many had been in camps under Nazi rule.
Had moral advantage so urged allies to allow Germans a greater say in establishment of their goverment.
Policies: more radical than KPD - nationalisation of banks, land and key industry. Provide significant social welfare
While the centre party were unsuccessful in coming back, what two new church-based groups formed
What were their outlooks
Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and Christian Social Union of Bavaria (CSU)
All had Christian outlooks, but but variety of other aims. Eg. Social support for poor
What was the largest liberal party
The liberal Democratic Party
What had the new political parties learnt from the Weimar era, how did they solve this problem
Realised having number of parties with similar aims, voters spread vote so power was reduced.
So, the faith-based and liberal Parties negotiated to make single parties
Unifaction of the liberal and faith-based parties
1947, liberal groups formed Free Democracy Party (FDP)
1949, Most faith-based (excluding CSU) joined the CDU
How had increasing tensions between the USA and USSR affected the formation of parties in the east and west
Parties followed different patterns in the east and west.
April 1946, KDP & SPD formed single party - the SED. Became most significant party in the soviet zone, where as western Germany retained its usual party system.
What had the allies viewed the purpose of Germany was, and why had this made it likely that the country was always to be divided
A country needing to be dismantled and politically powerless and a buffer zone between eastern communism and western capitalism.
Thus, country was also doomed to be separated (even if not what first intended by allies)
October 1946 elections
Elections held in Berlin, where communist won heavily in soviet zone but did badly in all other zones (where KPD and SPD were still separate parties)
When was the Lander set up by western zones. How did this difffer to the Soviet’s
West: by1947 had set them up with freely elected parliaments
Soviets: elections for lander in soviet zone but all wins were heavily dominated by the SED, questioning how ‘free’ such elections were
When were Bizonia vs German Economic commission set up
May 29: Bizonia set up by America and Brits to join zones as they tire of french and Soviet’s
June 14: ussr set up G.E.C in response
How was the economic unity across the zones broken in 1948
1 march 1948: Bank of German states is made ion west zones to administer Marshall aid, and creating single economic unit.
Sovites then leave allied council control on 20th march 1948
Currency disputes between west and east
1948 20th June: Bizonia introduced new Deutschemark (DM) used in all western zones
23rd June: soviets introduce their own currency and tell Berlin mayor to use it across whole city as it is supposed to work as single economic unit. West respond by putting the DM in theirs a
Berlin blockade 24th June
USSR close all roads, rails and Canal links to Berlin, marooning western zones in soviet zone
Berlin airlift
May 1948-1949:
Planes fly millions of tonnes of supplies to West Berlin. Causing soviets to lift blockade in 1949
