Why Did Two Germanys Emerge In 1949?

Question 1

What did basic law ensure?

Answer 1

Basic freedoms, such as freedom of expression, assembly, association and movement

Question 2

What was Lander in basic law?

Answer 2

The individual states with elected representatives, which had power over regional issues, these 16 states representatives meeting in the upper chamber, Bundesrat

Question 3

What was the lower chamber which combined proportional representation and first past the post, and defined by basic law?

Answer 3

Bundestag

Question 4

What percent of the vote did parties have to get before they were represented in the Bundestag, made by a later amendment to the basic law?

Answer 4

5%

Question 5

Which position in West Germany was not directly elected but chosen by a representative convention made up of all the members of the Bundestag and an equal number of members elected by the Lander parliaments?

Answer 5

The President

Question 6

What was the role of the President in West Germany?

Answer 6

Proposes Chancellor, a figurehead, only has power only in a state of emergency

Question 7

How did a vote of no-confidence in the Chancellor work under basic law?

Answer 7

That there had to be majority support for a named and viable successor, because the chancellor could not be dismissed unless a new chancellor was voted in, to limit the power of the president

Question 8

What was the West German constitution known as?

Answer 8

Basic law, which was to indicate that it was temporary until Germany was united

Question 9

Under basic law who was entitled to citizenship?

Answer 9

All German citizens who were living in former German lands that were now under either Polish or Soviet rule, as a result 3 million fled by the time the wall was erected in 1961

Question 10

What parliament did the East Germany (German Democratic Republic) establish?

Answer 10

The Volkskammer, though not totally democratic as the number of seats for each party was allocated before each election

Question 11

What was the Upper House in the GDR?

Answer 11

The Landerkammer, which rested the five regions or lander

Question 12

When was the president replaced by the Council of State in the GDR

Answer 12

1960

Question 13

What changes in the GDR served to strength the position of the Communist Party?

Answer 13

The Lander were abolished in 1952 and replaced by the smaller units, the Bezirke, which were easier to control
The Upper House was abolished in 1958

Question 14

When was the State Security Service, or Stasi created?

Answer 14

1950

Question 15

What was the system used in the GDR?

Answer 15

Democratic centralism, by which decision were taken at the centre and passed down and implemented below, was very different from the West