Maintaining political stability under Brandy, Schmidt and Kohl, 1965-89

Question 1

overview

Answer 1

• Grand Coalition formed when German economy was in a downturn and there was growing political hostility, some violent
• opposition came from small extremist parties, e.g. neo-Nazi National Democratic Party
• coalition hoped for shift towards Ostopilitk

Question 2

A new political alignment

Answer 2

• Brandt’s commitment to Ostopilitik met with serious opposition in the Bundestag
  as did more liberal measures e.g. decriminalization of homosexuality and reducing voting age to 18

Question 3

Brandt’s struggle to survive

Answer 3

• Oct 1970 & March 1972 members of FDP and SPD joined CDU
• forced conservative vote of no confidence, naming Barzel of CDU - replacement chancellor - vote failed by 2 votes
• 1974 - discovered one of B’s advisors was GDR spy + felt compelled to resign

Question 4

Helmut Schmidt + challenges of 1970s

Answer 4

• faced period of economic and domestic upheaval + won elections of 1976 + 80
• accused of adopting harsh econ measures e.g. high tax + welfare cuts that made him as consv as CSU
• faced opposition for failure to push through econ policies + Green party
• Oct 1982 - consv vote of no confidence forced him to resign + replaced with CDU’s Kohl

Question 5

Helmut Kohl + fall of Berlin wall

Answer 5

• opposition - Green party + Republicans
• promised continuity of econ policies + Ostopolitik
• sustained outbreak of terrorism e.g. bombing of Frankfurt airport
  1989 - Hungary opened border to West + lifted travel restrictions - East Germany under pressure to open borders
• most made way to FRG
• 9th Nov 1989 - govt official announced travel restrictions lifted, ppl flooded through Berlin Wall + Germany physically reunited