FRG - opposition Flashcards
What were some of the long-term causes of extra parliamentary opposition?
Backlash to ‘Ohne Mich’ attitude
Growth of Far Right
‘Collective amnesia’ about the past - revolt against parents’ generation
Newspapers such as Der Spiegel encourage criticism of the FRG as an authoritarian state e.g. Former Nazis in positions of power e.g. In government and in the universities.
What were some of the short-term causes of extra parliamentary opposition?
Grand Coalition left the country with little opposition
Eichmann trial and Subsequent Auschwitz guard trials 1963-65.
1968 Emergency laws compared to Article 48
Revulsion at US actions in the Vietnam War - sympathy for revels such as Ho Chi Minh and PLO - led to university ‘sit in’ protests
What happened in June 1967?
Visit of Shah of Iran and death of Benno Ohnsora - led to formation of the June 2nd Movement
Who were the APO?
Alliance of left-wing students, trade unionists and intellectuals
How did the APO oppose West German governments and why?
Protested through strikes and demonstrations - goal of making West Germany a more open, tolerant and free society. Felt true parliamentary debate had disappeared during the Grand Coalition as there was no effective opposition to government in parliament.
What happened to the APO?
Fractured at the end of the 60s, some moved to the SPD, some DKP and some into environmental groups, a few became terrorists.
What were the SDS?
German Socialist Student Union, leading element in the APO - took a lead in street protests
When were the SDS founded?
1946 in Hamburg
Why were the SDS expelled from the SPD in 1961?
Because of its opposition to German rearmament, which the SPD had accepted in the Bad Godesburg programme of 1959
What did the SDS oppose?
Opposed the Vietnam War and the use of nuclear weapons and objected that many former Nazis still held influential positions in Germany. Wanted more tolerance in society.
What methods did the SDS use?
The same methods of protest as the anti-war movement in the US at that time - sit-ins and demonstrations.
Who were some important members of the SDS?
Helmut Schmidt - later Chancellor of German, the later Red Army Faction member Ulrike Meinhof and Rudi Dutschke
What happened to the SDS?
Peaked in 1968 at 2,500 but declined afterwards and disbanded in 1970
Who were the Red Army Faction?
An underground guerrilla movement centred around Adreas Baader, Gudrun Ensslin and Ulrike Meinhof.
What did the RAF oppose?
American imperialism and saw the West German government as a fascist hangover from the Nazi era.
