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Political Parties in the FRG - Coggle Diagram
Political Parties in the FRG
Christian Democratic Union (CDU)
Moderate Conservative political party, founded by former members of the Zentrum
CSU was its Bavarian 'sister party'
Together with CSU, was dominant party in FRG 1949-1969
Lead by Konrad Adenauer 1945-1963
Social Democratic Party (SPD)
German Socialist Party
Developed from earlier SPD, which reformed in West Germany in 1945
After 1959 Godesberg Programme, moved away Marxism and towards the centre
Shifted from Socialist Working Class party to motor middle-class reformer, with a more broad voter base
Communist Party of Germany (KPD)
Revived after the war
Won seats in 1949, but its support collapsed with the formation Communist East Germany.
Banned by Constitutional Court in 1956, and ceased to exist in 1969
Replaced by the German Communist Party (DKP) in 1969
Free Democratic Party (FDP)
Socially and economically liberal party.
Founder in 1948, although has origins in a merger of nine regional liberal parties in 1945
Held balance of power form most of FRG existence, serving in coalitions in 1949-1956, 1961-1966 and 1982-1998