Political Dissent from the Left, 1949-1989

Dissent from the Younger Generation

In the immediate aftermath of WW2, there was little formal opposition. However, when the younger generation came of age in the 1960s, they began to actively confront the FRG’s regime.

Student movements

The German education system faced shortages in funding and resources.
German students became frustrated at the lack of representation in higher education.
Universities could be an ideological hotbed. Berlin became a key site of discontent.

The ‘New Left’

Students became influenced by socialism, called the 'New Left'.
Organisations such as the Socialist German Students’ Union were radically left wing.
Students and the New Left actively campaigned against a number of issues.
This included the US’ role in the Vietnam War and the rise in nuclear arms.

Protests

In the second half of the 1960s, the student movement began to engage in protests and sit-ins.
Left-wing protests came to a head across the globe in 1968.
- 1968 held the promise of the liberation of the political, social and sexual.
- Gildea (2013) described 1968 as a time of ‘heady utopianism’.
In West Germany, the leader of the Socialist German Students’ Union, Rudi Dutschke, was killed. This sparked outrage and huge protests.

Lack of widespread support

Society became polarised (along generational lines).
The student movement was not able to gain widespread support.
Following 1968, the movement lost traction.

The Red Army Faction (RAF)

The RAF was a radical left-wing group. This movement was more radical than the student movement and engaged in acts of terrorism.

Leftist agenda

The RAF opposed capitalism in West Germany.

Methods

To achieve their ambitions, the RAF used radical action.
The group used terrorism to gain attention.
- E.g. bombings, kidnappings and assassinations.
The RAF murdered 28 people.
- E.g. in April 1977 the FRG’s Attorney General, Siegried Buback, was assassinated.
Aust (2009) on the escalation of violence: “Indignation turned to protest, protest to resistance, resistance to violence and violence to outright terrorism.”

Response to the RAF

West German society were alienated by the RAF’s extreme violence.
The RAF waned over the 1980s and eventually dissolved in 1998.

The Green Party

The Green Party was a political alternative from the CDU and SPD. The party’s tenet was sustainability.

Origins and aims

The Green Party was formed from various environmentalists and peace activists.
The Party aimed to give issues of sustainability a political platform.
The Party outlined its main aims as:
- Social justice.
- Non violence.
- Ecological wisdom.
- Grassroots democracy.

Issues

The party promoted a sustainable approach to the environment, economy and society.
It campaigned against:
- The use of nuclear arms.
- NATO’s use of military action.
Schoonmaker (1988): “[The Green Party] is clearly left in its insistence on extending participation to as many social units as possible. In its identification with women’s rights and the peace movement, it is also bucking the status quo forces in a moderately conservative society.”

Methods

The Green Party believed in pacifism and peaceful campaigning.
Some argue that the decline in extremism in West Germany can be partly attributed to the Green Party.

Electoral success

The Green Party entered the Bundestag after the 1983 election.
The Green Party harnessed contemporary hostility to nuclear weapons, particularly after the disaster at Chernobyl (1986), to improve their share of the vote in the 1987 election.

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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