FRG - How significant was the contribution of Adenauer in the establishment of a stable political base in FRG 1949-89? Flashcards
1
Q
Give evidence that Adenauer caused stability in the FRG
A
- Adenauer’s negotitations with Germany’s former enemies resulted in a plan of West European unity & prosperity
- FRG’s transformation from defeated power to one fully intergrated into Western Europe with political sovereignty & on equal level with other West European states was impressive
- Adenauer signed French-German treaty in 1963, securing basis of lasting political friendship
2
Q
Give evidence that Adenauer caused instability in the FRG
A
- As chancellor, Adenaur was often criticised for behaving more autocratically than the Basic Law (consititution) of 1949 intended
- Revival of remilitarisation in Germany was criticised for taking away any chanced of reunification with East Germany
- Adenauer was accused of sacrificing national interest of reunification to Western intergration
- Ultimately had to resign due to repressive government practises
3
Q
Summarise how successful Adenaeur was at creating political stability
A
- Despite criticism from the SPD, by 1963 living standards in the FRG were the highest in the West
- He was less popular in his fourth term but he had created a politically & economically stable West Germany
4
Q
Who were the next 2 chancellors after Adenauer
A
- Erhard - 63-69
- Kiesenger - 66-69
5
Q
Kiesinger entered into a …………. with the ………
Whilst the CDU became divided between the…
A
- Grand coalition with the SPD
- Atlanticists and Gaullists
6
Q
What was notable action taken by Erhard whilst being Chancellor 1963-66
A
- Erhard tried to introduce emergency laws to search phones but was blocked by the
- SPD
- However by 1968 this law was approved by the SPD due to increasing
- from extremist parties
7
Q
Brandt caused stability
What was Brandt’s main policy
A
- His main policy was that of ‘Ostpolitik’, as he tried to create closer ties between West and East Germany and improve relations with Poland and the Soviet Union.
- This was also known as ‘change through convergence’ - normalising relations with the East without threatening the peace of Europe
- Brandt began to speak of one nation but two Germanies.
8
Q
How did Ostpolitik take shape under Brandt in 1969
A
- 1969 - a draft treaty was prepared including recognition of both countries and the entry of the GDR to the United Nations as a sovereign nation
9
Q
How did Ostpolitik take shape under Brandt in 1970
A
- 1970 - Brandt visited the GDR city of Erfurt, the 1st FRG leader to do so
- Though no agreements were reached -
- He received an enthusiastic welcome, which convinced him that reapproachment was worthwile & possible
10
Q
How did Ostpolitik take shape under Brandt in 1970, by way of Willy Stoph
A
- 1970 - The East German minister-president visited the FRG city Casel by way of reciprocation
- Stoph was a hardliner - so asked for 100DM million compensation to the DGR by emigrants who left before the building of the Berlin Wall
- & recognition of the GDR by FRG - but no agreements were made
11
Q
How did Ostpolitik take shape under Brandt in 1973
A
- The Basic Treaty of June 1973 - the 2 Germanies recognised eachothers right to exist
12
Q
What was the Basic Treaty of June 1973
A
- spoke of normalising relations through developung commercial, tourist, cultural & communication links
- so FRG citizens could travel freely to GDR - but not vice versa
13
Q
How did Ostpolitik take shape under Brandt in 1974
A
- May 1974 - the 2 countries exchanged diplomats - effectively formally recognising eachother
14
Q
What were the reasons for Ostpolitik
A
- Given that the reunification of Germany was far from an international priority, many West German leaders had adopted a pragmatic line that division was a fact of life that needed to be accommodated
- Brandt and his advisers understood that more would be gained by negotiating with the GDR directly
- They began to speak of change through convergence’, by which they meant normalising relations without threatening the peace of Europe
15
Q
What was Ostpolitik
A
- Policy which rejcted the approach of the Hallstein Doctrine & the intransigent policies of the CDU/CSU towards the GDR
- Instead, the policy focused on reducing tensions to allow closer relations, mutually beneficial economic developments and more contact,
- leading to families presently divided between the two countries being reunited, at least for a time
16
Q
With Ostpolitik, there seemed no reason why they could not co-operate in the ineterst of…
A
both international harmony and restoring human contacts
17
Q
What was a key area of support Brandt aquired displaying stability
A
- Won support for his opposition to Berlin wall - he represented a new era of politicians
- —> break from the past/dropped to his knees on visit to Warsaw ghetto memorial
18
Q
Brandt & stability - * In 1971 he was awarded the….
A
…Nobel Prize for Peace for his work.
19
Q
Brandt & stability - Brandt’s govt concluded a …………………,
& also neutralized relations with ……………., …………, & ………..
A
non-agression treaty with the Soviet Union
Poland, Czechoslovakia & finally, East Germany
20
Q
Give evidence that Brandt caused instability in the FRG
A
- Even though formally Brandt did not give up on the objective of German unification, many Germans at the time seemed to have their doubts
- CDU/FDP tried to remove Brandt with a vote of no confidence
- Opposition to his liberal measures on homosexuality and reducing voting age
21
Q
How did Brandt’s resignation & seamless transition to Schmidt highlight thr dtsbility of thr political system in the FRG
A
- Guillame, a close adviser to Brandt was arrested for spying for the GDR in 1974
- Brandt effectively made himself scapegoat, resigining immediately - displaying personal integrity
- Though, he did this in the confidence that the SPD govt would stay in tact,
- but this was the result of his own curated political stability
- Schmidt 10 days later, began continuing his policies
22
Q
Give evidence that Helmut Schmidt caused stability in the FRG
A
- In foreign affairs he sought reconciliation with the Soviet-bloc countries of eastern Europe
- while at the same time maintaining West Germany’s partnership with the United States
- Continued to support Ostpolitik & showed the ability to deal with a series of threats such as terrorism posed by the Red Army Faction
23
Q
Give evidence that Helmut Schmidt caused instability in the FRG
A
- Accused of introducing right wing economic measures such as cutting welfare
- He faced growing opposition for his failure to push through economic policies & from a new party the Greens
- Forced to resign in 1982 via a vote of no confidence
24
Q
What did Schmidt’s party suffer from divisions over
A
- policies aimed at reducing inflation
- whether to allow nuclear weapons to be based in FRG territory
- growing support for Green issues
- growing tensions with the FDP
25
What was Schmidt's stance on the issue of the deployment of nuclear weapons in the 1970s under Schmidt
* 70s - Soviet Union began to develop a new generation of intermediate-range nuclear missiles Schmidt realised Europe itself could become a nuclear battleground between the superpowers,
* so he supported the deployment of NATO intermediate missiles in the FRG
26
What was the reaction to Schmidt supporting the deployment of NATO intermediate missiles in the FRG
* Triggered widespread protests --->
* Anti-nuclear protests in October 1981 involved 250,000 people
* Willy Brandt spoke to a meeting of 300,000 in October 1983, urging them to oppose missiles on FRG soil
* More than 2.7 million people signed the Krefield Appeal against the deployment of missiles.
27
Summarise how successful Helmut Schmidt was at creating political stability,
* Not very successful - political stability degraded under him - as SPD was stable when he took over from Brandt
28
How did Schmidt's resignation come about
* Collapse of the SPD/ FDP --->
* In September 1982, unable to agree on a cost-cutting budget, members of the FDP crossed over to the CDU/ CSU and campaigned for a change of government.
* On 1 October 1982 the Reichstag approved a vote of no confidence
* This was the only time such a vote was successful in the history of the FRG
* Schmidt resigned
29
How did Schmidt make the SDP/FDP coalition collapse
During the worldwide recession of the early 1980s, however, his refusal to cut West Germany’s social welfare programs prompted the centrist Free Democrats to defect from his governing coalition
30
Give evidence that Helmut Kohl caused stability in the FRG
* He followed Ostpolitik
* His main focus was stability due to threats of terrorism
* He also wanted reunification with the GDR which happened by 1989
* He was able to form a new coalition government
* Overcame Flick affair in 1984 & Barschel-Engholm affaie 1989
31
How did Kohl react to economic difficulties such as rising deprivation
* Reduced govt spending and introduced tax cuts that were to be implemented over 7 years
* maintained comparatively high spending levels on welfare and kept subsidies to areas such as farming and coal mining
* He avoided a radical programme that could impact too adversely on the less affluent or the contrary
* After 1985, as oil prices declined, the FRG's exports began to rise, bringing more wealth, and the economy began to improve
32
Give evidence that Helmut Kohl caused instability in the FRG
* Relations with Eastern European countries worsened slightly
* Opposition from Greens - Kohl ignored the depth of protest against missile in the FRG
* Hohl was criticised for not dealing with corruption linked to members of the FDP & Flick Corporation
* Unemployment rates remained high
33
Describe the decline of the CDU / CSU, & how it affect Kohl's political stability in the FRG
* In 1987 the electoral position of Kohl and the CDU/CSU seemed precarious on the surface as a result of the scandals and continuing economic problems
* Although Kohl was able to establish another coalition with the FDP --->
* the CDU CSU share of the vote had declined
* However, the collapse of the GDR in 1989 & the successful reunification of Germany in 1990 served to reverse this trend
34
Explain how Kohl's government never actually seemd under significant threat
* While the 1980s was beset by economic difficulties and accusations of corruption,
* the system continued intact without substantial reform
* & Kohl himself survived into the 1990s as first Chancellor of a reunited Germany
35
Give evidence that Kohl ensured economic stability
* early 1985 - corrected inflation
* the gross national product grew 1.3 percent in 1983, the first real growth since 1980.
36
What did Kohl's government do in May 1990
* Kohl’s government concluded a treaty with East Germany that unified the two countries’ economic and social-welfare systems
