Opposition, Control and Consent 1949-1989 Flashcards
What have historians given as reasons for lack of opposition in the FRG compared to the WR?
-Shock of defeat.
-Onset of the cold war (creates unity)
-Economic prosperity.
What parties were banned in FRG and when?
Socialist Reich party - 1952
KPD - 1956
What reasons were there for why student opposition became an issue?
-Older generation were quick to try and cover the atrocities in the Nazi regime as they were often part of it. The youth wanted to expose this.
Main points for what students opposed in the 60s:
(External factors and problems with the FRG itself)
-American influence and involvement in Vietnam.
-Military spending in NATO.
Problems students had with the FRG itself:
-Growing power of the establishment and media.
-Dominance of wealthy middle class men.
-Growing authoritarianism in the later years.
-Poor conditions in universities (underfunded, overcrowded)
-The nature of consumerism in German society which stifled creativity.
Example is the relatively radical ‘Free University’ (West Berlin)
Radical opposition in FRG from students and 2 main examples of their protests:
APO- left wing and trade unions - became more violent due to the lack of progress from peaceful protest.
SDS- Student wing of the SPD, campaigned against nuclear weapons, Vietnam war etc (led by radical communist from GDR)
Examples:
Iranian Shah visit 1964- Benno Ohnesorg killed and the officer was acquitted. Students were attacked by the media for opposing this.
Rudi Dutschke killed by neo-nazi in 1968 led to a wave of student protests. Springer (media) buildings were attacked across the FRG.
Lack of student opposition in later years:
- Students grew older and more mature –> less likely to protest.
Support for student demonstrations:
-Most germans didn’t support the student demonstrations (68 Der Spiegel poll showed 90% opposed)
Terrorism into the 70s and the German Autumn:
RAF - believed that intellectual debate was useless
-tactics involved fire bombing, assassinations etc.
-opposed the same things as students did.
-around 15% of the public were sympathetic to their goals (until they leaned into violent protest e.g. kidnappings, murder)
German Autumn - RAF acitvities into the 70s
-killed 28 people, bombed banks etc.
-Baader and Meinhof died in custody and were martyred even into the late 90s.
Neo-nazi organisations:
-Grew in power due to racism towards guest workers after economic recessions during the 60s.
-some Germans tired of feeling guilty over Nazis.
Unified into the NPD - not successful in the Bundestag but more successful in regional governments.
-Collapsed due to infighting and lack of support.
Protests into the 80s:
Dominated by the Green Party after the German Autumn who protested environmental issues and for peace
-this was more successful in gaining support from the people for the cause.
-good example is protests against nuclear power in Bavaria after Chernobyl in 1986.
Response to opposition: Nature of FRG government
-Many were conservative backgrounds so preferred an authoritarian response to opposition.
Why was gaining control over the people difficult for the FRG?
-Occupying powers had Statute of Occupation where they could take control in an emergency.
-Public still remembered Nazi era so where quick to oppose the government trying to control them.
Early examples of control in the FRG:
Banning of extremist parties.
Emergency Law of 1968 and its fallout:
Government could
-intercept mail
-tap phones
-search houses
This reminded the people of article 48 hence the people were naturally opposed to this authoritarian decree.
However, the law was not completely unfair:
-it required support from both Bundestag and the regional government.
-couldn’t dissolve the Bundestag.
-End after 6 months.
(they also gained full sovereignty by ending Statute of occupation)
Control under Brandt and Schmidt:
1972 - 150k police to hunt down RAF
-1972 banned radicals from joining jobs in public sector.
By 1977, the Police had more than 6000 people under watch.
