Ostpolitik

What was Ostpolitik?

FRG’s policy of improving relations with the GDR and Eastern Europe.

What year did Ostpolitik begin?

1969.

What was the FRG’s previous policy called?

Hallstein Doctrine (from 1955).

What did the Hallstein Doctrine say?

FRG was committed to reunification and refused to recognise the GDR (called it a ‘zone’).

Who had followed the Hallstein Doctrine?

Adenauer (FRG chancellor from the CDU – Christian party).

Who began Ostpolitik?

Willy Brandt.

What jobs did Willy Brandt have?

Mayor of Berlin 1957–66; Chancellor of the FRG (first from the SPD) 1969–74.

Give four reasons why Ostpolitik was introduced.

Undermine the GDR through closer links; encourage liberalisation (‘change through rapprochement’); recognise GDR as semi-permanent; cultural and humanitarian reasons; echo détente.

What phrase did Brandt use to undermine the GDR’s separate status?

“One nation but two states/Germanies.”

What visits were made as part of Ostpolitik?

March 1970 – Brandt to GDR (Erfurt); May 1970 – Stoph to FRG (Kassel); Dec 1981 – Schmidt to GDR; Sep 1987 – Honecker to FRG.

What was significant about Brandt’s visit to the GDR?

He was greeted enthusiastically by cheering crowds.

What were the main advantages of Ostpolitik for the GDR?

Humanitarian (contact and travel)

Economic benefits

Diplomatic - international recognition

Give two pieces of evidence of improved travel and communication.

From Christmas 1963 – 2m West Germans visited East Berlin; 1964 – West Berliners could visit up to 30 days a year; 1971 – phone lines opened (40m calls by 1988).

How did the SED discourage travel from the West?

Visa charges increased (doubled in 1973); visitors required to exchange western currency into Ostmarks (raised in 1983).

How far did the SED allow GDR citizens to travel to the West?

Very restricted; refused 100

Give three economic benefits for the GDR.

Loans (15bn DM total)

Ransom payments to release 34,000 prisoners

Trade increased

Give two negative economic impacts of Ostpolitik.

Dependence on the FRG and closer Western economic ties leading to reckless borrowing.

Give four treaties signed as part of Ostpolitik (with date and content).

Treaty of Moscow (Aug 1970) – FRG accepted Soviet dominance and renounced force; Treaty of Warsaw (Dec 1970) – accepted Poland border; Four Powers Agreement (Sep 1971) – improved travel and trade; Basic Treaty (Dec 1972) – mutual recognition of FRG and GDR.

What shows that the FRG still did not fully accept the GDR as a separate country?

Used ‘representatives’ instead of ambassadors; handled relations via the Ministry of Intra-German Affairs; constitution stayed committed to reunification.

Give three examples of improved international recognition of the GDR.

Nations with relations rose from 38 to 123 (1972–8); USA recognised GDR (1974); both Germanies joined UN (1973).

Why was greater contact with the West a problem for the SED?

It discredited SED propaganda

Highlighted better living standards in the West

Undermined ideological basis for GDR

What policy did the SED introduce to counter this?

Abgrenzung (demarcation) – distancing the GDR from the FRG.

Give two examples of Abgrenzung policy.

Creation of separate GDR identity (propaganda, sport, etc.)

Greater repression

1975 Treaty of Friendship

In what ways did Ostpolitik fail for the FRG?

Entrenched division by accepting GDR; failed to liberalise GDR; Cold War tensions returned in the 1980s.

Give three concessions the GDR made for FRG loans.

Granted visas to 40,000 GDR citizens to emigrate

Removed landmines from inner-German borders

Better postal service and phone networks