How Successful Was Adenauer As Chancellor Of West Germany Flashcards
Who was Chancellor of the FRG from 1949 to 1963?
Konrad Adenauer
When did the Christian Democrats become the first government since the First World War to win over 50% of the popular vote?
1957
What had many people of the Christian Democrats (CDU) made up of?
Former Catholic Centre Party or Protestant parties
What was the main beliefs of the CDU?
The upholding of capitalism and competition
Support for the vulnerable in society
Preservation of the welfare state
Support for the Ahlen Programme, which outlined beliefs in traditional Christian values, a social conscience and the free-market
Who were the CDU’s rivals?
The SCP and Free Democratic Party (FDP) and until they were banned in August 1965, though had no seats in 1953 the KPD
What was the results of the CDU between 1949-1961?
1949: 31%, seats: 139
1953: 45.2%, seats: 243
1957: 50.2%, seats: 270
1961: 45.3%, seats: 242
What was the results of the SPD between 1949-1961?
1949: 29.2%, seats: 131
1953: 28.8%, seats: 151
1957: 31.8%, seats: 169
1961: 36.2%, seats: 190
What was the results of the FDP between 1949-1961?
1949: 11.9%, seats: 52
1953: 9.5%, seats: 48
1957: 7.7%, seats: 41
1961: 12.8%, seats: 67
Though had a majority in 1953 what did Adenauer chose to maintain?
A coaltion
What percentage of the population was fatherless after WW2?
1/4
Which law regained former Nazi civil servants there jobs?
Law 131
What percentage of civil servants were ex-Nazis?
40-80%
What policy made sure there was not alienation in the FRG?
Former Nazis were able to claim pensions
How many houses were built by 1952 and 1957 in the FRG?
1952: 430,000
1957: 4 million
How much did wages rise in the FRG between 1949 and 1963?
400%
What organisations did the FRG join?
1948 - Council of Europe
1949 - Organisation for European Economic Organisation (OEEC)
1951 - European Coal and Steel Community
1955 - NATO
1957 - Treaty of Rome (EEC)
1957 - European Atomic Energy Community (EURATOM)
What was the clauses in Stalin agreeing to unite Germany and give up the GDR?
That Germany could not join the West because of security concerns
What was the Hallstein Doctrine?
The FRG refuse to recognise or have diplomatic relations with the GDR or any other communist nation other than the USSR
What political error of Adenauer’s in 1959 lost him some respect?
Announcing his intention to run for the presidency of the FRG then withdrawing, with his indecision suffering him repetitional damage
Who offered a strong response to the Berlin Wall making Adenauer look like he felt with it poorly?
Willy Brandt, the SPD major of West Berlin
What crisis in 1962 really damaged Adenauer’s reputation?
Der Spiegel affair
What was the Der spiel affair?
The magazine published an article critical of the readiness of West German defence forces, the defence minister misled the Bundestag in response to questions on the issues, matters made worse when the government raided Der Spiegel’s offices and arrested some of its journalists
