the Federal Republic of Germany (1945-89) Flashcards
who took administrative control over Germany as soon as WW2 ended
- the Allies: America, Britain, France, Soviet Union
who took control over the 4 zones of occupation
- Allied Control Council
post ww2; _% of housing had been destroyed
- post ww2; 20% of housing had been destroyed
outline the Marshall Plan
- made in 1948
- America’s economic aid for European countries to boost their economy + stop communism spreading to West Europe
- Stalin didn’t allow Eastern countries from receiving this aid
- this aid gave a boost to the G economy + an important boost in morale to the emerging state
outline the creation of the FRG
- created in May 22nd 1949
- Britain, USA + France unified to become the FRG
- it was otherwise known as West Germany
what is article 21
- A21: all political parties must adhere to democratic policies
outline who took over the Government in 1949
- Adenauer
- lasted 1949-63
- was the head of the CDU
- he wanted to establish a stable democracy + to gather as much control as possible from the Allied authorities
outline the Hallstein Doctrine
- formed in 1955
- it refused to recognise East Germany as a separate country
define Ostpolitik
- Ostpolitik = the establishment of friendly relations with east Germany - overturned the 1955 Hallstein Doctrine
who took over the Government in 1969 and for how long did they last and from which party
- Brandt, 1969-74, SPD
who took over the Government in 1974 and for how long did they last and from which party
- Schmidt, 1974-82, SPD
who took over the Government in 1982 and for how long did they last and from which party
-Kohl, 1982-98, CDU
name the 2 chancellors after Adenauer
- Erhard, Kiesinger
under Erhard’s reforms, unemployment fell from _% to _%
- under Erhard’s reforms, unemployment fell from 10.3% to 1.2%
Erhard reduced tax from _% to _%
- Erhard reduced tax from 85% to 18%
by __, Germany was given __ from the Marshall Plan
- by 1951, Germany was given 1.5b from the Marshall Plan
when did FRG join NATO
- 1955
outline the 1967 Economic Stabilisation Law
- allowed for future Gov intervention during economic crisis’ to limit regional spending
when was the recession
- 1966-67
what years were the 2 oil crisis’
- 1973
- 1978
what year was unemployment at its highest
- 1989
the only time the voter turnout was lower than _% was in __
- the only time the voter turnout was lower than 84% was in 1949 (the first election)
in __, the far right political party, socialist Reich party was banned under article _
- in 1952, the far right political party, socialist Reich party was banned under article 21
what did the FRG do in 1957
- signed the Treaty of Rome to become a founding member of the European Economic Community
what are 2 examples of left wing dissent groups + their motive
- APO (Extra Parliamentary Opposition) - the SPD’s policies which underrepresented the left
- SDS (German Socialist Student Union) - human rights + moral issues (e.g. Vietnam war/ nuclear weapon use)
what are 4 reasons for the growth of dissent in the 1960s
- FRG’s growing military involvement in the West
- ‘Year Zero’ principle
- Vietnam War 1955-75
- Economic Recession 1965-66
outline the RAF
- Baader-Meinhof Gang/ Red Army Faction (RAF)
- influenced by Marxist ideas
- carried out series of bombings, assassinations, kidnappings etc
outline the 2 organisations that the Gov set up to combat dissent
- BfV + BND: set up in 1950s to investigate people suspected of going against the basic law
- initially , their role was restricted due to the civil liberties ensured under the Basic Law
- however, in 1968, Gov passed the Emergency Law, allowing the BND to open mail, search homes and monitor phone calls + have wider powers of arrest + detention
big blockbusters rose in popularity in __s
- big blockbusters rose in popularity in 1980s
outline the 50s + guest workers
- during the 1950s, Germany’s economic miracle/ boom under Adenauer needed more labourers
- the return of soldiers, war prisoners, refugees, and migrants from east Germany provided guest workers
in 19__-__, there were attacks from the far right on minority groups - e.g. …
- in 1979-80, there were attacks from the far right on minority groups - e.g. bombing of guest workers accommodation
from _ to the stop of recruitment in _, the number of foreign workers grew from _ to _
- from 1960 to the stop of recruitment in 1973, the number of foreign workers grew from 280,000 to 2.6 million
outline the influential book for reforming the history curriculum
- The Inability to Mourn, 1967; expressed the need for G to face its past
- it encouraged the Lander to include Nazi Germany in the curriculum
what was New German Cinema
- new era of cinema
- represented the unassimilated past of Nazi Germany
outline the 1968 Emergency Law
- in 1968, this law was passed which gave the Govt increased powers of arrest and surveillance; e.g. of telephones
- this went against the basic constitutional rights
a main reason for the increased violence such as terrorism as a form of opposition in the - is …
- a main reason for the increased violence such as terrorism as a form of opposition in the 1970s-80s is to make their voices heard
between - female students increased from 31% to 41%
- between 1970-89 female students increased from 31% to 41%
the revised Marriage and Family Law in _ gave women…
- the revised Marriage and Family Law in 1977 gave women equal rights + shared responsibility in marriage
by _, _% of the Bundestag was women
- by 1989, 15% of the Bundestag was women
outline Germany post WW2
- after Germany surrendered in May 1945, it no longer existed as an independent country, and the central govt had broken down
- many Nazi leaders, such as Hitler and Goebbels, had committed suicide, while others fled + were captured and arrested
- G was now under the control of the Allies
what were the main reasons for the German defeat in 1945
- Germany had engaged in a conflict for which it wasn’t fully prepared for
- the alliance with Mussolini/ Italy wasn’t beneficial
- G failed to defeat the Soviet Union
- the manpower + money from the Allies - esp USA - was significant
outline the Potsdam Conference
- took place in July + August 1945
- the Allies agreed to divide Germany into 4 zones of occupation run each by the 4 countries
- Berlin, the capital of Germany, was also split into 4 zones
- the Allied Control Council (ACC) was set up as a governing body to oversee all zones of occupation + make collective decisions
when were political parties re-established
- June 1945
due to British, American and Soviet bombing, _% of housing had been completely destroyed, and a further _% badly damaged
- due to British, American and Soviet bombing, 20% of housing had been completely destroyed, and a further 30% badly damaged
outline the economic problems after WW2
- housing shortages - many needed temporary accommodation
- severe food shortages
- a lot of infrastructure (e.g. railways, bridges, gas + water facilities) and industries were damaged or had been broken down
- Germany was in huge debt
outline relations between the East and West
- after WW2, the ‘common enemy’ (Nazi Germany) between the UUSR + West had disappeared, and relations rapidly declined + developed into the Cold War
- E + W became increasingly suspicious of each others motives + actions - esp with the movements of nuclear weaponry and the expansion of Soviet influence over Europe - to which resulted in the West’s aggressive ‘containment’ policy
outline the creation of Bizonia
- created in may 1947
- America + Britain combined their ‘zones of occupation’ to create Bizonia
what was the name of the new currency of Bizonia
- Deutschmark
outline the Deutschmark
- introduced in June 1948
- created for the Western controlled zones of Germany to help develop the economy
what was the aftermath of the creation of the Deutschmark
- Stalin responded to the creation of the Deutschmark in 1948 by blockading Berlin, closing transport and communication links to the city
- America responded to the blockade by airlifting supplies into the Western zones, which continued for 11 months until Stalin lifted the blockade in May 1949
- shortly after this, France agreed to join Bizonia
when was East Germany officially established
- October 7th 1949
- the German Democratic Republic (East Germany/ GDR) was officially announced as a new nation + created their constitution
- the SED (KPD+SPD) party was the most significant party in the GDR
outline Bizonia’s Parliamentary Council
- set up in Sept 1948
- the Parliamentary Council was created to create a new constitution/ Basic Law for West Germany
outline evidence that the West was responsible for the division of Germany into East + West
- creation of Bizonia May 1948
- isolating USSR from economic relief - created an economically competitive sphere
- excluded USSR - Bizonia, Parliamentary Council
outline evidence that the East was responsible for the division of Germany into East + West
- USSR leaving ACC in May 1947
- isolation + break down of communication - leaving ACC, disallowing East Euro countries from Marshall Aid, blockade
- military responses - Berlin blockade
- soviet/ Communist expansion in EE - scares West
outline differences of the FRG government from the Weimar gov
- less power given to President - no Article 48
- President elected by representative convention (proportional representation + first past the post)
- can no longer suspend rights - no Article 21
- less extreme parties due to Article 21 (anti-democratic parties removed)
- President cant dismiss Chancellor
outline similarities of the FRG government from the Weimar gov
- Adenauer kept ex-Nazis in civil services (right wing people kept in institutions like army, judiciary in WG after Imperial G)
- both had Lander
- both had constitutions that upheld democratic rights
- both democratic govts with power vested in people + were coalition govts
- both democracies enshrined in their constitution
- both have president + chancellor
- both are federal systems (division of power between central + regional govts)
- both are republics (w/o monarchs)
name 3 key parties of the FRG
- FDP (Liberals)
- CDU (Christian led - RW)
- KPD (Communists)
when + what were the results of the first election
- took place in August 1949
- CDU/CSU: won 31% of votes
- SPD: 30%
- FDP: 12%
- Adenauer, leader of the CDU, was the 1st FRG chancellor
outline de-Nazification
- after WW2, there were still former Nazis in leadership roles and with political power
- the Allies wanted to remove all Nazis from positions in society, but it was impractical
- they thus decided to deal with de-Nazification on a case-by-case basis - penalties were harsh
outline evidence that de-Nazification was successful
- Allies banned all ex-Nazis from leading positions of power - by late 1946, nearly 250,000 ex-Nazis were imprisoned
- Nuremberg Trials: was an international court which focused on the war crimes of Nazis - of which many were sentenced to death, Goering committed suicide the night before the 1st trial
- thousands of Germans were forced to visit concentration camps + assist with burials to confront their guilt
outline evidence that de-Nazification was a failure
- many leading Nazis escaped punishment because they were useful in an anti-communist role as well as through their connections
- the size of the task was too much for the Allies who were understaffed
- after 1948, the Allies’ interest moved away from de-Nazification to containing Communism/ the Cold War
outline the Basic Law of the FRG
- established in May 1949
- had democratic principles like equal rights to all, free speech, state education
- Article 20 + 21 upheld this
outline 3 prominent Articles in the Basic Law
- Article 20: FRG is democratic, state authority is derived from the people + shall be exercised by the people through elections
- Article 21: political parties must conform to democratic principles. those that undermine democracy will be abolished
- Article 131: introduced in 1951, gave former Nazi civil servants the right to go back to their former jobs
name the 5 tiers of the structure of the FRG govt
1) President
2) Chancellor
3) Bundestag
4) Bundestrat
5) electoral system
outline the first 2/5 tiers of the structure of the FRG government
1) President: chosen by representative convention, limited + symbolic powers
2) Chancellor: appointed by President with parliamentary approval - had to have parliamentary support
outline the last 3/5 tiers of the structure of the FRG government
3) Bundestag: PLT passed laws, approved the Chancellor
4) Bundestrat: formed laws, made up of Lander leaders
5) electoral system: ‘representative democracy’ combination of proportional representation + first past the post to elect Bundestag - parties had to have 5% of the vote to be represented
what were the economic problems facing Adenauer’s govt in 1949
- the economy still faced a recession in 1949-50
- unemployment rose to 13%
what were the political problems facing Adenauer’s govt in 1949
- FRG was still under Western control + control of the Occupation Statute
- Allies still had to approve many aspects of Govt
what were the social problems facing Adenauer’s govt in 1949
- rebuilding Germany (infrastructure, houses) after the war
outline 4 evidences of Adenauer creating instability
- his leadership was known as a ‘Chancellor democracy’, suggesting he had more power than the Basic Law allowed
- he was criticised for his authoritarian style leadership + his Atlantacist (ties w/ West) approach
- he allowed ex-Nazis to work in the civil service through the added Article 131 in 1951 + denounced de-Nazification (Year Zero approach)
- Der Spiegel incident in 1962
outline 5 evidences of Adenauer creating stability
- his forceful personality kept FRG coalitions together until 1957 when the CDU/CSU won a majority
- Adenauer + Erhard’s (Econ Minister)’s free market economy helped create social harmony + economic growth - called the Economic Miracle
- Adenauer pushed for Germany’s membership in NATO (joined in 1955), as well as creation of the ECSC + joining of EEC which furthered Western integration
- he built 4 million new homes for Germans + helped refugees to integrate into the FRG
- he worked to exclude political opposition (esp LW) - exercised Article 21
what were Adenauer’s aims
- unification with the GDR without making concessions for Communism
- western integration + becoming a strong economic partner with the West
- to raise living standards, help the poor + refugees
- to create economic stability using a ‘social market’ policy
name 4 examples of Adenauer’s authoritarian style leadership + approach
- he worked to limit free speech which caused concern about a shift away from democracy/ the Basic Law;
- e.g. his efforts to create a Gov controlled news station (but was rules unconstitutional by Supreme Court in 1961)
- e.g. Adenauer supporting the arrest of journalists who had been critical of the magazine Der Spiegel which criticised the performance of West G troops in NATO exercises
- he appointed weak ministers whom he treated as mere advisers + controlled
outline the Berlin Wall
- the Berlin Wall was a barrier constructed overnight on 12th August 1961
- it was after the leader of the East German Communist Party, Ulbricht, ordered a barricade to stop East Germans leaving
what did Adenauer do to further Western Integration
- he formed the European Economic Community (EEC) in 1957 which strengthened links with France
which law compensated Jews
- the Passed Restitution laws in 1953 compensated Jews economically
- was passed under Adenaur
name an example of Erhard being undemocratic
- Erhard tried to introduce emergency laws to search phones but was blocked by the SPD
- however, by 1968, this law was approved by the SPD due to increasing opposition from extremist parties
which Chancellor’s followed the policy of Ostpolitik
- Kiesinger, Brandt, Schmidt and Kohl
what was the general pattern of political stability in the 1960s
- from 1969 onwards there was less political stability + more opposition from extremist parties which emerged in the late 1960s
outline 3 evidences of Brandt bringing stability as Chancellor
- followed Ostpolitik to improve relations with Poland + USSR - this was also known as ‘change through convergence’ (normalising relations w/ East without threatening peace of Euro) - e.g. in 1974, the 2 countries exchanged diplomats (formally recognised each other)
- he represented a new era for politicians - e.g. dropped to his knees on visit to Warsaw ghetto memorial
- in 1971 was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize
- helped end the 1966-67 Recession
outline 3 evidences of Schmidt bringing stability as Chancellor
- he sought reconciliation with USSR controlled countries of EE whilst maintaining West Germany’s partnership with the USA
- showed his ability to deal with opposition - e.g. terrorism of Red Army Faction (RAF)
- continued Brandt’s policies - was a stable transition between them in 1974
outline 4 evidences of Brandt bringing instability as Chancellor
- parties like CDU + FDP opposed Brandt’s aim of German unification - they tried to remove him with a vote of no confidence in 1972 (he stayed)
- was opposition to his liberal measures on homosexuality + reducing voting age
- early 1970s; was inflation + high gov spending and growing threat of terrorism
- spy incident; a close advisor of Brandt, Guillaume, was arrested for spying on the GDR in 1974 - led to Brandt’s resignation
outline 4 evidences of Kohl bringing stability as Chancellor
- he followed Ostpolitik - a supported policy
- his main focus was on stability due to threats of terrorism
- he wanted reunification with the GDR which happened in 1989 - was the 1st Chancellor of a united Germany
- reduced govt spending - but still spent highly on welfare
outline 3 evidences of Schmidt bringing instability as Chancellor
- accused of introducing RW economic measures - e.g. cutting welfare
- faced growing opposition for his failure to push through economic policies as her faced opposition from The Greens (a new party)
- was forced to resign in 1982 due to a vote of no confidence
outline 4 evidences of Kohl bringing instability as Chancellor
- relations with Eastern European countries worsened slightly
- opposition for Green Party over environmental issues
- faced corruption charges - e.g. Flick Affair (CDU party funding scandal)
outline the problems facing + aims of Erhard’s economic reforms 1949-63
- Erhard aimed for a social market economy in which businesses could develop independently but the State monitored the economy + protected the vulnerable
- problems: hyperinflation, black markets, no trade, price controls
what measures did Erhard take in his economic reforms 1949-63
- Investment Aid Law 1952: Gov gave money to businesses to invest
- work creation schemes
- tax reduced from 85% to 18%
- changed currency from Deutschmark to Reichsmark
- abolished rationing
- fixed wages
- Equalisation of Burdens Act 1952: compensated those who’d lost greatly in WW2
outline the successes of Erhard’s economic reforms 1949-63
- unemployment fell from 10% to 1%
- industrial output increased by 50%
- black market disappeared
- people had more of a disposable income
- incomes rose
- new industrial centres - e.g. Volkswagen plant
- car production in 1959 was 4.5x greater than in 1950
- steel production doubled
outline the failures of Erhard’s economic reforms 1949-63
- initially unemployment rates rose
- the social market economy was opposed by Britain as they feared exploitation of German workers
- the SME was also opposed by Industrialists as it broke up cartels + abandoned price fixing
by _, Germany was given _ of the _ Plan
- by 1951, Germany was given 1.5bn of the Marshall Plan
outline the Korean War + its impact
- in 1950, the Korean War sparked a need for German war supplies
- the FRG’s industrial goods, chemicals, steel were in greater demand - boosted the economy
outline new investments + its impact
- by 1950s, many industries had recovered enough to invest in more efficient factories + equipment - this kept prices low for high quality
- the reputation of German goods improved + exports grew
- businesses could invest more + employ more workers
outline the influx of refugees + its impact
- the influx of refugees (most from East G) post WW2 gave businesses many ‘guest workers’ to hire
- 3.6 million refugees came from East Germany who were young, skilled and highly educated + provided an efficient workforce
- this large pool of workers kept wages low + production high
when was the economic recession
- 1966-67
outline the Recession 1966-67
- trade reduced + unemployment increased
- guest workers left Germany
- prices had risen by 4% by 1966
- Govt spending on welfare was very high - by 1970, it was 115.9 million
in _, there were _ guest workers, by _ there were only _
- in 1966, there were 1.3 million guest workers, by 1967 there were only 990,000
what were the measures taken for the Recession in 1966-67
- Erhard cut spending by 10%
- were disagreements between parties in the coalition - led to FDP withdrawing, Erhard resigned in 1966
- Grand Coalition under Kiesinger was more successful in dealing with the recession
- new Economics Minister Schiller increased Gov intervention in the economy, planning and control
- subsidies given to agriculture + coal industry
- Schiller introduced a planned economy (5 year plan)
- introduced the 1967 Economic Stabilisation Law (allowed gov intervention in econ crisis’)
- in 1968, a provision added to the Basic Law allowed Federal Gov to move money between Lander to provide welfare spending
- the recession fell to Brandt’s gov (1969-74) to end it - Brandt revalued the Deutschmark which made exports more expensive, but good quality exports boosted the economy
outline the success of the measures taken for the 1966-67 Recession
- by 1969, inflation had fallen to 1.5%
- BUT; the Grand Coalition failed to completely solve the recession - it fell to Brandt’s gov to help end the recession who were successful
outline the Oil Crises
- there were 2 oil crisis’ in 1973 + 1978
- the rise in cost of the Arabian oil due to the outbreak of the Arab-Israeli war sent FRG into an oil crisis as it rgot 40% of its fuel from Arab oil
outline Brandt’s social reforms
- Brandt increased spending on social welfare from 25% to 33%
- 33% inc in expenditure on education
- pensions rose by 5%
- social housing budget inc by 36%
how were the Oil Crisis’ (1973+78) dealt with
- Schmidt allowed big firms to merge with smaller ones
- was a ban on recruiting guest workers in 1973
- put more money + research into nuclear energy to rely less on oil
- measures were introduced to reduce oil consumption; ‘Car-free Sundays’, propaganda encouraging people to use energy-saving tactics in homes + industries, didn’t subsidise oil prices
- public spending was cut + income tax raised in 1975
outline the success of the measures for the Oil Crisis’ (1973+78)
- oil consumption dropped due to Gov measures which helped G recover quicker
- cutbacks in oil was encouraged + Germany converted to new fuels
what were the challenges of the 1980s
- Kohl wanted a social market economy
- the gap between the richest + poorest widened
- hostility towards foreign workers increased
- prices began to rise with inflation
- unemployment was 1.7 million in 1981
- growth in the economy shrunk
how did the gov deal with the challenges of the 80s
- Schmidt’s Gov cut spending on welfare + introduced tax cuts
- Kohl’s Gov cut public spending more fiercely - further cuts to public spending;
- e.g. Kohl cut maternity benefits, reduced retirement age to 58
- subsidised farming + steel industries
- privatisation of some industries
outline the extent of success of the gov measures for challenges in the 1980s
- by 1989, unemployment was at its lowest
- economic growth rose once again
- FRG became the driver of the EEC in economic development
- privatisation of some industries wasn’t effective, as state run airlines like Lufthansa worked well
outline evidence of FRG’s European integration
- joining the IMF 1952 (oversees stability of world currencies)
- FRG joins NATO in 1955
- receiving US loans (Marshall Plan 1955)
- FRG signed Treaty of Rome/ founded the EEC 1957
- Franco-German Friendship Treaty Jan 1963
_% of homes had a fridge by _
- 63% of homes had a fridge by 1963
- showed economic prosperity/ higher living standards
in the _, _% of all households owned _% of FRG’s wealth
- in the 1960s, 1% of all households owned 35% of FRG’s wealth
- social inequality deepening
outline 4 evidences of support for democracy in the FRG
- turnout for elections was high; suggesting maj of population wanted to participate in the democratic process - Britain’s electoral turnout was always lower
- people demonstrated against changes to Gov that would restrict democracy + civil rights held by Basic Law - e.g. 1967 Economic Stabilisation Law, shift to Ostpolitik (alliance w/ oppressive regime)
- in the 1960s, FRG’s younger generation became impatient with the ‘year zero’ policy + protested against the Gov failings in the de-Nazification program
- 1960s survey showed the maj of Germans felt that democracy was the best form of Gov in the FRG
outline evidence of lack of support for democracy in the FRG
- the 1960s saw the rise of RW movements - e.g. the neo-Nazi NPD founded in 1964, which gained representation/ support in several local Lander Parliaments
- many former Nazi jurists were absorbed back into the judicial system - in some counties, 95% of all jurists were former Nazis
- opinion polls agreeing that de-Nazification was necessary fell to under 1/4 in 1951
who were the main opposition groups in the 1950s
- political parties;
- KPD (Communist’s)
- SPD (Socialists)
- Socialist Reich Party
why was there opposition groups in the 1950s + the nature of it
- KPD organized communist demonstrations in German cities
- political parties posed opposition within the Bundestag
- opposition was due to;
- KPD: wanted German socialism, not capitalism + criticised Adenauer’s authoritarian gov + econ policies
- SPD: opposed A’s Atlanticist policies, his Year Zero Approach, authoritarian gov
- Socialist Reich Party: criticised FRG dependence on on the West
how was opposition in the 1950s dealt with
- in 1952, Reich Socialist Party (+KPD in 1956) were banned under Article 21
- BND + BfV was set up to investigate potential opposition against Basic Law
- in 1953, changes to vote allocations made it harder for smaller parties to gain a seat
- use of police to disband KPD protests
who were the main opposition groups in the 1960s
- there was mostly youth opposition from the younger gen from the post war baby boom;
- mostly left wing student groups, the APO (Extra-Parliamentary Opposition), SDS (student wing of SPD)
why was there opposition groups in the 1960s + the nature of it
- these youth groups protested against;
- failure of de-Nazification/ Year Zero which helped Adenauer to rebuild civil service + army - they wanted to confront the past - e.g. their slogan, ‘What did you do in the war Daddy?’
- the FRG’s military involvement with the West through NATO and the building + storing of nuclear weapons
- opposed to the USA’s repressive Vietnam War (1954-75)
- there were also a rise in RW movements, e.g. the neo-Nazi NPD, founded in 1964, gaining representation in Lander PLTs
- these groups were more active, violent and youth centred by both extreme Left + Right
how was opposition in the 1960s dealt with
- the 1968 Emergency Law: allowed Govt to investigate + spy on opposition groups
- were clashes with Police
- gov used the BfV + BND
who were the main opposition groups in the 1970s
- Baader Meinhoff/ Red Army Faction (RAF)
- Black September - anti-fascist/ Western groups
why was there opposition groups in the 1970s + the nature of it
- these groups opposed authoritarian regimes comparable to the Nazis, failed de-Nazification, Western integration
- e.g. their violation of Iran’s human rights + Vietnam War (1955-75)
- these groups were Terrorists - e.g. Baader Meinhoff gang bombing
- the Gov restricted many protests + groups’ freedoms to protest via emergency laws + police control
how was opposition in the 1970s dealt with
- gov cracked down on terrorism
- the employment ban restricted employment in Gov + was initially aimed as political parties which posed a threat to democracy - e.g. KPD
- imprisonment of leaders of opp groups - e.g. Baader Meinhoff
- Govt used the BND + BfV whose powers were extended from the 1968 Emergency Law
- the BND was more successful after the est of BEFA, which gave the BND centralized access to all police info
- after Black September in 1972, the GSG-9 was est as a special operations unit to act against terrorists - it operated world wide
outline the Communist demonstration
- in 1953, approx 6,000 communists clashed with the police, who used water cannons to disperse the marchers
- this took place in Munich
why was there a lack of opposition in the 1950s
- there was a general lack of opposition because;
- Basic Law limited opp - e.g. parties were banned, voting allocations changed for less representation of extremist parties
- there were wider issues to focus on: e.g. rebuilding + establishing West Germany, economy, infrastructure, creating Gov, Euro integration
- A’s ‘chancellor democracy’ ensured coalitions were cohesive + mostly ensured political stability
outline the Treaty of Rome
- the Treaty of Rome was passed in March 1957
- in this, the FRG became one of the founding members of the EEC (European Economic Community)
- strengthened FRG’s ties with Europe/ the West
outline the APO
- the Extra Parliamentary Opposition (APO) was created in the mid 60s due to;
- growing distrust from youth for the established, conservative Gov, disbanding of the KPD + other LW parties, the reduced radicalism of the SPD/ general lack of LW rep in Bundestag
- the economic recession of 1965-66 had enabled to collapse of Erhard’s CDU gov + rise of coalition between the CDU + SPD
outline the SDS
- the SDS/ the more radical student wing of the SPD carried out radical protests in the 60s, + violent terrorism in the 70s
- this wasn’t always directed as Bundestag, but also human rights/ moral issues - e.g. the Vietnam war + nuclear weapons + former Nazis holding office
- 1967: during a demonstration against the human rights violations in Iran, conflict w/ Police escalated, resulting in the shooting of a student, Benno Ohnesorg
- SDS took part in a major demonstration against the Emergency Law in 1968
outline 2 examples of more extreme protest in the 1970s
Black September:
- in Sept 1972 during the Munich Olympic Games, Black September Palestinian Guerrillas attacked the quarters of the Israeli team, killing 2 athletes + taking 9 hostage
- they demanded the release of the Baader Meinhoff Gang leaders + prisoners’ held in Israeli jails
Kommune I:
- also faced imprisonment when they tried to bomb the motorcade containing US President Nixon on a state visit to the FRG in 1969
- shows how protest became more extreme in the 1970s/ late 60s
outline the Baader Meinhoff Gang
- also known as Red Army Faction/ RAF, was set up in 1970
- a public poll in 1970 showed that 1 in 5 Germans felt some sympathy for the RAF
- they engaged in a series of bombings, assassinations, kidnappings, bank robberies + shoot-outs with Police
- their first act was in May 1970 when they attacked the Dahlem Institute for Social Research
- by end of 1970, most RAF leaders were imprisoned + many lawyers + judges’ homes were bombed who were involved in the gang members’ prison trials
- they robbed banks in 1970-82 + bombed army headquarters, police stations etc
- by 1975, all of the RAF were arrested
- they represented the height of political protest, after which it died down
why did political dissent become more extreme in the 1960s/ 70s
- gov methods of control: using ‘Fascist’ methods; Emergency Law 1968, use of BND + BfV - resorted to terrorism to make their voices heard
- rise of dissatisfied youth who began to question human rights + moral issues; e.g. failed de-Nazification, Vietnam War, association w/ West + their imperialism
- FRG’s association w/ the West + their imperialism
- lack of LW representation in politics
- inc polarisation/ instability of politics: weakness of FRG govs, split of CDU
outline the aims of FRG culture
- to regain their image as leaders of European culture after the war
- to remove Nazi control + reintroduce cultural experimentation
- influenced by democracy but also a desire to remember traditional German culture
what were the influences of FRG culture
- international/ cosmopolitan: esp from West Europe - e.g. blue jeans, chewing gum, Coca Cola, rock n roll
- Allied Occupation Council 1945-49
- wider issues + social movements such as CND, Vietnam War, Holocaust
- de-Nazification: Nazi controls on culture were removed, ‘degenerate’ culture was reintroduced, free press re-established
- New German Cinema: younger film makers developed new styles + themes of film from the 1960s - focused on unassimilated past of Germany + social issues of FRG
outline the generational tensions in FRG culture
- tensions over Year Zero approach + younger gen wanting to confront Germany’s past
- older gen wanted more tradition culture + a comfortable consumerist lifestyle - younger gen wanted less consumerism
- BUT not all older gen wanted to forget Holocaust - e.g. The Inability to Mourn reformed school curriculum
- not al culture divided generations - all ages were drawn to social movements that anted to change society
outline Film in FRG culture
- cinema attendance fell in 1956-69
- many films were very traditional + aimed at escapism with Alpine settings
- helped create a regional culture in contrast to Nazi nationalistic ones
- New Cinema Movement in 1960s; focused on Germanys past + present social problems and focused on artistic excellence - e.g. Torless examined the persecution of Jews
- Hollywood blockbusters in the 1980s increased cinema attendance
outline Literature in FRG culture
- new authors like Gunter Grass, who was a former SS member, wrote The Tin Drum in 1959
- The Clown was criticised by the press for its negative portrayal of the Catholic church + CDU party
- Heinrich Boll received a Nobel Peace Prize for Literature in 1972
- BUT most people still read thrillers + romance - not highbrow books
outline Sport in FRG culture
- football become a national sport + helped give West Germany a sense of identity
- 1954 + 1974 won FIFA World Cup - helped raise German pride
outline the attitudes toward FRG culture
- to an extent, traditional German culture + class divisions were weakened in the 1960s + 70s, BUT polls also showed that young people shared their parents’ values
- some people were worried about Hooligans (outcasted young troublemaker), BUT most German youth embraced other youth groups like Boy Scouts or German Youth Ring
- despite student protest movement + terrorism of the 60s + 70s, most young people were integrated into society + most rebellion was just generational
outline Music in FRG culture
- influenced by USA - e.g. Rock n Roll
- traditional German music, ‘Wagner’ didn’t stay around
outline the tasks of de-Nazification
- removing Nazis from positions of power
- re-establishing a free press
- Year Zaro approach vs confrontation of history
- adopting Western culture
- changing the curriculum, government, culture etc
- teaching democratic values
what were the 2 main reasons for why the FRG recruited guest workers
1) in the 50s, Germany experienced an ‘economic miracle’ + needed labourers for the rapidly growing West German econ. the 4.7 million refugees, 4 million war prisoners, and the 1.8 million migrants from East G ensures a constant supply of new workers
2) FRG saw the recruitment of foreign workers as a form of developmental aid - it was hoped guest workers would learn useful skills in Germany, which could help them build their own countries after returning home
outline evidence of tolerance of foreign workers in 1950s + 60s
- Gov guaranteed foreign workers the same wages
- Labour recruitment treaties were signed with diff countries (e.g. Italy, Spain, Greece)
- the Federal Office for Labour Recruitment ran offices in the countries it had treaties with
- 25% of workers in Germany in 1964 had been living in the FRG for at least 3 years
- 1964: Theodore Blank’s speech
- Unions helped FWs to adjust to work (less helpful with long term assimilation) + church organisations gave support to FWs
what did Theodore Blank say about guest workers
- in 1964, Theodore Blank, the Minister for Labour, made a speech to mark the occasion of the millionth guest worker arriving in the FRG + said that FWs had been the foundation of Germany’s success
- he assured that FWs would remain important as Germany’s labour pool was likely to continue shrinking - only 22% of the population was under 15yrs
- Blank assured FWs would receive welfare + child benefits if they brought their families over
outline evidence of intolerance of foreign workers in 1950s + 60s
- 50s: Trade Unions disliked the idea of FWs as they were concerned they decrease wages, accept worse working conditions and thus undercut German workers - Gov agreed to give German workers preference when hiring
- employers provided basic accommodation for FWs which were often outside downs/ near factories which cut them off from local community
- FWs were known as GWs, underlining the German attitude of seeing them as guests, whose stay would be temporary
- there was no intention to give FWs citizenship rights as citizenship was defined by blood in the Basic Law - not residence
- the recession 1966-67 produced significant hostility to FWs, esp those who were assimilated - e.g. landlord refused to take GWs as tenants - led to FWs living in poorest areas
outline evidence of tolerance of foreign workers in 1970s + 80s
- 1975: Gov gave FWs’ children the same benefits as other children due to the rise in unemployed FWs
- 1977: the ban on employing FWs in Germany was lifted
- 1978: the 1st Federal Commissioner for Foreigners’ Affairs was appointed by Schmidt to work for the rights of FWs + promote their integration
- a clear set of rules for applying for unrestricted residence (but not citizenship) was created
- as stated in the Basic Law, Gov had to provide a democratic education for all - Gov tried to persuade Lander to provide mixed-culture learning groups of classes of Germans + the children of FWs
outline evidence of intolerance of foreign workers in 1970s + 80s
- 1970s: with the oil crises’ + sudden rise in unemployment, FWs were again pressured to leave jobs + Germany
- Nov 1973: Gov put a ban on hiring FWs - the number of FWs fell to under 2 million
- 60% of foreign children in schools in 1983 were Muslim, but most Muslim FWs’ children started school at 6, with no preschool or language help + preschools were largely run by Christian schools
- many groups of EMs set up their own national schools because their children weren’t learning in state schools - this didn’t help the integration of minorities - e.g. Koran (Muslim) schools attracted hostility
- FW’s children weren’t citizens + were expected to return home after the age of 18
- crime rates were higher among FW children - 70% of them failed to pass the Abitur exam + more than 50% of FW teens were unemployed
- there were far right attacks on minority groups - e.g. 6 bombings o Jewish memorials + FW accommodation
the number of foreign children in schools rose from _ in _ to almost _ in _
- the number of foreign children in schools rose from 165,000 in 1976 to almost 200,000 in 1963
outline Ethnic Associations
- foreign workers often belonged to Ethnic Associations - groups of people who came from the same country as guest workers
- West Germans were divided over these organisations; some felt it helped FWs assimilate (learn the language + understand cultural differences)
- other West Germans felt these associations slowed or stopped newcomers from integrating into West German life
_% of ex-Nazi teachers were allowed back into teaching in _
- 85% of ex-Nazi teachers were allowed back into teaching in Bavaria
outline the Dusseldorf Agreement
- passed in 1955
- this agreement standardised education across all of Germany
outline evidence of equality of women in employment in the FRG
- a shortage of labour in the 1950s saw W’s employment increase from 44% in 1950 to 50% by 1970
- post WW2, women helped rebuild the G economy due to the loss of many able-bodied men - e.g. clearing rubble (‘Rubble Women’), office work
- between 1970-89, female students increased from 31% to 41%
outline evidence of inequality of women in employment in the FRG
- the Minister for Family Affairs, Josef Wuermeling, argued in 1961 that working mothers was a ‘forced evil’
- W’s pay for full time employment was 1/3 lower than that of M
- few W were in managerial roles - e.g. 1/2 of W were teachers, but only 20% were principals
- the FRG turned to foreign workers to satisfy its booming economy - W became homemakers + largely withdrew from employment
in a _ survey, _% of men and _% of women believed that a man’s career was more important than his wife’s + _% of men + women believed that men should work and women should care for the home
- in a 1982 survey, 50% of men and 54% of women believed that a man’s career was more important than his wife’s + 70% of men + women believed that men should work and women should care for the home
outline evidence of equality of women in family in the FRG
- in 1968, the Action Council for Women’s Liberation was set up - it worked to set up day-care centres for children so that W could work
- the divorce rate rose from 50,000 in 1960 to 120,000 by 1990 - due to 1977 divorce law
- 1953: a Ministry for Family Affairs provided wives + mothers with financial benefits
- the Marriage and Family Law was revised in 1977 to give W equal rights + shared responsibility in marriage
- after WW2, despite the shortage of men to make marriage possible for many women, the traditional family became society’s ideal
outline evidence of inequality of women in family in the FRG
- by 1989, the roles of married W were defined by family life - gave mothers a high status + placed emphasis on having children
- the Kinder Kuche Kirche ideology was still prevalent + church influence which opposed pro-abortion campaigns
outline evidence of equality of women in politics + law in the FRG
- the Civil Code (1900) was overturned in 1977 which stated that W could only work if it didn’t interfere with their role as wife + mother
- politicians recognised the need to revise the Civil Code (1900) - but didn’t happen until 1958 - before this W still needed their husbands permission to go to work
- Article 3 of the Basic Law guaranteed equality for all
- 1977 Marriage + Family Law: granted W equal rights in marriage + permission to work even if it interfered w/ role as wife/ mother
outline evidence of equality of women’s organisations in the FRG
- women’s liberation movements were active in the 60s + 70s and sought to overturn society’s established role of women as the homemaker + abortion rights
- radical W’s organisations worked to improve abortion rights - e.g. targeted paragraph 218 of the German Penal Code (1871) which made it a crime for a W to seek an abortion on non-medical grounds
outline evidence of inequality of women in politics + law in the FRG
- the Basic Law explicitly discriminated against women
- e.g. the 1950 provisional Federal Republic Law said that female public officials must be celibate
- few W were involved in politics - e.g. there were only 4 women on the Parliamentary Council which drew up the Basic Law in 1949
- in the early 1950s, W could be dismissed from the civil service when they married
- W were only able to qualify for admission into universities in the 1980s
- there were only 4 women on the parliamentary council which created the Basic Law for the FRG in 1949
women only made up _% of the Bundestag in _ and _% in _
- women only made up 5.8% of the Bundestag in 1972 and 15.4% in 1987
outline evidence of inequality of women’s organisations in the FRG
- unlike other countries at the time (e.g. UK + USA), there was no development of W’s groups that focused on campaigning for progress in quality in the workplace + laws
when was abortion made legal in FRG
- 1992
how did the Allies try to prevent Germany from starting another war
- war-related industries were banned/ restricted
- their economic recovery was restricted through taking reparations in equipment + machinery, dismantling factories
car production was _ greater in _ than it was in _
- car production was 4x greater in 1959 than it was in 1950
_ of all houses had been bombed + _ of existing housing was damaged
- 1/5 of all houses had been bombed + 1/3 of existing housing was damaged
how did the FRG Gov raise living standards after WW2
- Ministry of Housing was established to oversee re-building
- rent prices were frozen
- the building industry was given tax concessions to encourage building
- housing associations were set up to build homes
outline the increased living standard between 1949-89
- by 1971, 96% of new homes had central heating
- incomes continued to rise
- the avg size of houses rose
- number of new homes built - 1971 was 553,000
- BUT, not everyone had a rise of standard of living as social inequalities were deepening
how did political parties overcome problems faced by parties in the Weimar Republic
- faith-based and Liberal political parties negotiated to create single parties in 1947 - e.g. most faith based parties joined Christian Democratic Union
- they drew on experience from the Weimar Gov as they learnt that having a large number of parties with similar aims with greatly divided votes restricted the power of each party
why did the CDU become increasingly divided + when
- in the 1960s
- the CDU/CSU was splitting between ‘Atlanticists’ (wanted to work with the West - esp USA + UK) and the ‘Gaulists’ (who were willing to work with France, but wanted to cooperate with East Germany)
what happened during Kiesinger’s chancellorship (1966-69)
- was rising opposition which pushed the Gov to be more repressive - e.g. the 1968 Emergency Law
- shift towards the policy of Ostpolitik - rejecting the Hallstein Doctrine, working with the GDR
from _ to the stop on recruitment in _, the number of foreign workers grew from _ to _
- from 1960 to the stop on recruitment in 1973, the number of foreign workers grew from 280,000 to 2.6 million
outline de-Nazification in education in the FRG
- FRG temporarily shut all schools to de-Nazify the curriculum + staff
- Western Allies couldn’t agree on a common educational policy
- teachers were vetted to identify Nazis teaching universities + teacher training institutes
outline the success of de-Nazification in education in the FRG
- the division of West G into 4 zones + the ‘Year Zero’ ideology in the early years limited the progress the Allies made to de-Nazify the German education system
- by 1947, more than 85% of school teachers in Bavaria who had lost their jobs due to de-Nazification were back at work
outline the structure of the education system in West Germany
- under the Basic Law, the Lander remained responsible for educational + cultural policy - this varied education experiences across Germany
- the Lander commission failed to agree on any educational polices - Brandt’s Gov’s restructuring didn’t happen
- state provided free education up to end of secondary school, after which there is Gymnasium + continued secondary school
- Universities: the Federal Education Promotion Act 1971 encouraged WC students to attend uni through state loans
what did the FRG curriculum consist of
- educational authorities continued to use the curriculum + teaching of the Weimar years
- curriculums varied depending on Lander
- was debated surrounding if the recent German history should be taught - it wasn’t - history focused on European, not German, history
- following Mitscherlich’s The Inability to Mourn in 1967, some Lander reformed their history curriculum to include Nazi G
