FRG response to political extremism

Constitutional methods (4)

-1949 Basic Law allowed banning of political parties

-1949 Basic Law employment ban

→ allows gov to fire people associated w/ extremism

-1972 GSG-9 Special ops unit

-1977 BEFA central police surveillance system

What is

-1949 Basic Law allowed banning of political parties

-1949 Basic Law employment ban

→ allows gov to fire people associated w/ extremism

-1972 GSG-9 Special ops unit

-1977 BEFA central police surveillance system

Constitutional methods

2 things included in 1949 Basic Law that helped FRG against extremism

Allowed banning of politcial parties

Employment ban allowed employees associated w/ extremism to be fired

When was the GSG-9 Special ops created?

1972

What was created 1972?

GSG-9 Special ops

When was BEFA Central police surveillance system created?

1977

What was created 1977?

BEFA Central police surveillance system

Justification for banning of political parties

Banned parties that sought to undermine FRG or its principles

Examples of use of 1949 Basic Law banning of parties

-1952 Extreme Right-wing group Socialist Reich banned

-1956 KPD banned

What was banned 1952?

Extreme right wing group Socialist Reich

Consequence of banning parties

Narrowed political scope + led to growth of extra-parliamentary protest in 1960s

Justification for 1949 Basic Law employment ban

Aimed at individuals who were members of politcial parties seen as a threat

Usage of 1949 Basic Law employment ban

Only 100 lost jobs 1950-72

How many lost their jobs from 1949 Basic Law employment ban?

Only 100 1950-72

What was the 1972 GSG-9 special ops?

-Set up after shooting of Israeli athletes at Munich olympics 1972

-Special ops to deal with terrorists

-Worked worldwide w/ links to SAS + US Delta force

What did GSG-9 special ops have links with?

SAS + US Delta force coz worked worldwide

Example of GSG-9 special ops usage

-17th Oct 1977 rescued hostages on a hijacked plane on the way to Frankfurt

-Took part in some arrests of Red Army Faction members

What is

-17th Oct 1977 rescued hostages on a hijacked plane on the way to Frankfurt

-Took part in some arrests of Red Army Faction members

Examples of GSG-9 special ops usage

Consequence of 1972 GSG-9 special ops

Contributed to diminishing terrorist threat by 1970s

When did GSG-9 special ops save a hijacked plane on its way to Frankfurt?

17th Oct 1977

What is 1977 BEFA central police surveillance system?

Gave BND centralised acsess to all police info in FRG

What is

Gave BND centralised acsess to all police info in FRG

1977 BEFA Central police surveillance system

Due to GSG-9 + BEFA, by 1970s thwre was much less terrorist activity however

can also be accredited to better gov policies

4 legal methods

-1950 BfV Federal office for protection of constitution

-1956 BND federal information office

-1968 Emergency Law finally implemented

-1972 Anti-radical decree

What is

-1950 BfV Federal office for protection of constitution

-1956 BND federal information office

-1968 Emergency Law finally implemented

-1972 Anti-radical decree

4 legal methods

When was the BfV Federal office for protection of constitution created?

1950

What was created in 1950?

BfV federal office for protection of constitution

What is 1950 BfV federal office for protection of constitution?

-Entitled to investigate people they suspected of working against basic law

-Only worked inside GER + reported to Minister of interior

-Hampered by civil liberties in Basic Law eg: cant open mail, search houses etc

What is

-Entitled to investigate people they suspected of working against basic law

-Only worked inside GER + reported to Minister of interior

-Hampered by civil liberties in Basic Law eg: cant open mail, search houses etc

1950 BfV federal office for protection of the constitution

What was 1950 BfV federal office for protection of the constitution hampered by?

Basic law civil liberties eg: cant open mail, search houses etc

Justification for 1950 BfV federal office for the protection of the constitution

Investigate people working against Basic Law

Consequence of 1950 BfV federal office for protection of constitution

Somewhat limited due to Basic Law eg+ can be argued enabled protest

When was the BBD federal information office created?

1956

What was created in 1956?

BND federal information office

What is 1956 BND federal information office?

Same as BfV but reports directly to Chancellor + works abroad too

How many failed attempts were there to pass Emergency law?

3

60,62+65

What happened in 1960,62+65?

Failed attempts at passing emergency law

When was emergency law finally passed?

1968

What was finally passed in 1968?

Emergency law

What is 1968 emergency law?

Allows BND to use methods such as opening mail + searching houses

What Allows BND to use methods such as opening mail + searching houses

1968 emergency law

Justification for 1968 emergency law

Protests had become more violent

Time of political tension

Usage of 1968 emergency law

Significant number of arrests

Consequences of 1968 emergency law

-Led to drop in no. of open protests

-Significant arrests

-Silenced some groups but convinced others terrorism only way

Antagonised those who thought it oppressive

What is

-Led to drop in no. of open protests

-Significant arrests

-Silenced some groups but convinced others terrorism only way

Antagonised those who thought it oppressive

Consequence of 1968 Emergency law

When was the Anti-radical decree passed?

1972

What is 1972 Anti-radical decree?

Allowed for political vetting of everyone applying for a state job

What is

Allowed for political vetting of everyone applying for a state job

1972 Anti-radical decree

Justification for 1972 Anti-radical decree

Growing political extremism

Lots from unis

Consequence of 1972 Anti-radical decree

Led to protest + criticism of gov

Limitation of FRG methods of control

Each method led to more consequences eg: banning KPD = protest

Limiting protest = terrorism

What did a 1970s GER poll show?

5% of GER people would be willing to shelter a Red Army Faction member on the run