FRG - Politics + Government Flashcards
Yalta Conference
Feb 1945
Germany is spliy into 4 zones
British, French, American + Russian (USSR)
Potsdam Conference
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
Hitler’s Suicide
May 1945
Marshall Aid
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)
Trizonia
April 1949
The French, British + American Zones unite
FRG Founded
May 1949
Berlin Blockade / Airlift
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.
Key Political Parties in the FRG
CDU/CSU
SPD
KPD
FDP
Christian Democratic Union (CDU) / Christian Social Union of Bavaria (CSU)
Formed in 1945
Christian Outlook
Social support for the poor
Social Democratic Party (SPD)
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.
Communists (KPD)
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
Free Democratic Party (FDP)
1947
A group of small liberal parties united.
Pursued centrist policies.
Basic Law
1949
Became the constituion of the FRG
FRG was a Federal Republic - Power split between regional + central Govt.
Bundestag
New German Lower House (replaced Reichstag)
598 Seats
Half Voted by Proportional Representation
Half Voted by First Past the Post
5% minimum voter threshold
Bundesrat
Upper House
Represented the 16 Lander of the FRG
Able to Veto legislation
50-60% of legislation was subjected to Bundesrat Veto
Role of the Chancellor / President
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
Key Changes made by the Basic Law
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
Key Changes made by the Basic Law
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
Key continuity in the Basic Law
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
Key Election Results (1949,57,61)
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)
Comments on election trends
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.
Characterisitics of Adenauer
Pragmatic
CDU/CSU
Impressive Foreign Policy
Willing to use former Nazis
Large Scale Project
Acknowledged war crimes
Moderate policy
Hallstein Doctrine
Adenauer’s use of former Nazis
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
Adenauer’s rejection of the East
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)
Evidence that Adenauer’s policies were moderate
“no experiments” election campaign
Appealled to urban + rural voters
“affluence for all”, did not favour one class
Key Domestic Policies by Adenauer
Collective Bargaining Law (1949)
Construction Law (1950)
Equalisation of Burdens Act (1952)
Work Consultation Law (1952)
Pensions Act (1957)
Collective Bargaining Law
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
Co-determination
Workers were encouraged to particiate in the decision making process, within their workplace.
Construction Law
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
Equalisation of Burdens Act
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
Work Consultation Law
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
Pensions Act
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
Enforcing constituional ban on anti-democratic parties
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
Adenauer’s relationship with the West
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
FRG + NATO
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.
Operation Rose
12-13th August 1961
Contruction of the Berlin Wall
FRG reaction to Berlin Wall
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
Adenauer’s mistakes (Final Term)
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)
Der Speigel Affair
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.
Bad Godesberg Party Conference
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.
Ludwig Erhard as Chancellor
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
Kurt Kiesinger as Chancellor
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
Willy Brandt as Chancellor
1969 - 74
SPD
Won the Nobel Peace Prize (1971) for Ostpolitk and extension of the EEC
Brandt resigned in 1974
Ostpolitik
1969 - Helped GDR be admitted to UN
1973 - Basic Treaty officially recognised the GDR as a separate country
Guillaume Affair
1974
Guillaume, a close associate to Brandt was arrested for being a GDR spy.
Helmut Schmidt
1974-82
SPD
Continued Ostpolitik
Faced opposition from the RAF
Nuclear Weapons ?
Green Party / FDP
High inflation
Removed via vote of no confidence - 1983
Green Party
Won their first seats 1983
They campaigned for environmental issues
Support gained from their anti-nuclear stance
Helmut Kohl
1982-90
CDU
Supported single market economy
Continued Ostpolitik
Flick Affair
1984
FDP Finance Minister excuses Flick corporation taxes
Revealled that parties had been accepting donations for tax exemptions
Barschel-Enghom Affair
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.
