Unit 1: The FRG Flashcards
When did Germany surrender at World War II?
7th May 1945
What was the extent of war-time destruction in Germany?
4 million Germans were dead. A further 7 million were missing or POWs.
10 million eastern European labourers were expelled as refugees.
Bombings destroyed 1.8 million homes and left 5 million in emergency shelters. Disease and hunger were rife. People ate less than 1,000 kcal per day.
Why was Trizonia set up?
It was thought that post-war recovery and growth might be facilitated by cooperating efforts between the zones as economic recovery was otherwise slow.
What was the nature of the plans that the Allies had created to deal with Germany?
Short term
When was the Yalta Conference and what did it outline?
4th-11th February 1945.
It was outlined that Germany was to divided into 4 occupied military zones, with the Allies being responsible for administration within their respective zones. The Allied Control Council would be set up to coordinate work.
When was the Potsdam Conference and what did it outline?
17th July-2nd August 1945
Germany was to be de-militarised and de-Nazified through war trials.
Factories would be dismantled to weaken Germany and to offer reparations to the USSR.
A democratic state was to be set up.
Berlin was to be divided (meaning the western Allies would have to depend upon USSR good will to let them through…)
Reparations were set and were to be sourced by Allies from their respective zones. 10% of industrial machinery in the British zone would be given to the USSR in exchange for 15% of their food and raw materials.
How and why did the Western Allies increase their cooperation?
In summer 1946, USA and Britain merge economically through Bizonia, before France joins in April 1949.
This was a response to seemingly insurmountable economic crisis and extreme poverty.
How did increased Western Allied cooperation paradoxically divide Germany?
It asserted the notion that 2 distinctive Germanys were emerging: the west capitalist and the east communist.
Why were there tensions in the Allied Control Council?
In May 1946, the USA is forced to stop reparations to the USSR as they refuse to deliver foodstuffs.
February 1948 sees a communist takeover in Czechoslovakia.
March 1948 - Treaty of Brussels - sets up the Western European Union military alliance. In this same month, the Russian rep at the walks out of an ACC meeting as talks of a new currency in Trizonia commence.
What was the Cold War?
The state of hostility that existed between the Soviet bloc countries and the Western powers from 1945 to 1990. The USA was significant because it dominated the western zones. The conflict was characterised by threats, propaganda, or participation in wars on differing sides.
What was the Truman Doctrine (1947) and why was it significant?
It outlined that Harry Truman, in light of his domino theory ideology, was willing to offer help to countries that were at threat of communist takeover.
He therefore sent US troops to Greece in 1947 to fight communist rebels as Britain could no longer afford to post troops there.
What was the Marshall Plan and how was Germany helped by it?
It was a programme which saw the USA sharing $13 billion amongst European countries to aid recovery, largely through the modernisation of industry. It was hoped that this would limit the spread of communism. It was brought about under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1948.
West Germany received 11% of the aid, the equivalent of $1448 million.
How did the Marshall Plan worsen Cold War tensions?
It highlighted that the western zones were opposed to eastern communism.
Whilst help was offered to the USSR and its satellite states, the USSR refused it on their behalf.
What was the Berlin Blockade?
Stalin saw that the official division of West/East Germany was inevitable after the Deutschmark flourished whilst the Ostmark failed. He launched the blockade as a fait accompli to gain complete control over Berlin.
He cut off electricity/coal links on 24th June 1948.
How did the Western Allies respond to the Berlin Blockade?
They transported 2.3 million tonnes of supplies via 275,000 planes. One plane landed every 3 minutes at Templehof Airport, Berlin, as a result.
Stalin thus abandoned it on 12th May 1949, after 318 days.
When did Länder elections start in each of the zones?
USA - 1946
UK - 1947
France - 1947
What was the ideology of the CDU/CSU?
Konrad Adenauer’s CDU/CSU was a centre-right party that was conservative but in favour of some social reform. It appealed to Catholics, nationalists and democrats.
What was the nature of the reformed SPD?
After WWII, the SPD was led by Kurt Schumacher, until 1952. He had been a victim of Nazi persecution, spending some 10 years in camps.
It was more nationalistic than Marxist.
What liberal party existed within the FRG?
The Free Democratic Party (FDP) which was formed in 1948 from former DDP and DVP.
When did the FRG gain self-governance?
1955
What was the Basic Law?
The constitution of Germany, drawn up in Bonn, the Rhineland and approved on 8th May 1949.
It was to be provisional until Germany was eventually unified (unification was anticipated).
It had 11 sections and 141 articles.
What were key provisions of the Basic Law?
Article 1 - Human dignity.
Article 3 - equality before the law.
Article 4 - freedom of religion.
Article 5 - freedom of expression, arts and sciences.
Article 9 - freedom of association.
Article 10 - privacy of correspondence, posts and telecommunications.
Article 13 - inviolability of the home.
Article 38 - universal suffrage at age 18
What aspects of the Basic Law meant a dictatorship couldn’t be set up?
Article 43 - All Bundesrat and Federal Government and their representatives could attend all Bundestag meetings and voice their opinions.
Article 67 - Vote of no confidence would allow a chancellor to be removed within 48 hours.
No extremist parties: 5% vote needed. Significant as this was why the NDP never came to power as peak was 4.3%.
How was power divided in the FRG?
The FRG was a federal state which divided its power between central and regional governments.
Even with the Basic Law in place, why did the FRG like sovereignty?
The Occupation Statute (September 1949) was in place.
This mean the FRG couldn’t control her foreign policy and the ACC could intervene in times of crisis.
What was the role of the President and what were his duties?
He was chosen by the Federal Convention (50% Bundestag, 50% Bundesrat) and he was responsible for choosing the chancellor, with Bundestag support. He could serve up to two 5 year terms.
What was the role of the Chancellor and what were his duties?
He was chosen by the President and head of daily administrative affairs. He could be removed by a vote of no confidence (Article 67).
On what occasions was a vote of no confidence actually used?
1972 - it was attempted, to overcome Willy Brandt, but it didn’t follow through as most people were okay with him.
1982 - Brought an end to Helmut Schmidt’s government.
What was the lower house of parliament?
The Bundestag
It had 598 members. 50% were appointed through proportional representation and 50% through a first-past-the-post system.
A party needed 5% of votes to be represented.
What was the upper house of parliament?
The Bundesrat
It was composed of 69 Länder reps. They could ask that legislation be reconsidered or veto it.
Up to 60% of FRG legislation in the 1970s was vetoed due to the Bundesrat.
What was the Federal Constitutional Court?
It was a group of 16 judges who, throughout a 12-year term, were responsible for guarding the constitution.
They were selected by the Federal Constitution (50% Bundestag, 50% Bundesrat).
Give a brief biography of Konrad Adenauer
WR: He was a ZP member and Lord Mayor of Cologne. He showed his competences in being pragmatic enough to encourage Ford to launch their German operation in Cologne, bringing much wealth to the city.
NG: He was arrested twice.
FRG: He was a founder of the CDU/CSU and was a co-writer of the Basic Law. He then served as chancellor until 1963. His decline came because he was goaded by CDU/CSU members into retiring, he was seen as too authoritarian and because of the Der Spiegel Affair of 1963.
What were the results of the Federal Elections of August 1949?
There was a 78.5% turnout.
CDU/CSU - 31%
SPD - 29.2%
FDP - 11.9%
The Federal Constitution select Theodor Heuss (FDP) as President and he makes Konrad Adenauer (CDU/CSU) chancellor.
When was the GDR set up and what was its majority party?
7th October 1949
SED (Socialist Unity Party of Germany)
To what extent was the CDU/CSU the most popular party in the Bundestag from 1949-65?
It never received less than 40% of votes in all elections of the 1950s and 1960s.
How many CDU/CSU coalitions did Adenauer lead and how many were successful?
Adenauer led 4 coalitions, the first three of which succeeded. His decline began in 1961 and was concluded in 1963.
Why did Adenauer’s first three terms succeed?
Wirtschaftswunder - He adopted an Ordoliberalism-based social market economy and so recovery was quick and effective. It resulted in rising living standards.
Control over extremism - He banned the SRP in 1952 then the KPD in 1956.
Popularity of the CDU/CSU - It was Germany’s only centre-right party and sought good American relations, European integration, an Ordoliberal free social market economy and moderate social reform.
Personal popularity - He was an outwardly strong leader who had always hated the Nazis.
