GERMANY - Extra Parliamentary Oppostion

Question 1

Mid 60s

Answer 1

R/Wing doesn’t grew with economic depression
•Young Germans began to question the Nazi past.
•Protest sparked: major expansion of higher education - criticism of overcrowding, L/Wing critical
Of shallow middle class
•Anti-Vietnam over USA

Question 2

1966 +late 60s

Answer 2

66’: Grand coalition, seemed to confirm the worst fears of many young Germans that the parliamentary opposition was disappearing
•Accidental shooting of student Benno Ohnesoug (2nd June 67’) sparked opposition.
Late 60s: Ecological concerns became widespread in W.Germany

Question 3

The protest groups

Answer 3

APO: Loose alliance of L/Wing students, trade unionists
AIMS: to coordinate radical protest through strikes, W/goal of making Germany more of a free society
•High point in 68’ with extensive campaigning against Emergency Laws -declined toward end of 60s, some went to SPD by Brandt’s victory, some formed communist KPD.

SDS: Expelled in 61’ cos of is opposition to German rearmament, which the SPD had accepted. It’s leader, Rudi Dutschke was a big part of APO movement
RAF: Most extreme. Baader proclaimed violence against property & was imprisoned in 68’ for setting shop on fire
AIMS: Opposed facist W.Germany, supported communism, attacked Vietnam war (70s)
ACTIONS: robberies & attacks on property. Reminded people of 30s Nazism

Question 4

1968

Answer 4

Rush Detschke was SDS leader, (April) was shot in head, SDS blamed attack on anti-student articles in R/Wing press
•Led to violence against the state, & more rigorous anti-terror policy, + imprisonment of RAF leaders

Question 5

Protest groups PT.2

Answer 5

Green Party:
-Thought expansion of economy was detrimental
•Support for the radical peace movements + demand that FRG withdrew from NATO initially prevented many W.Germans from taking them seriously.
- Bundestag elections (80’) they gained only 1.5% of vote
• in 83’ election, broke 5% & won 27 seats
TWO FACTIONS EMERGED:
•Dogmatic fundamentalists, were willing to make any compromises in policy in order to win political allies
•REALISTS: ready to enter into a coalition with SPD at local & land level to put environmentalists at pressure