The nature of support for democracy in the FRG, 1949-66

Question 1

How much support was there for the democratic regime?

Answer 1

• It was generally widely supported during the period 1949-66 and moderate, centrist politics were popular

Question 2

How much support was there for the system?

Answer 2

• After devastating defeat that fascism had produced, the majority of people in the FRG supported the new democratic regime.
• Successes it had in economic policy and the support it had from powerful countries e.g. USA helped bolster support for the regime
• Support for the system is indicated in the high turnouts in elections (generally 80-90%) in the FRG
• Lack of support that extremists received

Question 3

How much party political support for the Christian Democrats (CDU/CSU)?

Answer 3

• The CDU and its allied sister party, the Christian Social Union of Bavaria (CSU), dominated politics in Germany in the years after the establishment of the FRG.
• As 50% of West Germany was Catholic, the Catholic roots of the CDU/CSU had widespread appeal and its conservative stance appealed to many Protestants, too.
• Success that the CDU-led governments under Adenauer had with economic policy and living standards int he early years of the FRG => boosted support for the CDU/CSU.
• Party moved politically to the center and supported the creation of a welfare state & social market economy.
• These pro-Western foreign policy, were popular.
• The incorporation of workers’ representatives in management structures in industry also helped to create stability and => support for the CDU/CSU.
• Support for the CDU in elections grew from 31% in 1949 to 50.2% by 1957.

Question 4

How much party political support was there for the Social Democrats (SPD)?

Answer 4

• They had survived underground since the Nazi era, might have been expected to resume their position as the most popular party as they had in Germany since 1912.
• Party did pick up large amounts of support from workers, but the successes of the Christian Democrats and the radicalism of the SPD reduced their appeal
• Meant they struggled to gain enough votes to form a government + in 1959 the SPD gained 32% of the vote
• In response, in 1959, the SPD dropped their anti-clerical policies which were not very popular.
• They also moved away from Marxist politics to adopt a moderate centre-left position
• This party in a good position to profit form growing disillusionment with the CDU/CSU from the mid 1960s
• However, also caused disillusionment with the SPD => fuelled the more radical ‘ new left’ movements