West Germany: The political nature of the FRG from 1949-1963

Question 1

What happened to relations between the FRG and GDR after 1949?

Answer 1

Relations became worse as the FRG became more closely tied with the West and the GDR became nearer to the USSR.

Question 2

What was the Hallstein Doctrine?

Answer 2

• Signed by FRG in 1955
• FRG stated they would not legally recognise GDR as a separate, independent country and refused to accept them as a a lawful government

Question 3

When did the first election in the Bundestag take place?

Answer 3

14th August 1949

Question 4

What 4 main political parties won seats in the first election in the Bundestag?

Answer 4

• The christian democratic union (CDU) / christian social union (CSU)
• The Democracy party (FDP)
• The Social democratic party (SPD)
• The German communist party (KPD)

Question 5

Which party received the most votes in the first election in the Bundestag?

Answer 5

CDU/CSU; 31% of votes.

Question 6

Who was appointed the first Chancellor of the FRG?

Answer 6

Konrad Adenauer

Question 7

Who did Adenauer work closely within the wider world and why?

Answer 7

The west, in order to;

• bring about economic recovery in Germany
• protect countries from communism
• gain support and trust of western countries
• encourage west to revise terms of occupational statute

Question 8

Why were there less political parties elected to the Bundestag in comparison to the years of the WR?

Answer 8

• Less polarisation with fewer parties

- Reduced power of each individual party if there were a large number of parties with similar aims

Question 9

What did some critics name Adenauer’s leadership and why?

Answer 9

“Chancellor dictatorship” because they suggested he had more power than the Basic Law allowed.

Question 10

Identify 2 political parties that were banned in the 1950s under Article 21 of the Basic Law.

Answer 10

• The socialist reich party (1952)

- The KPD (1956)

Question 11

What did the CDU/CSU eventually win in 1957?

Answer 11

The majority vote

Question 12

What was article 131 of the Basic Law and why was it introduced?

Answer 12

• It allowed ex-Nazis to work in the civil service.

- Before this all politicians were new as all previous were required to be part of the Nazi party.

Question 13

Identify 2 pieces if evidence which suggest that Adenauer’s leadership was ‘undemocratic’

Answer 13

• Until 1955, Adenauer controlled both domestic and foreign policy
• Critics in the SPD and FDP objected his authoritarian style leadership and forceful management of the Bundestag

Question 14

Identify 2 pieces of evidence that suggest there was any political stability under leadership of Adenauer.

Answer 14

• Coalition government functioned

- More difficult for extremist parties to win power.