FRG Politics and Government: Flashcards
What did the Potsdam Conference focus on?
-Disarming
-Decentralising
-De-nazifying
Difference between political parties in Weimar and FRG:
In FRG they all shared the same messages e.g. controlling extremism, modernisation, even the KPD stressed ‘German Socialism’ with a democratic government and new education system.
Role of the SPD:
-Many members had been in concentration camps.
- They had the moral advantage which they used to gain more political control in allied zones.
The different parties in the FRG:
-SPD (more radical than KPD)
-CDU and CSU - conservative, church based and wanted social welfare. (later ideology split between Gaulists and Atlanticists.)
-Liberal groups recognised failure of Weimar with too many parties and merged to form FDP
When was the Marshall Plan and what was the motivation behind it?
1947 - European countries could defend against communism.
Separation with East Germany:
-Britain and USA, then later France unified.
-KPD won the elections in East Germany.
-Bank of German States in western zones breaks the rule of economic unity with all zones in 1948.
3 main terms of Basic Law 1949:
-Equal rights.
-Free speech - although they could ban parties if they undermined democracy.
-Education for all
What was the Bundestag and Bundesrat:
Bundestag - every 4 years people vote for regional representative and a party.
-Needed 5 percent of votes to get a seat (proportional representation)
Bundesrat - representatives from each Lander.
When were the first elections and what was the outcome?
1949 - CDU won with 32% and SPD got 29% Adenauer was elected.
What was the Hallstein Doctrine:
Refused to deal with countries who recognised GDR
-FRG represents all of Germany.
Benefits of Adenauer’s forceful style:
Kept coalitions together until 1957.
Criticisms of Adenauer:
-Criticised for authoritarian style and forceful management of the Bundestag.
-too much power than Basic Law allowed e.g. Foreign Minister and Chancellor until 1955.
-Didn’t work with left wing politicians which reminded people of Nazi Policy in 1933.
Adenauer’s 2 main goals:
Unite Germany
-Work for closer European integration.
Controversial changes by Adenauer in the Bundestag:
Stripped KPD of their seats
-made it harder for smaller parties to gain seats
-excluded opposition.
Adenauers banned parties
1952- Socialist Reich party.
1956- KPD
Article 131:
-Allowed ex-Nazis to work in the civil service. e.g. League of Expellees party led by SS officer gained enough seats to be a Reichstag party.
Adenauer’s resignation:
Called for the arrest of Journalists who critisiced performacne of west german troops
Government after Adenauer:
Ludwig Erhardt (resigned after wanting to tap phones, open mail as security measures and heavy taxation)
and then Kurt Kiesinger with the Grand Coalition.
Emergency Law 1968:
Fear of new opposition that became violent
-passed by grand coalition
Brandt’s main policies and criticisms of Brandt:
Ostpolitik - work with east Germany.
-hoped to win back public support from this. e.g. 1972 basic treaty to behave ‘neighbourly’ with the GDR.
- criticised for Ostpolitik and liberal measures such a decriminalising homosexuality in
1972 crisis for Brandt and 1974 resignation.
SPD and CDU called vote of no confidence in Brandt:
-Brandt only won by 2 votes.
-Later he called an election with an SPD landslide win.
- 1974: adviser was a GDR spy (resigned)
Helmut Schmidt:
Won in 1976 and 1980 mostly because there as no alternative
-too conservative e.g. tax raise and welfare cuts
-resigned by vote of no confidence.
Helmut Kohl and fall of the Berlin Wall:
focussed on reunification
-won 50% of vote in an election which confirmed the CDU popularity.
-continued Ostpolitik policy.
-managed the Gov under terrorism and corruption scandals.
