History - Democracy and Dictatorship in Germany, Divided Germany

Section 4.

What political parties existed in new West Germany (FRG)?

KPD (Communists), SPD (Social Democratic), CDU (Christian Democratic Union), LDPD (Liberal Democratic, later becomes the FDP)

How did the KPD run in FRG?

Had been banned under the Nazis but survived underground, and was resurrected by the Moscow exiles in 1945 and had substantial grassroots support. They aimed to unify the working classes of the whole of Germany under their leadership. They led the way in the merger of the SPD and KPD in the Soviet Zone by creating the SED in 1946.

How did the SPD run in FDR?

It was easy for the SPD to reestablish themselves as its programme was shaped in history. In theory it was an anti-capitalist party and regarded themselves as Marxist working for a socialist economy, however the vast majority deeply opposed the Marxists and refused political compromise.

How did the CDU run in FRG?

A new party which had grown out of the old ZP, DVP and DNVP from the Weimar years. It was a Christian Conservative Party, wanting to unify the Germany’s religions and regions, which appealed to those who wanted a ‘bland’ party.

How did the LDPD run in the FRG?

The Liberal parties had been weak and divided in Weimar years. in 1945, the LDPD was established across the zones, but differences between the two soon emerged and in 1948 Heuss created the Free Democratic Party (FDP) from the LDPD

What was the results of the election of 1949 in the FRG?

The election was fairly close: CDU got 139, and SPD got 131. 22.2% went to other small splinter parties, some of which still had extreme right leanings. 6 of the parties gained less then 5% of the vote, which is why the 5% hurdle had to be introduced in 1953. The CDU’s leader who came to power was Adenauwer.

How was the FRG Government restructured?

The Rights of the People allowed the system to ensure the rights of the people which was above the constitutional rights. They reduced the power of the Head of State, the Chancellor became elected by the people and more important. The Electoral System had proportional representation removed.

What social problems now faced the FRG?

Adenauwer needed to not fully blame those who were Nazis, but also needed to make good after the war and accept responsibility for the war atrocities (weldergutmachung = reparations to the holocaust victims). German people had faced many hardships, 25% were fatherless, 1000s were homeless and 1000s of refugees from the East came. Furthermore, the German people had a political apathy as they had grown tired of propaganda and ideology after the Nazis.

What were some social policy that Adenauwer introduced?

‘Equalisation of Burdens Law’: Taxed real estate of those who were unaffected by the war, which redistributed 143 billion over 30 years.

‘131 Law’: Restored employment and pension rights to civil servants, which was expensive and controversial by did reintegrate ex-civil servants and the military back into the jobs.

Weimar Welfare State: This was kept and improved, with unemployment benefit, accident insurance, sickness insurance, pensions, tax based child allowances. Spending on welfare went from 17% in 1950 to 25.7% in 1970.

Article 3 (1949 Basic Law Rights): Women outnumbered men severely due to the war, meaning they were essential to the survival of German society. This gave them the basic rights.

Dusseldorf Agreement (Shulcaos): Made small changes to school, although they couldn’t agree on the educational policy, so it stayed largely the same (except w/o Nazi propaganda). There was a lack of qualified teachers as they had all been killed by the Nazi regime.

How did life change for workers under the FRG?

In 1949 there was a creation of 16 new unions. one per industry, and they were under an umbrella organisation, the German Federation of Trade Unions, they were co-ordinated to prevent conflict. The workers unions and SPD wanted a restructure of the economy and society, such as a redistribution of property, nationalisation of key industries and a planned economy. The Co-Determination Law of 1952 created a works council for employers of companies with over 500+ workers. They also had a tax based welfare state which introduced unemployment benefits, accident insurance, sick insurance, pensions etc.

How did life change for women under the FRG?

The 1949 Basic Law gave women equal rights, whilst the Law of the Equality of the Sexes in 1957 gave female emancipation, giving women the right to work without husbands permission and to own land. However, still only 30% of women went to higher education by 1968, and the Church still preserved values over equality.

How did life change for children under the FRG?

West powers couldn’t agree on education policy, and they were lacking school buildings, materials and teachers due to the Nazis killing them and occupying the buildings. The changes by Lander was limited to, for instance, the abolition of school fees (1958) and the Dusseldorf agreement (1955) which covered examination, holidays and length of studies. Some called it Sculcaos.

What was Adenauwer’s attitude to Communism and East Germany?

In the language of the FRG, GDR was referred to as ‘Soviet Occupation Zone’. There were no official international diplomatic relations between FRG and GDR. When the GDR signed a peace treaty with Poland, FRG didn’t acknowledge it. It was generally seen in a derogatory sense, such as ‘druben’ meaning over there, or ‘ostzone’, meaning east zone.

What was Adenauer’s ‘Magnet Theory’?

FRG supposedly wanted reunification with the GDR, and the split was temporary. However, Adenauer’s integration with the West showed he was unconcerned with the GDR and reunification seemed less and less likely. His answer was the Magnet Theory - if the FRG was politically and economically strong, it would be more attractive to the people of the GDR, and they would want to join the FRG. 3 million refugees from the GDR came flooding into the FRG during the 1950s that proved this theory.

What were the ‘Stalin Notes’?

An offer of German unification sent by Stalin in March 1952. Russia suggested a settlement which would state:

* There was a final peace treaty for united Germany with free democratic elections.
* That all foreign troops would be removed from Germany.


* It wouldn’t enter an alliance and would remain neutral: and a defensive army would be made for the state as a whole.

The offer was rejected by Western Allies and Adenauer was worried about looking weak and like prey to the communist power. The Soviet offer was renewed again and again on several occasions after Stalin’s death. Adenauer didn’t change his mind and was blamed by his opponent for taking these very seriously. Some thought it was a bluff and was trying to get FRG to lower their guard.

What was ‘The Hallstine Doctorine’?

By 1955, the relationship between the USSR and US were at least somewhat clearer. Adenauer visited Moscow to establish clear diplomatic relations in exchange for 10,000 POWs and 20,000 civilians still in the USSR since WW2. GDR launched a two state theory which claimed there were two German soviet states (GDR and FRG) whereas FRG didn’t want to recognise DGR. This led to the Hallstine Doctorine, which stated that the FRG would not maintain diplomatic relations with any country that recognised DGR as a state. For 10 years it was generally successful, and only two broke relations - Cuba and Yugoslavia.

What were Adenauer’s political aims for the FRG?

To establish sovereignty for the new state (as it was still under control of the Allied High Commission, the Allies still had control and ultimate authority and therefore the FRG wasn’t allowed a foreign office and Adenauer acted as a Chancellor and Foreign Minister). To exploit the economic, political and military strength of the free western world by fully integrating the FRG ending in a united West Europe. To ensure protection against communist aggression.

What were the issues with FGR trying to economically integrate into Western Europe?

The occupation statute of April 1949 still gave occupying powers the right to supervise the countries trade.

The International Ruhr Authority gave the right to France, Belgium, Netherlands and Luxemberg to control the distribution of the areas resources, coal and steel particularly.

The coal rich Saarlands were still controlled by France.

How did FRG economically integrate into Western Europe?

The Petersberg Agreement; The European Coal and Steel Community; The European Economic Community; General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade; Organisation for European Economic Co-Operation; and the International Monetary Fund.

What was the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) and how did they help FRG economically integrate?

April 1951. France had previously mistrusted FRG due to the fact they had had 3 hostile conflicts within a 75 year period. France’s foreign minister suggested a supernational organisation to oversee France and Germany’s coal and steel production, this was called the Schuman plan, and led to the creation of the ECSC, which also had Italy and the Benelux states join. This allowed the FRG to be treated as an equal partner, and they produced 44% more coal and steel within the community between 1952-1957.

What was the European Economic Community (EEC) and how did they help FRG economically integrate?

March 1957. Created a customs union between FRG, France, Italy and the Benelux states which would harmonise the measures of trade and prices in areas such as agriculture and fisheries. By 1964, 85% of FRGs agricultural produce lay within the EEC terms. The EEC developed general economic policy, removed measures restricting free competition and assure the mobility of labour and the capital.

How were FRGs military and political integration attempts affected by global contexts?

The outbreak of the Chinese Revolution (1949) and the Korean War (1950) continued the Red Scare and caused tensions for US and Western Politicians. US wanted FRG to be able to defend themselves without relying on the US, but no one wanted Germany rearmed

What was the EDC and how did it effect the FRG politically?

The EDC was made by the French president, Pleven, to be a European Defence Community, led by France. Adenauer agreed to make FRG a member of the EDC provided that it would end the European statute, and it was signed and agreed in 1952. It caused intense political opposition, despite being approved by the Bundestag, the people resisted due to agression against France. It however was put to the side and the WEU was created instead.

How and when did France and Germany openly settle all major disputes?

October 1954. They agreed to:

German Sovereignty, West European Union, NATO, the future of the Saar

What was German Sovereignty and when was it allowed?

FRG was allowed to be a full sovereign state and the occupation statute ended, although West Powers still kept control of West Berlin and stationed troops there. This was allowed in 1954.

What was the Western European Union?

EDCs plan was put to one side and WEU was set up instead. This was a defensive pact and allowed FRG to have an army.

What was NATO, when was it created and when did FRG join?

North Atlantic Treaty Organisation was a military alliance in 1949, and FRG joined in 1955, and it declared no use of chemical or atomic warfare.

How was the future of the Saar decided?

There was a vote as to whether it should be in France of the FRG. The Saar Parliament voted 2/3rds for FRG, and it was allowed to happen in 1957.

What happened in the 1957 election in the FRG?

Adenauer won his 3rd time with a ‘no experiments’ absolute majority, due to his successful foreign policy, economic growth and stable society rebuild.

What was the Presidency Fiasco in 1959?

The first President of FRG, Heuss, was due to retire. It was suggested that Adenauer take the job, and Adenauer agreed but then changed his mind, as he was worried about Erhard’s ability as his successor. The change of mind was seen as a cling for power by Adenauer, who was 83 by this point.

What was the TV dispute?

Adenauer created a national TV company, Deuchland Fernsenen - which was controlled by the government. The SPD accused him of threatening the independance of the media. Adenauer clearly did not understand the growing importance of media and TV.

How did the reaction to the Berlin Wall' being built undermine Adenauer?

When it was built, Adenauer didn’t react. The SPD leader , Willy Brandt (who was young, charismatic and the mayor of West Berlin) led the reaction, winning a lot of public support. Brandt met JFK in Berlin instead of Adenauer.

What happened during the Coalition with the FDP?

Dispite Brandt’s growing popularity, Adenauer still won the 1961 election, but with only a 45% of the vote, they had to form a coalition with the FDP. They demanded that Adenauer step down after the end of his 4 year term, which was embarrassing but he had no choice but to agree.

What was the Der Speigal Affair?

When the newspaper Der Speigal printed a negative article about Adenauer’s defense minister, Strauss, the newspapers office was closed, and the writer was arrested and charged with treason. Adenauer then publicly defended this, which felt reminiscent of the Nazi rule.

What was the Government Crisis?

The Der Speigal affair caused chaos in the government. 5 FDP members resigned. Treason charges were kicked out of the court and Adenauer agreed to retire within the year and he had to sack Strauss.

How did Adenauer’s foreign relations undermine him?

His foreign relations seemed out of date. His refusal to recognise the GDR left him unable to respond to the wall. He grew sceptical of the US and began building ties with France. Erhard (and others who were known as Atlantacists) were very pro-American so this upset them.

When did Adenauer resign as chancellor?

April 1963, at the age of 87. Despite his worries, he accepted Erhard as his successor. He however didn’t give up his seat in parliament or his leadership of the CSU until 1966. He died in 1967.

What was the creation of the DDR (or GDR)?

Formed in October 1949 from what was previously the Soviet Zone. The constitution was similar to the West, and it claimed to be a temporary state until unification. They said they needed ‘Socialist Unity’ to de-Nazify Germany was important, to teach Germans to turn their back on capitalist and bourgeois ideals and embrace the socialist future. The leader of the DDR was Walter Ulbricht

How did the Constitution of the DDR limit democracy?

The parliament that was established - Volkskammer - claimed to represent the people but there was already an allocated amount of seats for each party before the elections.

The KPD and SPD had already been forcibly merged into the Socialist Unity Party, which was an ‘anti-facist’ measure to de-nazify the Soviet Zone.

There were other parties such as the CDUD, which were controlled by the SED, so they only existed so the government could claim they were democratic.

There was previously 5 regional governments, but these were abolished in 1952 to make smaller units ‘Bezirke’ which were easier for the government to control.

There was a President (turned into council of state in 1960) and a prime minister, but in reality control rested with the politburo and the general secretary of the SED.

What was the Stasi in the DDR?

They were an internal ‘secret police’ system. In 1950 there were 1,000 members, in 1989 there were 91,000. They also had IM’s (Informal Members) to spy on family and friends, which had 175,000 IMs. The head of the Stasi was Erick Mielke. 1/6 East Germans had worked for or informed the Stasi. People were bugged, had mail stolen, and records stalked. They could be arrested and imprisoned without charge, enduring psychological torture.

How could the West be blamed for Germany’s division?

* They introduced new currency without consulting the East.
* The US and Britain made Bizonia, and France joined to make Trizonia.
* The Truman Doctorine and Marshall Plan opposed communism to rebuild after WWII.

How could the East be blamed for Germany’s division

* Printed too much of the military mark making it inaffective.
* USSRs remained in former Nazi territory scaring the West and making them paranoid about communism.
* Refused to have a full democracy and merged into one socialist policy.
* Creating the East German Mark.

How secure was the SEDs control of the DDR by 1953?

By 1949, the SED dictatorship was established in the DDR. Although there were technically different political parties but in reality the system of democratic centralism meant the SED had total power. Many had felt it was the right thing to do as it would turn Germany away from the bourgeoisie and capitalist ideas and stabilize the country after Nazis.

What did Ulbricht move to do in 1953 in the DDR?

He wanted to accelerate the ‘systematic building of socialism’ which meant the policies of rapid industrialization and collectivization by state centralization.

* The Landerstates were abolished in 1952 and replaced by the Bezirke.
* The churches were intimidated and hampered in their activities.
* Direction and control of education and the media was increased.
* The Stasi was expanded to express any political critisism.
* Middle class and businesses faced high tax.
* Agriculturalists weren’t paid well and didn’t want collectivisation.
* Bread, veg, etc. wasn’t in shops and only was available via ration cards.
* By 1952, 171,000 had moved to West Ger.

What and when was the East German Uprising?

After Stalin’s death, Ulbricht was called to Moscow and advised to relax from Stalin’s harsh rules. In May 1953, Ulbricht did the opposite and increased worker production production quotas by 10%, meaning longer hours and no extra pay. In Stalinallee, on the 16th June 1953, 100,000 workers went on strike. It spread to 500 cities and towns and 500,000 then went on strike. Ulbricht asked for USSR help and they came with tanks, ending in 50 deaths. Due to this being an spontaneous uprising, they found it hard to resist the army.

Why did the East German Uprising fail?

Soviet intervention with tanks, poor organisation and a lack of help from the West.

What were the consequences of the East German Uprising?

It made Ulbricht’s rule and support from the USSR harsher. They increased the Stasi, 300 were put on trial and 20,000 SED officials. However, they also brought more consumer goods, reduced the hours and the price of basic food.

How did the East German economy work?

As a communist state, the GDR was committed to the command economy along the lines of the USSR. This meant collectivised agriculture, state industry ownership and planned economy. By the 1960s, GDR was the 10th most productive ecomony in the world. The East had more raw materials, whereas the West had the better market.

How successful was the DDRs economic policy?

Collectivization changed very little for the farmers, and it encouraged them to give up and move west, and if they refused to join collectivization they would get arrested.

Agricultural production introduced mechanization on farms, but 13% of land was abandoned which impacted food supplies and rationing was introduced by 1961.

Nationalisation created an emphasis on heavy industry, 76% of production was under control of the people.

The 5 year plans doubled production since 1950, living standards increased and the economy grew by 12%. Although, new factories weren’t as profitable due to location, low quality goods and rationing ended in 1958.

The 7 year plans brought a new economic system, greater flexibility, workers input, shares of profit, increase in production levels. Although industry growth declined, more moved West, economic freedom was lost and policy was abandoned.

How many people left the DDR by 1963?

2\.6 million in total, with 330,000 leaving only in 1953 after the uprising. This was an issue for East Germany as it negatively impacted the economy as skilled workers were leaving, making the West look good.

Why was the Berlin Wall built?

Khrushchev demanded that the Western powers withdraw from West Berlin within 6 months and give up their access routes, Khrushchev wanted the FRG to recognise the DDR but the allies refused to give in and ignored his request. In 1961, after collectivisation, more left to the West, Khrushchev and JFK met and he pressed JFK to withdraw the troops at the Vienna summit, to whcih JFK refused and increased spending in West Berlin. The DDR imposed strict travel restrictions and a barbed wire was put up overnight on the 12th August. Ulbricht had said that there was no intention of it being built, again they went and made walls of concrete overnight (except at Checkpoint Charlie). The US tested the Soviet by crossing with tanks with the 27th October and the Soviet tanks arrived, but both retreated. The West didn’t protest about the building of the Wall, but since Berlin was in the DDR, there wasn’t much they could do. The Soviet said it was Anti-Fascist protection.

Was the Berlin wall a success for the East?

It did prevent Eastern workers from leaving and improved economic progress in the East, which allowed some decentralisation. JFK looked weak as he didn’t remove the wall. It allowed Ulbricht to be a totalitarian communist dictatorship.

Was the Berlin Wall a failure for the East?

It divided German families as free access to the West were prevented. The West exploited the wall to as it made the East look weak and like they had lost control. Khrushchev looked weak as he was forced. It increased international tensions.