***Opposition to government, 1949-89 Flashcards
Which party was banned in 1952?
The Socialist Reich Party (under Article 21 of the Basic Law)
What happened to vote allocations and seats in the Bundestag?
In 1953 these were changed to make it harder for small political parties to gain a seat. This was restricted even further in 1957.
Which party was banned in 1956?
The German Communist Party (KPD) - declared unconstitutional.
Who were most critical of Adenauer’s government?
Left-wing sympathisers
Why did left-wing sympathisers criticise Adenauer’s government?
- His Atlanticisit aim to establish closer ties to the west was seen as jeopardising the prospect of unification with the GDR.
- Criticised his ‘chancellor democracy’ - his administration was seen as working against democracy.
- Year zero approach - allowing ex-Nazis into the civil service.
Which party was not allowed to be represented in government after the first elections in 1949?
The SPD - despite receiving 29.2% of votes.
What did communists do in 1953?
In Munich, approximately 600 communists clashed with the police, who used water cannon to disperse the marchers.
Why did Germany’s younger generation protest against the government of the FRG in the 1960s?
- They objected to the year zero principle - they wanted to confront Germany’s past and objected to ex-Nazis being in positions of political power - adopted the slogan “What did you do in the war, Daddy?”
- Protested against the FRG’s military - involvement with the West through NATO and the possibility that Germany might begin to build and store nuclear weapons.
- Joined the discontent with the way the USA was conducting the war in Vietnam (1954-75) - USA was the face of money-grabbing, repressive and imperialist capitalism.
What are two examples of protest groups in the 1960s?
- Extra-Parliamentary Opposition (APO)
- German Socialist Student Union (SDS)
Why did the APO come about?
As a result of the disbanding of the KPD (1952) and the reduced radicalisation of the SPD from 1959. They felt unrepresented and felt extra-parliamentary opposition was necessary die to the lack of opposition in the Bundestag.
How were the SDS formed?
They had been a part of the SPD but broke away in 1961 due to feeling the party was becoming less and less radical, no longer representing the beliefs of its members.
What did the SDS protest about?
- Vietnam War
- Nuclear weapons
- Former Nazi officials (the Auschwitz generation) holding office in government
- The FRG’s involvement in NATO
Who was leader of the SDS from 1965?
Rudi Dutschke
What happened to Rudi Dutschke?
He was shot in April 1968 by a right-wing fanatic.
What did the shooting of Dutschke spark?
The Easter riots, a series of attacks on offices of the Springer Press (a right-wing newspaper which frequently criticised student protests) all over Germany.
