Popular Support in the FRG

Question 1

What did the Allies agree on at Potsdam?

Answer 1

They agreed that country must return to democracy

Question 2

How does the voting turnout show the support for the FRG?

Answer 2

• Showed people want to take part in the democratic process and be a part of democracy
• Only time the turnout was less than 84% was in 1949, when the vote was happening for the first time so people were not used to this
• In Britain the vote was always lower during this period, only rising above 79% twice

Question 3

What was the Allensbach institute?

Answer 3

Set up by the Bundestag to conduct survey of public attitudes

Question 4

What did Research by the Allensbach institute find?

Answer 4

• Showed number of people who believed that members of the Bundestag represented public interest doubled between 1951-64
• In the same period people who believed the monarchy should be restored fell from 1/3 to a 1/10
• By 1960’s surveys found that majority of Germans felt that the FRG represented the best time in German history and most believed democracy was he best kind of government

Question 5

How did the people show support through protest against the gov?

Answer 5

• They protested against things that would hinder democracy
• E.g When the gov wanted to pass Emergency Law in the 60’s people demonstrated against it
• Once passed in 1968 people demanded the country live up to the Basic Law

Question 6

How did people show support on an international level?

Answer 6

• People marched in support of democracy and against dictatorships in other countries, e.g against the military junta that ruled Greece after 1967
• They protested against their government having trade or diplomatic agreements with these regimes, e.g South Africa and apartheid

Question 7

How did the people show support when protesting against ospoltik?

Answer 7

• They went against ospoltik if it meant est. relations with the USSR due to their repressive regime
• This was difficult because many wanted to reunite with the GDR and realign eastwards with democracy in the soviet states
• However they could not accept alignment due to the oppressive USSR