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Divided Germany: the Federal Republic and the DDR 1949-63 (Foreign Policy…
Divided Germany: the Federal Republic and the DDR
1949-63
Basic Law and the Constitution of West Germany
Basic Law
Freedom of expression, assembly, association and movement were guaranteed
'Representative democracy'. Popular participation limited to voting every few years and the public merely selects who will rule for them. Kept power in hands of elite to prevent emergence of Hitler.
Federal State
: individual sates kept much power over regional issues, national level they were represented in the upper chamber (
Bundesrat
)
The lower chamber (
Bundestag
) was elected by a complex system combining
proportional representation
and
first past the post
. Parties had to gain
5%
of vote before being represented. Prevented emergence of small, radical parties
Law was temporary until Germany was united. Committed Germany to work for unity and all Germans living in former German lands were allowed citizenship. Those leaving the
DDR
could settle in the West
Parties had to uphold democracy. Extremist parties that weren't committed to parliamentary democracy were banned. Prevented anti-democratic parties gaining a majority
President not directly elected, but was chosen by a representative convention. Prevented anti-democratic leader. Powers of president limited, largely formal and symbolic. Prevented rule by decree
Chancellor appointed by the president, but needed parliamentary approval. Chancellor couldn't be dismissed unless a new one was voted in. Proposed chancellor needed parliamentary support, otherwise there needed to be new elections
Falling Numbers of Parties
Constitution banned far-right and left parties
1953
5%
hurdle prevented small parties gaining representation.
1957
, needed to win 3 constituencies
Small parties were divided
Right-wing parties joined
CDU
(Christian Democrats - Conservative)
Social changes
Political Parties and Elections
CDU (Christian Democrats)
Many members used to be part of the
Catholic Centre Party
or Protestant parties. Some were former
Nazis
Supported capitalism and competition, also wanted to protect the vulnerable
Supported welfare state
Followed
Ahlen Programme
, outlining beliefs in traditional Christian values, social conscience and a free market.
SPD (Social Democrats)
Traditional
socialist party
Formed from Marxist, working-class movements
Abandoned Marxism in
1959
at the Bad Godesberg Conference
Wanted social justice combined with individual freedom
Elections
1949 to 1963
, Konrad
Adenauer
was Chancellor and presided over a series of coalitions.
Control and power over his own government ministers, his period of power is often referred to as
Chancellor democracy
(gave the power to initiate policy)
A period when elections were little more than a series of plebiscites in favour of the government.
The West German Economy and the Economic Miracle
The Economic State in 1947
Food production
51%
of that in 1938.
Reparations took away
$10 billion
Industry dismantled as part of reparations
Why Was There an Economic Miracle in the West?
Started with creation of
Bizonia
in 1947.
Economic Policies in
1949
Removed price controls, stimulating business by allowing free competition between private enterprises
Removed controls over wages and production, allowed workers roles management and decision-making, resulting in
fewer
strikes
Ended inflation through currency reform
Reduced marginal tax rates, those on higher incomes had more money to spend on goods
These policies encouraged people to work and resulted in a decline in absenteeism. Industrial production rose from 51% in June 1948 to 78% by December
Possessed raw materials, was not damaged as much by war as was feared. Not as many reparations taken as in the East
Work ethic and cheap labour from East meant they could meet demands of occupying forces
Marshall Aid
brought in
$2 billion
by
1954
. However, less than
5%
of German national income. Also had to pay reparations
Korean War
increased demand for goods that the
Ruhr
could supply. Other nations could not supply materials, increasing their exports
Ludwig Erhard
developed the
'social market economy'
, combining government legislation and capitalism to produce 'prosperity for all'
The success meant Adenauer remained in power from
1949
to
1963
when he resigned
Foreign Policy: Integration with the West
Economic Integration
October 1949
West Germany joins
Organisation for European Economic Co-operation (OEEC)
, receives Marshall Aid
April 1951
West Germany joins
European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC)
. Placed Franco-German production under common authority and started European economic unity
Removed foreign control over West German industry, provided equal status as a member state and helped reconciliation with France
1957
West Germany signs
Treaty of Rome
, established
European Economic Community (EEC)
later the EU. Also joins
EURATOM (European Atomic Energy Community)
, sign of increased trust and success of Adenauer's policy
Political Integration
Council of Europe
established in
1948
. Adenauer joined and stated
'We belong to the West, not Soviet Russia'
. Accepted division of Germany and renounced independent initiative for Germany, reassuring France
Military Integration
NATO
established in
1949
, West Germany joined in
1955
. NATO asked for West German forces to enter Korean War, sign of growing trust but worried France
Adenauer achieved German rearmament within Europe through NATO. NATO forces placed on German soil. Agreed not to seek reunification through force
Relations with USSR
Developments concerned Stalin.
1952
contemplated giving up DDR for a united, neutral Germany
Adenauer ignored advances from Russia and ignored the
1953 East Berlin rising
. Visited Moscow in
1955
and negotiated the return of former
POWs
Adenauer did not recognise East Germany as a separate state and refused to have diplomatic relations with countries that did. Known as
Hallstein Doctrine
and continued until
1970
Was Adenauer's Foreign Policy a Success?
Success
West Germany achieved
rapprochement
with France
Germany's reputation in Western Europe rebuilt
Negotiated return of POWs from Russia in
1955
Joined OEEC, ECSC, EEC and NATO
Oversaw
1957
plebiscite for reincorporation of the Saar into Germany
West Germany treated as equal, unlike post 1919
Failure
Never able to reconcile USSR to German rearmament
Remilitarisation of German society and the creation of a German army created fear at home
Social Changes and the Decline of Adenauer
Impact of the Second World War
Cities damaged and property lost.
25%
of population fatherless. Women forced out of work due to cheap labour from Eastern zones
Eastern refugees =
12-13 million
Adenauer won support of those who lost possessions in war through the
1952 Equalisation of Burdens Act
. Introduced tax on property and funds not affected by war and redistributed to those who suffered the most
Affluence
Built affluent society with aim of 'building for the future'. However,
unequal
distribution of wealth, social inequalities resulted
430,000
houses built by
1952
,
4 million
by
1957
Wages rose
400%
between
1949 and 1963
. Ready availability of consumer goods and many people were travelling widely.
Social welfare available, pensions and insurance-based health and welfare system.
These improvements ended communist appeal
Reintegration of Former Nazis
Before FRG was established, reintegration occurred so by the end of the 1940s,
de-Nazification
was meaningless. Govt compensated those who suffered, exonerated most Nazis from their crimes. Need to care for war victims and refugees was balanced against responsibilities to the survivors
Employing Nazis
Nazi civil servants regained jobs lost through de-Nazification through
Law 131
(right to reinstatement in former jobs)
40-80%
of civil servants were ex-Nazis. Former Nazis continued working in judiciary and universities.
Pensions could be claimed on services to Nazi state. Adenauer had a former Nazi as a personal adviser. Policies meant few felt shame or retribution.
1958
, office opened to investigate possible war crimes
Decline of Adneauer
Withdrawal from not running for President in 1959 damaged his image and reputation. Reinforced with failure to intervene over the
Berlin Wall
1962
, magazine
Der Spiegel
criticised readiness of German defence forces. Defence minister mislead the Bundestag when questioned. Made worse when the government raided the offices and arrested some journalists. Provoked outcry, seemed like a dictatorship, and Adenauer resigned
Emergence of the DDR
Division of Germany and the East German Constitution
FRG (Federal Republic
=
West
DDR (German Democratic Republic)
=
East
DDR Constitution:
DDR declared state temporary, awaiting reunification
Parliament -
Volkskammer
- claimed to represent the people. Not democratically elected and the number of seats for each party was allocated before the election
Upper house -
Landerkammer
- represented 5 regions (abolished in 1958)
The President - formal head of state - Wilhelm Pieck
The Prime Minister - head of government - Otto Grotewohl
Power remained with Communist Party general secretary
Ulbricht
The 1953 Rising
Events
16th June
, workers on the Stalinallee (prestige building project), demanded an end to increased working hours for no more pay.
Called a general strike, became political, workers demanded the removal of
Ulbricht
and reunification with the West. Ulbricht called in Soviet troops, dispersing the strikers, but the unrest continued
The Causes
Rising caused by a number of factors, culmination of long-term disquiet. Death of Stalin and the apparent promise of greater freedoms, with the announcement of the
'New Course'
(plan to change policy of Soviet Union after Stalin's death) encouraging unrest.
Ulbricht
had already been summoned to Moscow, warned his policies were causing unease because of:
Tightening of border controls
Enforced
collectivisation
(joining small peasant farms into one big one) of agriculture
Demands for increased hours with no extra pay
'Building of Socialism', announced in
1952
and increased the role of the state
Failure of government to persuade people of the need for changes
Consequences
Increase in working hours was ended and more consumer goods were to be produced to improve living standards
SED (Communist Party) became more worried about potential unrest and adopted a harder line, increasing size and power of Stasi (state police)
Ulbricht's power was strengthened
Became apparent the West could not intervene to help
Economic Change in the DDR
Land Reform
Large estates given to peasants in
1945
, however this created problems
Unable to farm profitably (lacked
resources
and
machinery
)
1952
, SED introduced
'collectivisation'
and formed Land Production Co-operatives
(LPGs)
Mechanisation and the use of the tractor-lending stations became possible, making agriculture
more efficient
.
The policy was not popular with many, who abandoned farms and fled West. This caused
food shortages
and a drop in production levels, contributing to
1953 unrest
#
By
1959
, LPGs made up
45%
of agricultural sector. By
1961
, this was
85%
but production decreased further and rationing was introduced. Resulted in more people leaving, another reason for the
Berlin Wall
Industry and Nationalisation
The 1950s
During Allied occupation post-war, large industries were placed under state ownership (nationalised). Most people worked in 'People's Own Factories'
(Volkseigene Betriebe)
, owned and managed by the state
The party set targets, handled discipline, and ran social activities (all increased their control)
Emphasis on
heavy industry
. Unrealistic production targets were set in
Five Year Plans
which were often changed and increased
#
Problems with the Five Year Plans
Targets ignored consumer demands
Emphasis on quantity over quality reduced saleability
Plans often out of date before started
Prices were fixed, not linked to supply and demand
Living standards improved slowly compared to
FRG
. Metalworker earned
300 marks
per month, managers earned between
4,000 and 15,000 marks
.
The 1960s
The
Berlin Wall
stabilised the workforce as there was less movement to the West. Resulted in some economic freedoms, less fear of losing workers.
1962
, Seven Year Plan was abandoned because of economic problems.
'New Economic System for Planning and Direction' (NOSPL)
, introduced in
1963
:
Brought more flexibility and input from workers
Allowed workers to share in profits, encouraging production
Emphasised quality rather than quantity
Social Change in the DDR
Peasants
Gained land, later forced to join a collective
'collectivisation'
Farmers given access to better machinery to work the farms
Increase in educational opportunities, particularly higher education
Factory Workers
As with peasantry, workers were also given more opportunities for higher education
Promotion available to workers loyal to the party. Given the opportunity to manage factories
Women
Many became doctors
Increased support, provision of maternity care creches and after school facilities allowed women to work part-time or at lower levels
Mass Organisations
Free German Trade Union League (FDGB) - established for workers, SED controlled the policies
Democratic Women's League of Germany - the mass organisation for women
League of Culture - had the support of many intellectuals who wanted to establish an anti-fascist state
Society for Sports and Technology - organised sporting opportunities, also given preparation for military service
German-Soviet Friendship Society - attempted to improve relations with Russia, reinforced the idea that the Soviets had liberated Germany from fascism
The Berlin Wall
Background
1950s
, many travelled from East to West Berlin. This increased in
1956
when the
Hungarian Uprising
was crushed, many left to escape repression
1958, Khrushchev
demanded the Western powers recognise the DDR, withdraw from West Berlin and hand over access routes. Soviets wanted to
force
the West to recognise the East German state, Allies ignored the demands
USA poured
Marshall Aid
into West Germany, and in comparison, East Germany was not prosperous. Skilled and qualified workers left the East, attracted to the Western freedom. Communists saw it as a
'capitalist infection'
. Exodus had a huge impact on the Eastern economy and undermined Communism
Events of 1961
June
Vienna Summit
. Khrushchev pressured US President Kennedy into withdrawing within
6 months
. Inexperienced Kennedy promised to protect West Berlin freedom
July 17
West rejects Khrushchev's demands
July 23
East imposes strict travel restrictions.
1,000
had been leaving
per day
July 25
JFK gave further guarantees to West Berlin, announced increased arms spending
August 13
Barbed-wire barrier between East and West Berlin erected by East German soldiers. Ended
free movement
August 22
Barbed wire replaced by concrete wall. All routes West closed, except
Checkpoint Charlie
October
US diplomats and troops crossed into East to test Soviet reaction.
27 October
, Soviet tanks arrive at Checkpoint Charlie and refused to allow access to East Berlin. After this, there was a
gradual
pull-back of forces
Consequences of the Berlin Wall
Berlin was divided physically. Free access to West was ended and families were divided
Exodus of workers prevented. Those escaping were shot
Workforce in East stabilised and economic progress improved
East introduced limited liberalisation and decentralisation to win support of population
Four Power Agreement
on Berlin ended
Kennedy refused proposals to pull down the Wall and appeared weak
Khrushchev failed to remove the West from Berlin and appeared weak
Tensions between East and West increased. Encouraged development of nuclear weapons
Wall used as Western propaganda. Argued if East was a 'worker's paradise', then why did they have to stop people escaping
What Was the East German Situation at the End of the Period?
Totalitarian dictatorship established
Ulbricht, a hard-line
Stalinist
had not followed
de-Stalinisation
policies of the USSR
Ulbricht attempted to bring about
social justice
(fair distribution of wealth and income)
Force and violence not a regular part of life. Seen more at the start rather than the end