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Germany <3 > FRG - Politics + Government > Flashcards

FRG - Politics + Government Flashcards

1
Q

Yalta Conference

A

Feb 1945
Germany is spliy into 4 zones
British, French, American + Russian (USSR)

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2
Q

Potsdam Conference

A

De-nazification = Former Nazi’s tried for war crimes
De-Militarisation = to ensure Germany could never engage in an aggressive war again
De-industrialisation = Dismantling large industrial concerns to keep Germany weak / compensate USSR
Democratisation = Germany should be made a democracy

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3
Q

Hitler’s Suicide

A

May 1945

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4
Q

Marshall Aid

A

June 1947
Financial aid given to European nations by the USA
This aid was to be used for reconstruction / development

Marshall Aid also aimed to stop the spread of Communism through Europe (Domino Effect)

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5
Q

Trizonia

A

April 1949
The French, British + American Zones unite

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6
Q

FRG Founded

A

May 1949

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7
Q

Berlin Blockade / Airlift

A

June 1948
Stalin attempted to force the allies out of Berlin by cutting off supply lines.
The allies began airdropping supplies into Berlin via planes, at one point arriving in Berlin every 30s.
Stalin lifted the failed blockade in May 1949.

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8
Q

Key Political Parties in the FRG

A

CDU/CSU
SPD
KPD
FDP

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9
Q

Christian Democratic Union (CDU) / Christian Social Union of Bavaria (CSU)

A

Formed in 1945
Christian Outlook
Social support for the poor

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10
Q

Social Democratic Party (SPD)

A

June 1945 - Re-formed
Kurt Schumacher had been in concentration camps
The SPD were more radical than the KPD - eg. proposing nationalisation of the banks, land and key industry + significant welfare reform.

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11
Q

Communists (KPD)

A

June 1945 - Re-formed
Key message = moderation, of controlling extremism
Socialism not Capitalism
Eg. Land reforms, new education system, democratic Govt.
Accepted allied plans of reconstruction

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12
Q

Free Democratic Party (FDP)

A

1947
A group of small liberal parties united.
Pursued centrist policies.

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13
Q

Basic Law

A

1949
Became the constituion of the FRG
FRG was a Federal Republic - Power split between regional + central Govt.

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14
Q

Bundestag

A

New German Lower House (replaced Reichstag)
598 Seats
Half Voted by Proportional Representation
Half Voted by First Past the Post
5% minimum voter threshold

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15
Q

Bundesrat

A

Upper House
Represented the 16 Lander of the FRG
Able to Veto legislation
50-60% of legislation was subjected to Bundesrat Veto

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16
Q

Role of the Chancellor / President

A

Usually the leader of the largest party
Could be removed by vote of no confidence - if another candidate was prepared
The President became essentially a ceremonial role

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17
Q

Key Changes made by the Basic Law

A

All German Citizens over the age of 18 could vote
Half of the seats are allocated by FPP, Half PR
Each party must achieve at least 5% to gain a seat
Chancellor came from the largest party
Govt. based in Bonn

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18
Q

Key Changes made by the Basic Law

A

All German Citizens over the age of 18 could vote
Half of the seats are allocated by FPP, Half PR
Each party must achieve at least 5% to gain a seat
Chancellor came from the largest party
Govt. based in Bonn

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19
Q

Key continuity in the Basic Law

A

Weimar -
Free/liberal parliamentary democracy
Equal rights, regardless of sex, race, political views or religion. Free speech, freedom to form unions, free assemebly and no censorship. Free state education.
The Basic Law had the provision to ban political parties, if they were undemocratic.
Some proportional representation remained
Chancellor could be removed via vote of no confidence

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20
Q

Key Election Results (1949,57,61)

A

1949 - CDU = 31% // SPD = 29.2% - Chan. = Adenauer

1957 - CDU = 50.3% // SPD = 32% - Chan. = Adenauer

1961 - CDU = 46% // SPD = 36.5% - Chanc. = Adenauer (1963) Erhard (1963-66)

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21
Q

Comments on election trends

A

CDU/CSU support grew between 1949-61

FDP retained a small yet constant share

SPD support grew

Konrad Adenauer was chancello (1949-63)

CDU achieved a majority (1957) - not a coalition Govt.

22
Q

Characterisitics of Adenauer

A

Pragmatic
CDU/CSU
Impressive Foreign Policy
Willing to use former Nazis
Large Scale Project
Acknowledged war crimes
Moderate policy
Hallstein Doctrine

23
Q

Adenauer’s use of former Nazis

A

39 former nazis in the foreign ministry
Hans Globke (drew up the enabling act 1933) was a senior civil servant
Minister of Refugees - formed SS member

24
Q

Adenauer’s rejection of the East

A

Favoured integration with the West
Joined the Council of Europe (1949)
Adenauer himself was the foreign minister
Anti-communist sentiment
Hallstein Doctrine (1955) - FRG would cut all diplomatic ties with nations who recognised the GDR (execpt USSR)
Many people emigrated from the GDR into the FRG (especially skilled labourers)

25
Q

Evidence that Adenauer’s policies were moderate

A

“no experiments” election campaign
Appealled to urban + rural voters
“affluence for all”, did not favour one class

26
Q

Key Domestic Policies by Adenauer

A

Collective Bargaining Law (1949)
Construction Law (1950)
Equalisation of Burdens Act (1952)
Work Consultation Law (1952)
Pensions Act (1957)

27
Q

Collective Bargaining Law

A

1949
Unions had legal rights to negociate on behalf of memebers and to take industrial action if necessary

Allowing for co-determination

Results -
Reduced Tensions between employers + employees
Facilitated economic growth to continue

28
Q

Co-determination

A

Workers were encouraged to particiate in the decision making process, within their workplace.

29
Q

Construction Law

A

1950
Grants provided to Lander + Cities to encourage large scale building projects and reduce the need for temporary unemployment.

Results -
By 1957, 4 million new homes had been built
Helped refugees become integrated into Germany

30
Q

Equalisation of Burdens Act

A

1952
Offerred compensation to the victims of wartime bombing campaigns on Germany and those expelled by lands in the East.

Results -
Significant redistribution of wealth
Tax of 5% on all citizens with a net worth > DM5,000
By 1983, DM126 billion had been raised

31
Q

Work Consultation Law

A

1952
Encouraged the establishment of worker consultative councils in any enterprise where 20 or more people were employed

Results -
Improved worker relations
Productivity increased
Political support for Adenauer

32
Q

Pensions Act

A

1957
Contracts between generations - ie. those who were currently working could make contributions towards the pension of retired people. These contributors had their level of contribution matched in their pension.

Results -
Policy was not completely successful
Quite expensive
Put the social welfare budget under pressure

33
Q

Enforcing constituional ban on anti-democratic parties

A

Allowed by Article 21 of the Basic Law

1952 - Neo-Nazi Socialist Reich Party were banned
1956 - KPD banned

Results -
Determination / Commitment to Democracy
Little protest to the banning of extreme parties

34
Q

Adenauer’s relationship with the West

A

Believed that long-term stability would best achieved by strong realtions with Western Europe + USA

This was a priority over German unification

In 1949, the FRG joined the Council of Europe

35
Q

FRG + NATO

A

Adenauer saw FRG membership of NATO as critical to FRG stability

In May 1955, FRG was admitted into NATO

They had to renounce nuclear weapons and limit their army size.

36
Q

Operation Rose

A

12-13th August 1961
Contruction of the Berlin Wall

37
Q

FRG reaction to Berlin Wall

A

Adenauer took 9 days to visit Berlin
300,000 Germans protested the Wall + Willy Brandt + Major of Berlin
The division of FRG / GDR was officially recognised
The flow of GDR refugees was stopped

38
Q

Adenauer’s mistakes (Final Term)

A

He was criticised by the SPD + FDP for his support of the Hallstein Doctrine (1955) -> FDP broke their coalition with the CDU/CSU (1956)

Slow reaction to the Berlin Wall (1961)

CDU/CSU vote fell - 50% (1957) -> 46% (1961)

Political arrogance disliked - attempted to merge president + chancellor role (1959)

Der Speigel Affair (1962)

39
Q

Der Speigel Affair

A

1962
The editors of Der Speigel Magazine were arrested for publishing an article questioning the army’s ability to defend the nation.

Largely due to Strauss (Head of CSU), a close associate to Adenauer.

Many feared that the FRG was becoming too authoritarian

Adenauer resigned in 1963.

40
Q

Bad Godesberg Party Conference

A

1959
Reforms of the SPD

  • Support of FRG European Integration
  • FRG in NATO / Single Market

SPD’s reforms made them a strong competitor to the incumbent CDU/CSU.

41
Q

Ludwig Erhard as Chancellor

A

1963-66
Continued his successful economic policy
1965 recession caused internal disputes in the CDU/CSU
FDP withdrew from his coaltion in 1966 -> leading to his resignation

42
Q

Kurt Kiesinger as Chancellor

A

1966-69
Leader of CDU/CSU - replaced Erhard
Established a the ‘Grand Coalition’ with the CDU/CSU + SPD.
Willy Brandt was deputy / foreign minister
Kiesinger was criticised for being a former Nazi
He was forced to resign in 1969 when the SPD withdrew their support of him -> replaced by Willy Brandt

43
Q

Willy Brandt as Chancellor

A

1969 - 74
SPD
Won the Nobel Peace Prize (1971) for Ostpolitk and extension of the EEC
Brandt resigned in 1974

44
Q

Ostpolitik

A

1969 - Helped GDR be admitted to UN
1973 - Basic Treaty officially recognised the GDR as a separate country

45
Q

Guillaume Affair

A

1974
Guillaume, a close associate to Brandt was arrested for being a GDR spy.

46
Q

Helmut Schmidt

A

1974-82
SPD
Continued Ostpolitik
Faced opposition from the RAF
Nuclear Weapons ?
Green Party / FDP
High inflation
Removed via vote of no confidence - 1983

47
Q

Green Party

A

Won their first seats 1983
They campaigned for environmental issues
Support gained from their anti-nuclear stance

48
Q

Helmut Kohl

A

1982-90
CDU
Supported single market economy
Continued Ostpolitik

49
Q

Flick Affair

A

1984
FDP Finance Minister excuses Flick corporation taxes
Revealled that parties had been accepting donations for tax exemptions

50
Q

Barschel-Enghom Affair

A

1989
Political tension between local leaders Barschel (CDU) Engholm (SPD) caused Barschel to resign
He was then found dead in his hotel room - officially suicide however foul play was suspected.

Germany <3 (16 decks)

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