FRG Politics

Question 1

What was decided at the Yalta Conference and when was it?

Answer 1

February 1945
•Germany would be divided into four military zones between US/USSR/UK and France
•Berlin was split between the 4
•Allied Control Council was Created to oversee all 4 zones

Question 2

What was decided at the Potsdam Conference and when was it?

Answer 2

June 1945
•De-Nazification - brought to justice in Nuremberg trials
•De-militarisation
•Deindustrialisation - keep Germany weak as well as compensate the USSR
•Democratisation - make Germany more democratic

Question 3

Why was the FRG formed in 1949?

Answer 3

In 1948 UK/US and French zones formed into Trizonia and introduced the Deutschmark. Stalin introduced a blockade to Berlin but the Allies airlifted supplies into the city and the blockade was lifted in 1949. After the FRG was formed Stalin established the GDR as East Germany.

Question 4

Why did the Allies give the FRG so much assistance?

Answer 4

• Get Germany back on their feet and trade with them
• Have a strong capitalist country to stop communism spreading
• Don’t repeat a ToV punishment that damaged Germany and angered the people creating extremists
• Create and ally against Soviet Union

Question 5

Who were the 4 main political parties in the FRG?

Answer 5

CDU/CSU
SPD
KPD
FDP

Question 6

What new things did the Basic Law (Constitution of the FRG) introduce?

Answer 6

• Centre of Government in Bonn
• Refused to recognise the communist GDR
• Universal suffrage over the age of 18
• Could ban political parties if they were anti-democratic (were only temporarily banned in the Weimar)
• 1/2 seats were elected by first past the post and each party needed 5% vote to have a seat in parliament

Question 7

What did FRG use in the Basic Law that was used in the Weimar?

Answer 7

• Equal rights
• Free speech/no censorship
• Free state education
• 1/2 the seats were allocated through proportional representation

Question 8

What was different about the Chancellor and President in the FRG?

Answer 8

• Chancellor came from the largest party in the Bundestag and could not be removed unless another party could form a majority
• President was no longer voted by the people and was no votes by MP’s

Question 9

What was the Bundesrat?

Answer 9

Made up of people from the Lander, who can check and override laws

Question 10

Who won every election from 1949-1961 and who was Chancellor from 49-63?

Answer 10

CDU/CSU and Adenauer

Question 11

What were some of Adenauers beliefs and ideas?

Answer 11

• Wise constituency (appeal to all sorts of people)
• Year Zero - forgive ex-Nazis and start over - bring back ethnic minorities
• Compensate for victims of warfare
• Anti-Communist
• Rebuild German infrastructure
• ’co-determination’ between workers and employers

Question 12

Why was Adenauer’s election poster criticised in 1957?

Answer 12

It heavily featured Adenauer himself and was seen as similar to the Hitler Myth portraying himself as a sole leader

Question 13

What were some of Adenauers Domestic Policies?

Answer 13

• Collective Bargaining Law 1949 -‘co-determination’ between workers and employers
• Construction Law 1950 - built 4 million new homes
• Equalisation of Burdens Act 1952 - redistribution of income

Question 14

What were some of Adenauers foreign policies?

Answer 14

•Joined the EEC (European Economic Co-operation) in 1957
•Joined NATO in 1955 by limiting army size and renouncing adoption of nuclear weapons
-Joined the ECSC In 1952

Question 15

What were some of Adenauers challenges?

Answer 15

• Adenauer was criticised for not visiting the Berlin Wall in 1961 after it was put up and they lost their absolute majority as SPD grew in votes
• Criticised for wanting to unite the roll of president and chancellor in 1959

Question 16

What was the Der Spiegel Affair?

Answer 16

In 1962 editors of the Der Spiegel magazine were arrested after criticising the army’s ability to defend the country. Followed by protests as believed Government was too authoritarian. Eventually led to Adenauers forced retirement in 1963.

Question 17

What was Ostpolitik?

Answer 17

Policy introduced by Brandt that compromised with the GDR to build better relations and they eventually acknowledged each other in the Basic Treaty of 1973

Question 18

What were some arguements against Ostpolitik?

Answer 18

CDU said it was giving into Communism in the 1970’s. Cold War tensions continued and disagreements between allowing nuclear weapons in the country or not started under Schmidt in 1977.

Question 19

What were some scandals during the FRG?

Answer 19

• Flick Affair - Finance minister resigned in 1984 after tax exemption scandal
• Barschel-Engholm Affair 1989 scandal over bugged offices and tax evasion
• In 1974 a close adviser to Brandt was revealed to be an East German Agent causing Brandt’s resignation

Question 20

When were emergency powers introduced to the FRG?

Answer 20

1968

Question 21

German Chancellor Timeline

Answer 21

1949-1963 Adenauer 
1963-1969 Erhard 
1969-1974 Brandt
1974-82 Schmidt
1982-1989 Kohl