The role of Adenauer

Question 1

What was Adenauer criticised for?

Answer 1

Appointing weak ministers who he treated as political advisors rather than equals

Question 2

What was his leadership regarded as?

Answer 2

‘Chancellor democracy’- suggesting he had more power than basic law allowed for

Question 3

What was a consequence of Adenauer’s political moves (removing parties/ challenges)?

Answer 3

Although stabilising, it resulted in a three party house with shifting coalitions. Some saw this as a stability that went against the democratic spirit of basic law.

Question 4

What was a benefit of Adenauers forceful management of the Bundestag?

Answer 4

He kept coalitions working together until 1957 when the CDU/CSU won a majority.

Question 5

What did Adenauer pursue in his domestic and foreign policy?

Answer 5

He wanted to unite Germany and work for closer European integration although members of the SPD argued this would halt chances of re-unification.

Question 6

When did Adenauer use article 21?

Answer 6

-1952 extreme right wing socialist reich party banned
-1956 the KPD was banned

Question 7

What did critics in the SPD and FDP object to?

Answer 7

Adenauers forceful management of the Bundestag and his Atlanticist approach to foreign policy

Question 8

How did Adenauer work to exclude left wing political opposition?

Answer 8

He changed voter allocations in 1953 and 1957 to make it increasingly difficult for small parties to gain representation in the Bundestag

Question 9

What was the year-zero approach adopted by A?

Answer 9

He denounced de-nazification preferring to integrate ex Nazis into post-war Germany; he allowed too many ex-Nazis into his government in his haste to build a regional and federal civil service

Question 10

How did A argue it was fair to employ ex-Nazis?

Answer 10

in 1939 all government workers had to join the Nazis or lose their jobs. Thus A argued that it was fair to employ ex nazis as the only way to establish an effective civil service

Question 11

What did a Bundestag report reveal? When was it?

Answer 11

A Bundestag report revealed 4 ex-Nazi’s working in the foreign ministry, saying that this could damage the FRG’s reputation abroad. (1952)

Question 12

Who did Adenauer refuse to sack?

Answer 12

His state secretary- Hans Globke, who had drafted anti-semitic laws

Question 13

How was Adenauer’s indifference to Germany re-unification elucidated in 1961?

Answer 13

He didn’t speak out about the building of the Berlin Wall, he was criticised for this BUT, ultimately the wall eased tensions

Question 14

Describe the state of the FRG in 1961

Answer 14

1961- A stable prosperous state at the heart of Europe

Question 15

What was the effect of the Hallstein doctrine on Adenauer’s coalition?

Answer 15

in 1956, the FDP broke away from Adenauers coalition and supported the SPD

Question 16

What did Adenauer and his economics minister, Erhard, pursue?

Answer 16

A social market economy- this helped to create social harmony and strong economic growth leading to stability

Question 17

What was the response to Adenauers proposition of a state controlled TV station in 1961?

Answer 17

The federal constitutional court ruled it unconstitutional, showing a lack of support for Adenauer’s decisions (too much executive interference)

Question 18

What happened in October 1962?

Answer 18

Adenauer supported the arrests of journalists from Der Spiegel magazine for their criticism of FRG troops in a recent NATO exercise.

Question 19

What was the aftermath of the Der Spiegel incident?

Answer 19

FDP minister resigned in protest over the arrest of the journalists and Adenauer only managed to get an SPD coalition by promising to resign in 1963

Question 20

What action supporting Jews did Adenauer pursue that was met by opposition within the CDU?

Answer 20

He supported a claims conference for Jewish victims of Nazism and a payment of 3 billion DM to Israel

Question 21

When was the FRG’s membership of NATO realised?

Answer 21

1955

Question 22

How did Adenauer attain a degree of unity with France?

Answer 22

through the creation of the European coal and steel community

Question 23

When did the FRG sign the treaty of Rome? What did this mean?

Answer 23

1957
Germany was established as a founding member of the EEC (European Economic Community)

Question 24

How many terms did Adenauer have in office?

Answer 24

3 - the last once saw problems emerging

Question 25

Who did Adenauer’s policies appeal to?

Answer 25

The moderates/middle ground of politics

Question 26

Describe Adenauers role in 1949

Answer 26

He was instrumental in drawing up the basic law

Question 27

How many new homes did Adenauer build for Germans?

Answer 27

4 million

Question 28

What was the policy Adenauer supported that allowed workers to participate in the decision-making process in the workplace?

Answer 28

Co-determination policy

Question 29

Was Adenauers co-determination policy successful?

Answer 29

Yes- this reduced tensions between workers and employers, leading to fewer strikes, and allowed the government to focus on building the economy

Question 30

When did Adenauer take control of Foreign policy?

Answer 30

1951 (When the ACC allowed him to)

Question 31

When did the FRG join the OEEC?

Answer 31

1948 - provided the FRG with substantial economic and technical assistance to recover from the destruction of the war

Question 32

When did the FRG join the council of Europe?

Answer 32

1950- this drastically raised the international status of the FRG

Question 33

How much did the CDU vote fall?

Answer 33

1957 to 1961
50% to 46%

Question 34

What party was becoming a viable alternative to the CDU in the late 1950’s?

Answer 34

The SPD, it was modernising and had an emphasis on German reunification

Question 35

What was added to the basic law in 1951?

Answer 35

Article 131, allowing ex-Nazi’s to work in the civil service