The Creation of the Federal Republic of Germany (1945-49)

Question 1

What happened to Germany after WW2?

Answer 1

• It was split into 4 zones, each one controlled by either Britain, France, the USSR and the USA, but was to be administered as one country
• Berlin, which was in the Soviet zone, was also split into 4 zones

Question 2

How did the Allies run Germany?

Answer 2

• They had an Allied Control Council that represented all of them and oversaw all 4 zones

Question 3

What were the Allies’ 3 main aims when it came to Germany?

Answer 3

• De-Nazification
• Demilitarisation so Germany wouldn’t wage an aggressive war again
• Democratisation

Question 4

Which political parties reappeared, and when?

Answer 4

• The KPD and the SPD
• June 1945

Question 5

What had changed about the SPD and KPD? Give 2 examples for each.

Answer 5

• The KPD was less radical
• They wanted a democratic government and land reform
• The SPD became more left-wing
• They wanted to nationalise banks, land and key industries, and to provide more welfare

Question 6

Which party attempted to unsuccessfully re-establish itself?

Answer 6

• The Centre Party

Question 7

Which new parties were set up?

Answer 7

• The Christian Democratic Union, CDU
• The Christian Social Union of Bavaria, CSU
• The Free Democratic Party, FDP

Question 8

When were the CDU and the CSU set up? What were 2 things they had in common?

Answer 8

• 1945
• They were church-based
• Social welfare was a focus for both of them

Question 9

When was the FDP formed, and how?

Answer 9

• 1947
• All of the liberal parties realised that by having multiple parties with similar aims, like in Weimar, they were splitting their vote and reducing their power
• They therefore formed one party together

Question 10

What were 2 steps taken by the Western powers that caused the separation of Germany?

Answer 10

• In March 1948 Marshall Aid was given to the Western zones, which broke the agreement to have economic unity in all of the zones
• In June 1948 the Deutschmark was introduced as the new currency in the Western zones

Question 11

When did Germany separate, and what did it separate into?

Answer 11

• May 1949: formation of the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG)
• October 1949: formation of the German Democratic Republic (GDR)

Question 12

What was the constitution of the FRG called? When was it ratified?

Answer 12

• The Basic Law
• May 1949

Question 13

What was the purpose of the Basic Law?

Answer 13

• To act as a temporary constitution until Germany was reunited

Question 14

What were 3 main aspects of the Basic Law?

Answer 14

• Equal rights to all Germans regardless of sex, race or religion
• Free speech and the freedom to form unions and other groups
• State education for all (even though private schooling was allowed)

Question 15

Give an example of how the Basic Law was non-democratic.

Answer 15

• It was possible to ban political parties

Question 16

What type of government did Germany have after the war?

Answer 16

• A federal government

Question 17

What were the 2 houses in Germany’s government? Which was the upper house and the lower house?

Answer 17

• The Bundestag, the lower house
• The Bundesrat, the upper house

Question 18

How was it decided who would make up the Bundestag? Give 3 details.

Answer 18

• Secret ballots were held every 4 years
• Half of the seats were allocated to parties through proportional representation, provided that they had over 5% of the vote
• The other half of the seats were given to constituency members elected by ‘first past the post’

Question 19

What did the Bundestag do? Give 2 examples.

Answer 19

• Pass the laws of the country
• Could take control over the country through a vote of no-confidence

Question 20

How was it decided who would make up the Bundesrat?

Answer 20

• They were chosen by representatives of the Länder

Question 21

What was the role of the Bundesrat?

Answer 21

• Assented to or vetoed legislation

Question 22

What was done to prevent the government from abusing its power like under Weimar and the Nazis? Give 3 details.

Answer 22

• A federal constitutional court was empowered to:
• uphold the law
• make sure that the government acted legally
• guarantee basic civil rights, which could be legally suspended under the Weimar Constitution

Question 23

Who was the most important politician according to the Basic Law?

Answer 23

• The chancellor

Question 24

Describe 2 aspects of the chancellor’s position.

Answer 24

• They were only responsible to the Bundestag
• They could only be removed by a ‘constructive’ vote of no confidence in the Bundestag

Question 25

What was a constructive vote of no confidence?

Answer 25

• A vote of no confidence where an alternative party was ready to take power with sufficient support to form a majority in the Bundestag

Question 26

What was done to improve the role of the chancellor? Give 2 examples.

Answer 26

• They were now only responsible to the Bundestag, instead of both the Reichstag and the president
• They could only be removed by a constructive vote of no confidence to ensure stability and continuity, as before they could be dismissed by a simple vote of no confidence and by the president

Question 27

Who was the head of state under the Basic Law?

Answer 27

• The president

Question 28

What were 2 changes made to the role of the president?

Answer 28

• They mostly had a ceremonial role and had very limited powers in the case of an emergency, as opposed to being able to dissolve the Reichstag, appoint and dismiss the government, and pass decrees
• Before they had been elected directly by the people for a 7 year term, and there wasn’t a maximum number of terms
• Under the Basic Law, they were elected by a Federal Convention made up of an equal number of Bundestag and Bundesrat members, for a maximum of 2 five-year terms

Question 29

How were the states governed?

Answer 29

• Each had its own Länder, elected either every 4 or every 5 years

Question 30

How were the Länder protected?

Answer 30

• The federal constitution court could settle disputes between them and the central government

Question 31

Who made up the electorate?

Answer 31

• Men and women 21 and older

Question 32

When did the first elections to the Bundestag take place? What was the turnout?

Answer 32

• August 1949
• 79%

Question 33

What were the results of the first election to the Bundestag?

Answer 33

• The CDU/CSU won with 31% of the vote
• The SPD had won 29% of the vote

Question 34

Who was the first chancellor of the FRG, and which party did he come from?

Answer 34

• Konrad Adenauer
• Leader of the CDU