Creation of the FRG, 1945-1949

The Development of Bizonia

In 1947, Britain and the United States combined their zones in Germany to form Bizonia. This was a direct violation of Potsdam and angered the Soviet Union.

Clashes between the East and West before 1947

Zones occupied by the British, French and United States were run as capitalist economies.
Free trade was used to stimulate economic growth.
But the Soviet sector was run along communist lines.
Stalin and his government confiscated produced goods in Germany for the Soviet Union.

Economic problems

The harsh winter of 1946/1947 led to shortages in Germany. Zones had to introduce rationing.
Food imports were costing on average $700 million per year.
It became apparent that the zones needed to cooperate.

Creation of Bizonia

Bizonia unified the British and American zones economically.

Creation of Trizonia

In April 1949, France joined Bizonia to form Trizonia.

The Basic Law

In 1949, the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) formally split from the east. It introduced a new constitution which cemented democratic values in the republic.

Developing the constitution

Between 1948 and 1949 a new constitution was being developed for the FRG.
It was being drawn up by a delegated council from parliament, however, was also closely supervised by the Western Powers.
The constitution was called the ‘Basic Law’ but was expected to be a temporary measure until Germany was unified.
The Basic Law came into force in May 1949.

Contents of the constitution

The constitution guaranteed basic freedoms.
The authors of the Basic Law ensured that no dictator could take control of the FRG.
It ensured the all governments in the FRG would be democratically elected.

Representative vs participatory democracy

To prevent the rise of a dictator, the constitution worked off ‘representative’ democracy instead of ‘participatory’ democracy.
- Representative democracy means the public elect representatives to take decisions on their behalf.
- Participatory democracy means that individuals participate in the political decision-making process.

Proportional representation vs. first past the post

One of the problems in the Weimar Republic was that proportional representation meant small parties had considerable influence in coalition governments.
To overcome this, the Basic Law ensured that a blend of proportional representation and first past the post (where the person with the most votes is elected even without a majority) to elect people for the Bundestag.
Another amendment was made which stated that parties needed at least 5% of the vote to be represented in parliament.

The President and Chancellor

Unlike Weimar Germany, the president in the FRG was chosen by a group of members from the Bundestag and the Länder parliaments.
Similarly, the Chancellor needed to be approved by parliament. Not simply the President.
This limited the possibility of anti-democratic leaders.

The 1949 election

Elections in the Federal Republic were free. The Christian Democratic Union won the first election and Konrad Adenauer became Chancellor.

The election

The elections for the Bundestag were held in August 1949.

The CDU

The Christian Democratic Union (CDU) was led by Konrad Adenauer.
The CDU had cross-confessional (different branches of Christianity) appeal and conservative values.
It promised to focus on families, social welfare, and defend the Federal Republic against the threat of communism.

The SPD

The Social Democratic Party (SPD) was led by Kurt Schumacher.
The party wanted a united and socialist Germany.
Schumacher accused Adenauer of being a puppet of the Allied powers.

The results

With a very high turnout of 78.5%, the elections resulted in the CDU receiving 31% of the vote and the SPD receiving 29.2% of the vote.
Adenauer formed a government and became Chancellor.

1Political & Governmental Change, 1918-1989

1.1Creation & Collapse of Weimar, 1918-1932

1.1.1Creation of a Republic

1.1.2Strengths & Weaknesses of Weimar Constitution

1.1.3Overcoming Challenges to the Constitution

1.1.4The Great Depression

1.1.5The Collapse of Democracy

1.1.6The Collapse of Democracy 2

1.1.7Hitler Becomes Chancellor

1.2Nazi Dictatorship, 1933-1945

1.2.1Establishing a Dictatorship

1.2.2Consolidating Power

1.2.3Nature of Government

1.2.4Government in Wartime

1.2.5Top Grade AO2/3 - Political & Governmental Change

1.3Return to Democratic Government, 1945-1989

1.3.1Creation of the FRG, 1945-1949

1.3.2Consolidation Under Adenauer

1.3.3Consolidation Under Erhard

1.3.4Maintaining Stability Under Brandt

1.3.5Maintaining Stability Under Schmidt

1.3.6Maintaining Stability Under Kohl

1.3.7Top Grade AO2/3 - Return to Democratic Government

2Opposition, Control & Consent 1918-1989

2.1Opposition to Government, 1918-1989

2.1.1Impact of Versailles

2.1.2Political Extremism & Crises, 1918-1932

2.1.3Opposition & Dissent in Nazi Germany, 1933-1945

2.1.4Political Dissent from the Left, 1949-1989

2.1.5Political Dissent from the Right, 1949-1989

2.1.6Top Grade AO2/3 - Opposition to Government 1918-89

2.2Controlling the People, 1918-1989

2.2.1Attempts to Control Extremism

2.2.2Repression, 1933-1945

2.2.3Censorship & Propaganda, 1933-1945

2.2.4De-Nazification Policies of Western Allies, 1945

2.2.5Constitutional & Legal Response to Extremism, 1949

2.3Popular Support, 1918-1989

2.3.1The Nature of Support for the Weimar Government

2.3.2Support for the Nazi Regime

2.3.3The Nature of Support for Democracy, 1945-1989

2.3.4Top Grade AO2/3 - Controlling the People

3Economic Developments & Policies, 1918-1989

3.1Reacting to Economic Challenges, 1918-1932

3.1.1Economic Crises & Government Response, 1918-1923

3.1.2Economic Loans, 1924-1928

3.1.3Policies for Recovery, 1924-1929

3.1.4The Great Depression

3.1.5Change in Living Standards

3.1.6Top Grade AO2/3 - Reacting to Economic Challenges

3.2Controlling the Economy, 1933-1945

3.2.1Attempting Economic Recovery

3.2.2Creating a Command Economy

3.2.3Change in Living Standards

3.2.4Impact of War

3.2.5Impact of War 2

3.2.6Top Grade AO2/3 - Controlling the Economy

3.3Creating the Social Market Economy, 1945-1989

3.3.1Economic Recovery, 1945-1955

3.3.2The Economic Miracle, 1955-1966

3.3.3Surviving the Recession, 1960-1969

3.3.4The Oil Crisis

3.3.5Integration into the European Economy

3.3.6Change in Living Standards

3.3.7Top Grade AO2/3 - Creating Social Market Economy

4Aspects of Life, 1918-1989

4.1Attitudes Towards Women, 1918-1989

4.1.1Role & Status of Women in the Weimar Republic

4.1.2Impact of Kinder, Küche, Kirche

4.1.3Impact of WW2 on Women

4.1.4Role & Status of Women in the FRG

4.1.5Top Grade AO2/3 - Attitudes Towards Women

4.2Education & Cultural Developments, 1918-1989

4.2.1Education in Weimar

4.2.2Cultural Experimentation in Weimar

4.2.3Education Under the Nazis

4.2.4Nazi Culture

4.2.5Education in the FRG

4.2.6Generational Conflict

4.2.7Top Grade AO2/3 - Education & Cultural Development

4.3Position of Ethnic Minorities, 19189-1989

4.3.1Ethnic Minorities in the Weimar Republic

4.3.2Nazi Racial Policies, 1933-1939

4.3.3Nazi Racial Policies During the War

4.3.4Ethnic Minorities in the FRG

4.3.5Top Grade AO2/3 - Position of Ethnic Minorities

5Historical Interpretations

5.1Influence of German History

5.1.1Influence of German History

5.2Hitler & Foreign Policy

5.2.1Hitler & Foreign Policy

5.3Contribution of Other Nations to WW2

5.3.1Weak Nations

5.3.2Appeasement

5.3.3The Rise of Fascism

5.4Reasons for Invading Poland

5.4.1Reasons for Invading Poland

5.4.2Top Grade AO2/3 - Historical Interpretation

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