Theme 1- Political and Governmental Change 1945-1989

Question 1

What was the situation in post war Germany?

Answer 1

Economic ruins as the currency collapsed, 4 million Germans were dead, severe housing shortage, buildings destroyed. The government introduced a Year Zero plan to build Germany back up again from nothing.

Question 2

What was decided at the Potsdam Conference?

Answer 2

• De-Nazification
• De-militarisation
• Deindustrialisation
• Democratisation

Question 3

When did Trizonia become the Federal Republic of Germany?

Answer 3

23rd May 1949 with the creation of the Basic Law.

Question 4

Why did the Allies give so much assistance to Germany post war?

Answer 4

Imposing ToV style punishments would just lead to resentment and opposition like it did after WW1 and they didn’t want Germany starting another war. They wanted to help Germany recover so that Germany could become an ally against the USSR in the Cold War. Germany was very weak after the war so economic sanctions were unnecessary, especially when they wanted to help German recovery.

Question 5

How did political parties change?

Answer 5

The SPD’s policies became more radical than the KPD’s policies as the KPD became a lot less radical and supportive of democracy because of the Cold War. Two Christian parties were set up when the major religious party in Weimar had been Catholic (the ZP). They all wanted to avoid the divisions of the 1920s that had helped the Nazis come to power so they were more willing to cooperate. However, a small number of liberal centrist parties still existed and formed the FDP.

Question 6

What did the Basic Law promise to citizens?

Answer 6

A free and liberal parliamentary democracy with equal rights, free speech and no censorship, universal suffrage over 18 and free state education.

Question 7

How did the voting structure change?

Answer 7

The Bundestag was made up of 598 seats: half elected through first past the post and half through proportional representation. Each party also had to receive at least 5% of the vote to have any seats in the Bundestag to prevent the rise of extremist fringe parties.

Question 8

How did the Chancellor’s position change?

Answer 8

The Chancellor became the most powerful figure who was the leader of the largest party in the Bundestag and he couldn’t be removed by a vote of no confidence unless an alternative leader could form a majority in the Bundestag.

Question 9

What did Article 21 of the Basic Law allow the FRG to do?

Answer 9

Parties could be banned by the Federal Constitutional Court if they were undemocratic .

Question 10

How did the role of federal governments change?

Answer 10

Länder governments had more power than under Nazi or Weimar. All federal bills had to be submitted to the Bundesrat (federal council with members from Lander governments) for approval.

Question 11

How did the role of the President change?

Answer 11

The President became a ceremonial figure who had no emergency powers. He could only stand for one election and could not remove the Chancellor.

Question 12

What were the election trends in the FRG like?

Answer 12

The vote was very close in 1949 but the gap between the CDU/CSU and the SPD increased over time. Coalitions still exist but they were more stable and less complicated. Adenauer even managed a majority of the vote in 1957. Elections took place every 4 years.

Question 13

What were Adenauer’s main goals as Chancellor?

Answer 13

He was a pragmatic politician and favoured the middle ground of politics to appeal to moderates who favoured stability over experimentation. Had the famous slogan ‘No experiments’ which appealed to conservatives. He also wanted to win the support of former Nazi supporters and even included 39 former Nazis in his new foreign ministry. He had strong anti-communist sentiment and wanted to develop relations with Western Europe.

Question 14

What did the Collective Bargaining Law on Industrial Relations 1949 and the Work Consultation Law 1952 do?

Answer 14

Maintained labour relations and encouraged workers to participate in the decision making process within the workplace. They also created fewer strikes so Adenauer’s government could focus on continuing to grow the economy.

Question 15

What did the Construction Law 1950 do?

Answer 15

Provided grants to Länder and cities to encourage large scale building projects. By 1957, this had resulted in 4 million new homes being built.

Question 16

What did the Equalisation of Burdens Act 1952 do?

Answer 16

It was the most significant redistribution of income in German history and by 1998, DM126 billion had been raised by the 5% tax on citizens with a net worth of more than DM5000.

Question 17

Which domestic policy was unsuccessful and put the social welfare budget under considerable pressure?

Answer 17

The Pensions Act 1957.

Question 18

When did the FRG join the EEC?

Answer 18

1949 and it became a key member of the EEC.

Question 19

When did the FRG join NATO and what were the conditions on this?

Answer 19

May 1955- the FRG had to renounce the adoption of nuclear weapons and limit the size of the army. They were allowed to rearm once they had joined NATO.

Question 20

What was the Hallstein Doctrine?

Answer 20

1955- Stated that the FRG would cut off diplomatic relations with any country except the USSR which recognised the GDR.

Question 21

When did the SPD become less radical and agree to support membership of NATO and the EEC and to continue the successful economic policies?

Answer 21

Bad Godesberg Party Congress 1959

Question 22

Which mistakes did Adenauer make that resulted in his resignation in October 1963?

Answer 22

• He was widely criticised for not visiting Berlin in 1961 when the Berlin Wall was constructed.
• He was heavily criticised for trying to make himself President in 1959 when he was still Chancellor.
• Der Spiegel Affair (journalists arrested for criticising the army) made many people worry that the government was becoming too authoritarian.

Question 23

What were the successes of Adenauer’s government?

Answer 23

By 1963, living standards in the FRG were among the highest in the West and their economy was one of the largest in the world. The FRG had become a stable, prosperous and major European nation and was a member of the EEC and NATO.

Question 24

What were the failures of Adenauer’s government?

Answer 24

He was criticised for using former Nazis in his government- 39 in 1949. His policies of closer relations with NATO and the West would also make it more difficult to reunite Germany.

Question 25

How far was there political stability in the post-Adenauer years?

Answer 25

There were multiple Chancellors (unlike in the 14 years under Adenauer) and 5 coalitions. Between 1966-82, the SPD were very successful and formed part of the Grand Coalition as well as their own coalitions 1969-82. The 1980s was more centrist/right wing but there was cooperation between these parties as they didn’t want to cause divisions like there had been in Weimar that led to the rise of extremist parties. For example, the Grand Coalition between the CSU and SPD 1966-69.

Question 26

What were the main aspects of Willy Brandt’s (SPD) government?

Answer 26

He led the first SPD government in the FRG and prompted greater public participation, social reforms and democracy. Proved a disappointment to many as a result of worsening economic conditions and a resurgence of political extremism. Generally a time of crisis management and he was associated with Ostpolitik and relations with the GDR.

Question 27

What were the main aspects of Helmut Schmidt’s (SPD) government?

Answer 27

He formed a coalition with the FDP. Continued to support Ostpolitik and he was able to deal with terrorist threats from the Red Army Faction in the late 1970s. However his party had divisions over issues like whether to allow nuclear weapons in FRG territory and there were tensions with the FDP.

Question 28

What were the main aspects of Helmut Kohl’s (CDU) government?

Answer 28

The FDP joined the CDU/CSU coalition led by Kohl. Kohl introduced new economic policies and returned to supporting the social market economy. Supported Ostpolitik because of its popularity. Called for new elections in March 1983 in which he was able to form a new coalition government.

Question 29

What was Brandt’s policy of Ostpolitik?

Answer 29

A policy of compromising with the GDR and building better relations between the 2 countries.

Question 30

What was the Basic Treaty 1973?

Answer 30

The 2 Germanies acknowledged each other’s right to exist and agreed better commercial, tourist, cultural and communications links.

Question 31

Why was there consistency in foreign policy in the post-Adenauer years?

Answer 31

The foreign minister- Hans-Dietrich Genscher remained in position from 1974-1992.

Question 32

How popular was Ostpolitik?

Answer 32

It was very popular and the 1972 election was a ringing endorsement for the policy. It also won Brandt international recognition and a Nobel Peace Prize.

Question 33

What were the problems with east-west relations?

Answer 33

Cold War tensions continued and the exposure of one of Brandt’s close advisors Guillaume as a GDR spy led to Brandt’s resignation. In 1973, a new nuclear shelter was built in West Berlin to house 27,000 people. However, overall east-west relations were a success for the FRG.

Question 34

How much of a threat did smaller parties and pressure groups cause?

Answer 34

Generally good industrial relations but Kohl’s more conservative policies led to increased strikes and disputes. In 1982, more than 2.7 million people signed a petition against the deployment of nuclear missiles. However, parties like the Greens, DKP (new communist party), NPD (neo-Nazis) and Republikaner Party remained minorities and never posed a significant threat.

Question 35

What were some of the economic problems faced by the FRG in its later years?

Answer 35

Unemployment rose to a peak of 9% in the 1980s and national debt as a proportion of GNP rose from 16% in 1970 to 40% by 1982. Schmidt had been removed by a vote of no confidence mainly because of poor economic management. Kohl’s economic policies such as cost cutting and privatisation were unpopular and the 1989 election resulted in the worst result for the CDU for 40 years.

Question 36

How were the economic problems actually not that bad?

Answer 36

Improvements in living standards increased steadily until 1980 and then drew to a halt (but didn’t massively decrease). Industrial relations in the FRG were still better than that of other European countries and unemployment had fallen to 7.5% by 1989. Economy still fairly successful, just less successful than it was in the economic miracle.

Question 37

What was the Flick Affair?

Answer 37

The FDP finance minister had to resign in 1984 due to a scandal over tax exemptions for a company that made donations to the FDP.

Question 38

What was the Barschel-Engholm Affair?

Answer 38

In 1989, Barschel was forced to resign after bugging the offices of his main rival to find evidence he was guilty of tax evasion.

Question 39

Which factors helped maintain political stability 1965-1989?

Answer 39

• Ostpolitik was very popular
• Opposition parties remained minorities and gained little electoral support
• Industrial relations were generally good
• Economy was still strong compared to other European nations and Weimar and Nazi
• Political parties in coalitions cooperated because they wanted to prevent the rise of extremist parties.

Question 40

What was the Allied Control Council?

Answer 40

It represented all four powers in Germany and oversaw all four zones.

Question 41

What was the Berlin Blockade?

Answer 41

Stalin tried to force the Allies out of Berlin by blockading the city on 24th June 1948. The Allies launched a massive airlift operation bringing in supplies to the city. The blockade had clearly failed and Stalin lifted the blockade on 12th May 1949.