FRG Politics and Government:

Question 1

What did the Potsdam Conference focus on?

Answer 1

-Disarming
-Decentralising
-De-nazifying

Question 2

Difference between political parties in Weimar and FRG:

Answer 2

In FRG they all shared the same messages e.g. controlling extremism, modernisation, even the KPD stressed ‘German Socialism’ with a democratic government and new education system.

Question 3

Role of the SPD:

Answer 3

-Many members had been in concentration camps.
- They had the moral advantage which they used to gain more political control in allied zones.

Question 4

The different parties in the FRG:

Answer 4

-SPD (more radical than KPD)
-CDU and CSU - conservative, church based and wanted social welfare. (later ideology split between Gaulists and Atlanticists.)
-Liberal groups recognised failure of Weimar with too many parties and merged to form FDP

Question 5

When was the Marshall Plan and what was the motivation behind it?

Answer 5

1947 - European countries could defend against communism.

Question 6

Separation with East Germany:

Answer 6

-Britain and USA, then later France unified.
-KPD won the elections in East Germany.
-Bank of German States in western zones breaks the rule of economic unity with all zones in 1948.

Question 7

3 main terms of Basic Law 1949:

Answer 7

-Equal rights.
-Free speech - although they could ban parties if they undermined democracy.
-Education for all

Question 8

What was the Bundestag and Bundesrat:

Answer 8

Bundestag - every 4 years people vote for regional representative and a party.
-Needed 5 percent of votes to get a seat (proportional representation)
Bundesrat - representatives from each Lander.

Question 9

When were the first elections and what was the outcome?

Answer 9

1949 - CDU won with 32% and SPD got 29% Adenauer was elected.

Question 10

What was the Hallstein Doctrine:

Answer 10

Refused to deal with countries who recognised GDR
-FRG represents all of Germany.

Question 11

Benefits of Adenauer’s forceful style:

Answer 11

Kept coalitions together until 1957.

Question 11

Criticisms of Adenauer:

Answer 11

-Criticised for authoritarian style and forceful management of the Bundestag.
-too much power than Basic Law allowed e.g. Foreign Minister and Chancellor until 1955.
-Didn’t work with left wing politicians which reminded people of Nazi Policy in 1933.

Question 12

Adenauer’s 2 main goals:

Answer 12

Unite Germany
-Work for closer European integration.

Question 13

Controversial changes by Adenauer in the Bundestag:

Answer 13

Stripped KPD of their seats
-made it harder for smaller parties to gain seats
-excluded opposition.

Question 14

Adenauers banned parties

Answer 14

1952- Socialist Reich party.
1956- KPD

Question 15

Article 131:

Answer 15

-Allowed ex-Nazis to work in the civil service. e.g. League of Expellees party led by SS officer gained enough seats to be a Reichstag party.

Question 16

Adenauer’s resignation:

Answer 16

Called for the arrest of Journalists who critisiced performacne of west german troops

Question 17

Government after Adenauer:

Answer 17

Ludwig Erhardt (resigned after wanting to tap phones, open mail as security measures and heavy taxation)
and then Kurt Kiesinger with the Grand Coalition.

Question 18

Emergency Law 1968:

Answer 18

Fear of new opposition that became violent
-passed by grand coalition

Question 19

Brandt’s main policies and criticisms of Brandt:

Answer 19

Ostpolitik - work with east Germany.
-hoped to win back public support from this. e.g. 1972 basic treaty to behave ‘neighbourly’ with the GDR.

• criticised for Ostpolitik and liberal measures such a decriminalising homosexuality in

Question 20

1972 crisis for Brandt and 1974 resignation.

Answer 20

SPD and CDU called vote of no confidence in Brandt:
-Brandt only won by 2 votes.
-Later he called an election with an SPD landslide win.

• 1974: adviser was a GDR spy (resigned)

Question 21

Helmut Schmidt:

Answer 21

Won in 1976 and 1980 mostly because there as no alternative
-too conservative e.g. tax raise and welfare cuts
-resigned by vote of no confidence.

Question 22

Helmut Kohl and fall of the Berlin Wall:

Answer 22

focussed on reunification
-won 50% of vote in an election which confirmed the CDU popularity.
-continued Ostpolitik policy.
-managed the Gov under terrorism and corruption scandals.