Politics - Adenauer's Policies (FRG) 1949-1963 Flashcards
1
Q
How did Adenauer’s social policies attempt to rebuild German infrastructure?
A
- The April 1950 Construction Law gave grants to Lander to encourage large scale building projects, reducing the need for temporary accommodation
- 4 million new homes were built by 1957
2
Q
How did Adenauer’s social policies attempt to improve welfare and the distribution of income?
A
- The 1952 Equalisation of Burdens Act offered compensation to the victims of wartime bombing campaigns on Germany
- Adenauer redistributed income significantly - financed a tax of 5 percent on every citizen who had a net worth over DM5,000, which by 1983 had raised DM126 billion
- Adenauer put in place a number of welfare reforms, including the 1957 Pension Act, which increased pensions by between 65 and 70 percent
3
Q
How did Adenauer’s social policies improve workers’ rights?
A
- The 1949 Collective Bargaining Law gave unions the right to represent their members and take industrial action if necessary
- These policies reduced tensions between employees and employers, allowing Adenauer’s government to focus on the growth of the economy
- This led to fewer strikes and industry was more stable
4
Q
What were Adenauer’s controversial policies regarding ex-Nazis?
A
- Adenauer’s policies allowed Nazis into government to work in democracy, establishing 1945 as a ‘year zero’ with a ‘no questions asked’ policy
- This was allowed under the 1951 ‘131 Law’ under the grounds that the government and civil service desperately needed people with experience
- The law was extended to over 150,000 individuals who had previously lost their jobs under de-Nazification
- A controversial appointment was that of Hans Globke to Adenauer’s cabinet between 1953 and 1963, who had played a key role in writing the Nuremberg Laws of 1935
- This led to Adenauer being seen as a Nazi sympathiser by some, but it was argued that this was the best way to build up relationships and remove prejudices
