Politics in the FRG Flashcards
What was the first political party to appear in the FRG?
- 11th June 1945
- KPD
- Stressed ‘German Socialism’ not a soviet style communist society
When was the SPD formed?
- 15th June 1945
- More radical than KPD, e.g wanted nationalisation of banks and more welfare system
The Centre Party failed to form, what formed instead?
- CDU and CSU formed which were the equivalent
- CSU was the Bavarian party
What liberal party formed?
1947
- The FDP
When were the first elections held in the FRG?
14th August 1949
What was the result of the first elections in the FRG?
- CDU got 31% of the vote
- SPD got 29.2% of the vote
- FDP won 11.9% of the vote
- Konrad Adenauer was the chancellor
What two things suppressed extremist parties in the FRG?
- 5% rule in 1953, parties need at least 5% of the vote for any parliamentary representation
- Basic Law (Article 21) gave courts the ability to ban extremist parties
- KPD was banned in 1956 due to this even after only getting 2.2% of the vote (WAS THIS A DEMOCRACY??)
Why was the FRG sometimes called a ‘Chancellor Democracy’
- Due to Adenauer’s attitude and his lack of allowance with the left wing (no SPD in his gov)
- He often appointed weaker ministers and treated them as advisors
- He controlled both domestic and foreign affairs until 1955 as both chancellor and foreign minister
When did Adenauer set out his agenda to the Bundestag and what was it?
20th September 1949
- He wanted to do two things, unify Germany and work for closer integration into Europe
- SPD were critical as they believed integrating to the West does not do anything to unify Germany
What was the primary issues with Adenauers government?
- Included ex-Nazis under Art 131, e.g Waldemar Kraft who was a member of the SS
- Due to his heavy handedness towards extremism and the left wing, there was a 3 party Bundestag
- Though he may have provided stability he was going against the democratic nature of the Germany they were attempting to build
What was the Issue with Adenauers foreign policy?
It became increasingly pro western:
- Joined Nato in 1955
- Hallstein Doctrine (1955) which refused to recognise legality of the GDR and to not have diplomatic relations with the GDR
What was Article 131 and when was it added to the Basic Law?
- 11th May 1951
- Allowed ex-Nazis to join the civil service
What were examples of ex-Nazis being prominent in the FRG?
- 1952 a Bundestag report showed 4 notable ex-Nazis working in the government
- BHE party was in the Bundestag in 1953, led by Waldemar Kraft (SS)
- In 1954 this party broke down and members moved to CDU showing Nazis were present in the leading party
- The FRG’s army were accepting ex-Nazis
When did Adenauer attempt to control television and what was the result?
- Jan 1961 he attempted to instate state control of television as he knew they would play a major part in elections
- 28th Feb the Supreme Court ruled It unconstitutional as executive branch was interfering with the legislative branch
What did the magazine ‘Der Spiegel’ do and how did it lead to Adenauer’s resignation?
- Oct 1962 it criticised the FRG’s performance in NATO exercises
- Adenauer lost his shit and called for arrest of the journalists including the minister of defence (Franz Jodef Strauss)
- Led to FDP ministers resigning in protest and Adenauer resigning in 1963
What was the split in the CDU after 1963?
- Split between Atlanticists (Wanted to work with the West, USA and Britain)
- Gaullists (work with France and co-operate with East Germany)
Who was Chancellor between 1963-66 and what did they do?
Ludwig Erhard
- Followed Atlanticist policies and wanted an emergency law to tap phones and search homes etc
- 1966 he introduced heavy taxation causing FDP to resign and Erhard could not continue
What was the Grand Coalition?
- CDU/CSU/SPD collaboration
- Kurt Kiesenger as Chancellor
- SPD’s Willy Brandt as vice-chancellor and foreign minister
When was the emergency law introduced and why?
Under the Grand Coalition on 28th June 1968
- Lots of political hostility and economic downturn
- neo-Nazi Democratic Party, student opposition and German Trade Unions
- This was during the time where they were rejecting Hallstein and moving towards Ostpolitik to cooperate with the GDR
When did the FRG get its first SPD chancellor?
- From 1969 to 1982
- WIlly Brandt was the Chancellor
- With Helmut Schmidt
What was Brandt criticised for in his policies?
- He was criticised for his policy of Ospoltik due to his criticism of Adenauers assimilation of ex-Nazis
- He had not fought in WW2 and Strauss mocked him for this
His liberal policies received criticism from the CSU: - Decriminalisation of homosexuality
- Reduction of voting age to 18
During the 70’s what was the shift to the CDU?
- October 1970 FDP politicians moved to the CDU
- March 1972 SPD members also joined the CDU
What happened at the vote of no confidence on Brandt?
- After members shifted to CDU they called a constructive vote of no confidence and asked for Rainer Barzel as a replacement
- Failed by 2 votes
- Brandt called elections in November 1972 and SPD won the most seats
Even after Brandt won a majority in the elections why did he have to resign?
- He resigned in 24th May 1972
- One of his closest advisers Günter Guillame was a spy
- This caused him to resign
