FRG Opposition

Question 1

Issues of Student Opposition

• Authoritarianism
• Influence
• Society
• Universities
• Political dominance
• SPD

Answer 1

Issues of Student Opposition

• Anger over authoritarianism of states and power of establishment
• Growing militarism and US influence
• Materialism of society
• Underfunded and overcrowded universities with no student representation
• Political dominance of wealthy middle class men
• Growing conservativism of SPD

Question 2

APO (opposition outside parliament)

• What were they
• Political arguments
• What did they do
• What impact

Answer 2

APO (opposition outside parliament)

• Loose grouping of left wing students and trade unions
• Radical protest was the only way to force change
• Strikes, marches and demonstrations
• Minimal, membership faded by 1960’s with members conforming to society

Question 3

SDS (Socialist Students Union)

• What were they
• Political arguments
• What did they do
• What impact

Answer 3

SDS (Socialist Students Union)

• Student wing of SPD which split off and became more radical
• Radical left wing policies
• Rallied against Vietnam war, nuclear weapons, former Nazis in power; student sit ins and mass demonstrations
• Had control of national student body (VDS) by late 1960’s and was a vocal opposition to the Grand Coalition

Question 4

RAF (Red Army Faction)

• Membership
• Ideals
• Actions

Answer 4

RAF (Red Army Faction)

• Radical left group of disillusioned young, educated middle class
• Intellectual argument against establishment was useless; argued for direct action
• Sabotage, arson, bombings and assassinations

Question 5

German Autumn

• Date
• Schleyer
• Hijacking
• Demands
• Buback (FRG attorney General)
• Banker Ponto
• Ended due to..

Answer 5

German Autumn

• Series of events involving RAF in late 1977
• Kidnapping/murder of instrstrialist Schleyer
• Hijacking of Lufthansa flight 181 by Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine
• Demanded release of 10 RAF members, 2 Palestinians and $15m for hostages
• Assassinated Buback (FRG Attorney General) on 7th Apr 1977
• Failed kidnapping of banker Ponto on 30th Jul 1977
• Ended 18th Oct with liberation of landshut, death of RAF leaders in prison and death of Schleyer

Question 6

Emergency Law 1968

• Previous attempts
• Basic Law
• Opposition
• Usage

Answer 6

Emergency Law 1968

• Previously failed attempts in 58, 60 and 63
• No emergency laws were included in original Basic Law
• Only opposed in Reichstag by FDP, alongside student protests
• Powers never used even at peak of student unrest

Question 7

Consequences of Emergency Law 1968

• Police and RAF
• Employment ban law
• Increased terrorism measures
• After Schleyer incident

Answer 7

Consequences of Emergency Law 1968

• In 1972, 150k police were authorised to track down RAF members by Brandt
• Employment ban law prohibited ‘radicals’ from public sector
• 1973 introduced more measures for terrorists such as reduced visitation and more solitary confinement
• After Schleyer, law banned prisoners contacting other prisoners or defence lawyers

Question 8

NPD (National Democratic Party)

• Successes
• Reasons for success
• Reasons for not being a threat
• Reasons for deterioration of support

Answer 8

NPD (National Democratic Party)

• Won 15 seats in Bavaria, 10 in Lower Saxony, 8 in Hesse; gained 4.5% of vote in 1969
• Economic downturn, vacuum of traditional right, frustrations over youth protests
• Never gained 5% of vote required to reach Reichstag
• Internal divisions and economic recovery

Question 9

DeNazification

• Differentiation
• Support
• Moving on
• Scientists
• Anger
• Successes

Answer 9

DeNazification

• Difficult to differentiate between real Nazis or those who joined out of necessity
• Failed to gain public support especially over authoritarian policies
• Most wanted to just move on
• 1600 Nazi Scientists escaped to the USA
• Anger that the Germans were seemingly being targeted
• Was some success such as with 85% of fired Bavarian teachers returning to their jobs

Question 10

Support for Democracy

• Communists
• CDU/CSU
• Adenauer
• Industrial relations
• Turnout
• Public confidence in Bundestag deputies

Answer 10

Support for Democracy

• Communist party never had more than 50k members
• Over 50% voted for CDU/CSU in 1957
• Adenauer was personally popular
• Industrial relations very strong
• Voter turnout consistently over 85% from 53 to 76
• Belief that Bundestag deputies represented public interest doubled from 51 to 64