Modern GER

Breakdown of allied cooperation

1946-47

Soviet Zone Priorities

- Establish Socialist Unity Party as dominant political force

- DeNazi as political tool

- Land & Econ reforms

US Zone Priorities

- Strict approach to deNazi & DEM but shifted focus to CW

- By 1947, US prioritised Anti-COM

- Marshall Plan

FR Zone Priorities

- Strict political controls: sought to keep GER weak

- Limited Denazification

Berlin Blockade & Airlift

1948

Adoption of Basic Law

May 1949

Allies principal policies in occupying GER

Demilitarisation, Denazification, Decentralisation, Democratisation

Success of Demilitarisation?

- initially successful

- CW led to rearmament of E/W GER

- Bundeswehr

- NATO

- Nationale Volksarmee

Success of Denazification?

- Many Nazi leaders were prosecuted

- In W some former Nazis reintegrated into society for stability purposes

- Re-education emerged

Success of Decentralisation

- W GER developed strong federal system

- E GER = COM

Success of Democratisation

- W GER = highly successful

- DEM institutions firmly established under Basic Law of 1949

- E GER = 1 party state

Ending of W Allies Occupation

May 1955

Ending of E GER Occupation

1989

Purpose of Basic Law

- Avoid failures of Weimar Republic

- Create a stable DEM, with strong protections against authoritarianism.

- Ensure federalism

- Limit exec power, through strong parliament & constitutional court

- Eternity Clause

Main Institutions of FRG

- Bundestag

- Bundesrat

- Chancellor

- President

Bundestag Role

- Lower house of GER parliament, elected directly by people through mixed-member proportional rep system

- Responsible for passing laws, approving budget, overseeing gov

- PM of 15 states -> making them very powerful

Bundesrat

- Represented federal states (Länder) & composed of delegates appointed by state govs

Federal Chancellor

- head of gov, elected by Bundestag.

- hold significant power in directing gov policy and administration.

Federal President

- largely ceremonial figurehead elected by Federal Convention.

- limited political power but plays role in ensuring constitutional stability

Changes in Basic Law since 1949

- 1950-60s: Econ Miracle strengthened legitimacy of FRG's system

- 1970s: Ostpolitik policy under Brandt softened relations with GDR

- 1980s: Rise of environmental & CR movs led to greater political pluralism

- 1990s-Present:

· After GER reunification in 1990, FRG's poli institutions extended to E GER

Main Institutions of GDR

- Socialist Unity Party

- Volkskammer

- Council of Minister

- State Council

- Stasi

- National People's Army

Socialist Unity Party

- Ruling COM party controlled all aspects of poli, econ, social life

- dominated gov & suppressed opposition

Volkskammer

- Officially legislature, but in practice, rubber-stamp body that approved decisions made by SED

Council of Ministers

- Exec branch, but operated under direct influence of SED leadership

Stasi

- secret police responsible for surveillance, repression, control over citizens

"Social Market" Economy Founder

Ludwig Erhard

Key features of Social Market Economy

- Free market with regulations: state played active role in regulating comp to prevent monopolies

- Social welfare system: gov provided unemployment benefits, healthcare, pensions, housing support

- Codetermination: workers had say in company decisions through TU & reps on corporate boards

- Price stability & low inflation: Deutsche Mark managed by Bundesbank -> focused on low inflation & monetary stability

- Investment in infrastructure & education

Differences between Social Market Economy & other economies

- More state involvement than US:

- More market freedom than UK/ FR: encouraged priv enterprise while ensuring social protections

- Focus on industrial exports: US relied on consumer driven econ, W GER focused heavily on high-quality industrial exports

Main Features of Economic Miracle

1) Currency reform: intro Deutsche Mark stabilised econ by reducing inflation

2) Abolition of price controls: Erhard removed price controls & rationing, allowing markets to function freely

3) Marshall Plan aid: US provided $1.5 billion in econ aid

4) Strong industrial base: GER industrial core was preserved allowing rapid recovery

5) Cheap labour supply: millions of displaced persons provided a willing WF

6) Export-led growth: econ focused on exporting high-quality goods (cars)

7) Social welfare system: workers had healthcare, pensions, job security kept consumer confidence high

Role of W economic coop in W GER economic development

1) Marshall Plan

2) EU Integration

3) NATO & US Guarantees

4) Trade

Role of EU integration in W GER economic development

- 1951: EU Coal & Steel Community -partnered with FR, ITA, BEL, NET, LUX laying groundwork for EU

- 1957: Treaty of Rome- became founding member of EU Econ Community

GDR economy key features

1) Centrally planned

2) State ownership of industry

3) Centralised planning

4) Collectivised agriculture

5) focus on heavy industry

6) limited consumer goods

7) trade within SU bloc

Role of Comecon in GDR economic development

- Econ dependence on USSR

- Specialisation within Bloc: USSR supplied GDR with cheap raw materials in exchange for manufactured goods

- Limited access to global markets

- Tech lag

Achievements of GDR's economy

1) Strong industrial base

2) Full employment: guaranteed jobs for all

3) High literacy & education levels: free education ensured a skilled WF

4) Social welfare system: healthcare, housing, pensions

5) Highest rate of female workers in EU

Failures of GDR's economy

1) Chronic shortages of consumer goods

2) Inefficiency & low productivity: state-run industries lacked innovation & incentives to improve efficiency

3) Mass emigration

4) Environmental degradation

5) Dependence on USSR

How much did COM regime change E GER soc?

1) Economically

- centralised planning

- collectivised agriculture

- state-controlled enterprises

2) Politically

- Eliminated poli opp

- Education restructured to promote COM

- Censorship

3) Social

- gender equality

- guaranteed employment

Influences on E GER society

1) SU Influence

2) W GER

- W GER radio accessible -> admired W lifestyle

3) Economic system & trade partnerships

4) Agriculture

Unintended changes in E GER

1) Generational Gaps

- younger gen = cynical of COM

2) Youth Culture

- Free German Youth

3) Consumerism & Material Discontent

- lack of consumer goods

4) Emigration & Brain Drain

W GER development in CW

1) Economic Miracle

- consumerism

2) DEM Institutions

3) Social Market Economy

4) Americanisation

5) Decline of Religion

Political Differences between E & W

GDR

- single party state

- centralised gov

- stasi surveillance

- no 'free elections'

FRG

- parliamentary DEM

- W alliances

- DEM institutions

Economic Differences between E & W

GDR

- controlled by state

- heavy industry focus

- consumer good shortages

- black market reliance

- few econ incentives

FRG

- Social Market econ

- econ prosperity

- strong welfare state

- high standard of living

Society & Daily Life Differences between E & W

GDR

- limited personal freedom

- gender equality

- restricted travel

FRG

- consumer culture

- trad gender roles

- multiculturalism

Education & Ideoloy Differences between E & W

GDR

- ideological education system

- censorship W media

FRG

- academic freedom

- DEM values

Culture & Media Differences between E & W

GDR

- strict censorship

- state-approved

FRG

- free & diverse

Military & Security Differences between E & W

GDR

- strong militarisation

- conscription

- Stasi

FRG

- NATO member

FRG FP objectives

1) Integration into W Bloc - joined NATO 1955

2) Reconciliation with FR - 1963 Elysee Treaty

3) EU Economic + Poli Integration - EEC 1958

4) Hallstein Doctrine - mixed success

5) Ostpolitik 1969-90

International Organisation FRG joined

1) NATO - 1955

2) EEC - 1957

3) European Coal & Steel Community - 1951

4) UN - 1973

5) OECD - 1961

6) G7 - 1975

7) WEU - 1954

8) IMF

9) World Bank

10) Bretton Woods

Importance of FRG joining NATO

- Provided military security against SU & E bloc

- Integrated into W defence structure

- Able to rearm under controlled conditions

- Strengthened poli ties with US, UK, FR

Importance of FRG joining EEC

- promoted econ int with FR ITA, BEL, NETH, LUX

- established foundation for EU

- increase trade influence, reducing reliance on US

Importance of FRG joining UN

- joined late because SU would've vetoed

- full int legitimacy as sov state

FRG most important allies- why?

1) US

- NATO

- Marshall Plan

- political backing for stance against SU

2) FR

- EU integration

- Elysee Treaty 1963

3) UK

- supported rearmament & NATO

- EU integration

4) ITA & Benelux

- EEC co-founders

GDR FP objectives

1) Recognition as sov state

- Basic Treaty 1972 & UN membership 1973

2) Strengthen tie with SU

3) Support COM movements

- provided mil & tech aid

4) Maintain strict borders

- Berlin Wall 1961

5) Econ Coop with E Bloc

International Organisation GDR joined

1) Comecon - 1950

2) Warsaw Pact- 1955

3) UN- 1973

4) Non-Aligned Movement

5) IOC - 1968

Importance of GDR joining Comecon

- Integrated econ into E bloc

- Structured trade system with USSR, POL, CZE, HUN, BUL, ROM

- Encouraged industrial specialization

Importance of GDR joining Warsaw Pact

- Served as E Bloc's military alliance, countering NATO.

- Allowed SU to station troops in E GER

- Ensured E GER participation in joint military exercises & strategic planning

Differences in Policies towards Israel

FRG

- reconciliation for Nazi crimes

- Luxembourg Agreement 1952

- diplomatic/ military ties

GDR

- refused to recognise, aligned with Arab states

- blamed Nazi crimes on W GER

Differences in Holocaust views between E & W

FRG

- Nuremberg Trials 1945-46

- Eichmann Trial 1961 & Frankfurt Auschwitz Trials 1953-65 forced many to confront horrors of holocaust

- younger gen demanded accountability

- 1980s: Holocaust education became key part of education

GDR

- blamed crimes on W GER

- highlighted Nazi persecution of COM

Attitude of GDR regime to Holocaust

- minimised Jewish suffering

- placed under 'fascist crimes'

- COM victims over Jewish victims

- Jewish communities were small

Attitude of FRG gov to Holocaust

- Adenauer initiated reparations -> Lux Agreement 1952

- integrated holocaust education

- emphasised W GER moral responsibility

Vergangenheitsbewältigung

Forms of far-right politics in FRG during CW

- Neo nazi groups: Socialist Reich Party, National DEM Party of GER

- Antisemitism

- Terrorism & violence: extremism

Forms of far-right politics in FRG since 1990

1) Political Parties: AfD

2) Neo-Nazi & Extremist Groups: rise of organisation neo-nazi groups, pegida, national socialist underground

3) Electoral Success & Regional Support

4) Anti-Immigration: 2015 refugee crisis impact

Main events in process of reunification of 2 GER states

- May 1989: Opening HUN Border

- September 1989: Leipzig DEM & Mass Protests

- October 1989: Erich Honecker's Resignation

- November 9, 1989: Fall of the Berlin Wall

- March 18, 1990: 1st Free Elections in E GER

- July 1, 1990: Econ & Monetary Union -> Econ merger

- August 23, 1990: E GER Votes for Accession to FRG

- October 3, 1990: Official Reunification

Main Actors in process GER reunification

1) Helmut Kohl - "10 point plan"

2) Egon Krenz

3) Mikhail Gorbachev

Treaties signed as part of reunification

1) 2 + 4 Agreement

2) GER- POL Border Treaty

3) Unification Treaty

4) Helsinki Final Act

5) Treaty of Monetary, Economic & SU

Treaty on the Final Settlement with Respect to Germany (2 + 4 Agreement)

- Allowed reunification of GER Sept 12 1990

- Negotiated between 2 (FRG + GDR) & 4 (FR, SU, US, UK)

- Transplanted 1945 Potsdam Agreement -> all 4 powers renounced rights they held with regard to GER allowing full sov state

- Allows GER to make & belong to alliances, w/o any foreign influence in its politics

Opposition to GER reunification

UK:

- Thatcher feared GER's 'national character', size, central location = destabilise EU

FR:

- pace of events surprised them

Ethnic Minorities

Feminists

Policy of W GER gov on issue of reunification

-

"Reunification" or "Unification"

Reunification

- term used, GER = 1 country before 1945

- E GER states rejoined FRG, which continued as same legal entity

Unification

- more unification because GDR was separate state with own identity over 40 years

- merger effectively dissolved E GER rather than restoring previous GER

Most important political development in GER since 1990

1) Reunification & Integration into EU

- Central role in EU affairs

2) Angela Merkel

- stability, crisis management

3) Rise of populism & poli fragmentation

- AfD

Most important social development in GER since 1990

1) Demographic shifts & immigration

- post 1990 = declining birthrate & aging pop

- immigration = solution

2) Changing attitudes towards national identity

- more confidence

Most important economic development in GER since 1990

1) reunification impact

- expensive

2) Hartz Reforms

- early 2000s high unemployment, Chancellor Gerhard Schröder's Hartz reforms (2003-2005), restructured welfare & labor markets

3) Environmental & Energy Policy

Impact of GER Reunification on FRG politics

1) shift in poli landscape

- expansion of GER parliament

- E GER voters had diff poli leanings

2) Federal System & Policy Adaptation

- need to integrate E into federal system

Impact of GER Reunification on FRG socially

1) E-W divide in indentity

- E GER felt like "2nd class citizens"

2) Pop Decline & Migration

- E GER moved to W for better jobs

- some areas = male dominated

3) Generational differences

- younger GER feel strong sense of unity

Impact of GER Reunification on FRG economics

1) Cost of reunification

2) Persistent econ disparities

3) emerging econ opportunities

Successes/ Challenges GER faces in politics today

Successes

1) stable DEM & rule of law

2) EU leadership

3) Crisis management

Challenges

1) rise of populism

2) declining global influence

Successes/ Challenges GER faces socially today

Successes

1) immigration & multiculturalism

2) social progressivism

- same sex marriage 2017

- Merkel as chancellor

3) high standard of living

Challenges

1) Xenophobia

2) Aging Pop

3) E-W divide still present

Successes/ Challenges GER faces in economics today

Successes

1) EU's econ powerhouse

2) Green energy

3) Strong fiscal policies

Challenges

1) Energy crisis

2) Innovation gap

3) Export dependency

Main international problems GER has faced since 1990

1) GER Reunification

2) Balkan Wars 1990s

3) Iraq War 2003

4) Eurozone Crisis 2010s

5) Ukraine Crisis 2014-present

GER FP since 1990-present

1) EU integration & stability

- promoted Euro

- leading role in Eurozone crisis

2) Multilateralism and Diplomacy

- support int institution

- prefer diplomatic resolution over mil intervention

3) Econ diplomacy & trade relations

4) Military caution & limited intervention

- reluctant to engage in military operations

- peacekeeping missions, aid

Attitudes to wars since 1990

1) Gulf War (1991)

- Provided $6.6 billion aid & no troops

2) Balkan Wars (1990s) - Initially hesitant to intervene, later supported NATO's Kosovo intervention in 1999.

- 1st time GER took part in combat ops since WWII

3) Afghanistan War (2001-2021)

- troops as part of NATO but primarily in a non-combat role

4) Iraq War (2003)

- Strongly opposed US-led intervention.

- Argued war lacked UN mandate & preferred diplomatic solutions

5) Libya (2011)

- Abstained from UN vote on military intervention

-Seen as prioritising econ interests over humanitarian concerns.

6) Ukraine War (2014-Present) Initially focused on diplomacy (Minsk Agreements)

- Increased military aid after Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022