Constitutional & Legal Response to Extremism, 1949

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Banning Political Parties in the FRG

The constitution enabled the government to ban parties which aimed to undermine democracy.

Legacy of the Nazi Party

Following WW2, the authors of the Basic Law wanted to prevent any party overturning democracy in West Germany.
The constitution permitted the government to ban political parties committed to undermining democracy.

The Socialist Reich Party

The Socialist Reich Party was a far-right party (essentially comprised of former Nazis).
The party was banned in 1952.
The party espoused Nazi principles, such as Lebensraum.
The party had some minor success before being banned, gaining seats in regional elections (Lower Saxony in 1951).

Emergency Powers in the FRG

The government wanted to possess emergency powers. This was not originally part of the constitution following the abuses of Article 48 in the Weimar Republic.

Legacy of the Weimar Republic

Article 48 (which gave the President emergency powers and allowed him to bypass the Reichstag) was abused by President Hindenburg in the Weimar Republic.
It was arguably necessary as the coalition governments in the Weimar Republic were fraught with internal conflict.
However, the authors of the West German constitution wanted to limit emergency powers.

Limitations of the constitution

The CDU government was frustrated with the lack of emergency powers. They believed it hindered their response to extremists.
Adenauer’s government tried to push through legislation which would bestow them with emergency powers. However these attempts, in 1958, 1960 and 1963, were blocked by the SPD.

The SPD changes its mind

The SPD came to power after 1965.
Following the rising protests by the student movement and New Left (which culminated in 1968), the government passed through legislation granting emergency powers.
The government could suspend civil liberties and intercept communications between suspected extremists.

Preventing history repeating itself

The FRG government was conscious that Hitler’s Enabling Act (1933) could not be repeated.
It placed restrictions in place which prevented this from happening:
- The Bundestag was in session whilst the government used emergency powers. It had to agree with the declaration of emergency.
- The state of emergency could only last six months. The Bundestag alone could decide if the state of national emergency should continue.

Quashing Extremism in the FRG

The West German government introduced harsh measures to deal with the RAF and the Neo-Nazis.

The RAF

Under Brandt and Schmidt, the West German government launched initiatives to stop the RAF.
In 1972, a police operation was launched to hunt down RAF members.
In 1973, the Bundestag passed legislation which worsened prison conditions for terrorists.
In 1977 (after the ‘German Autumn’ a period of intense RAF activity), the government limited the rights of inmates in prison. Communication between RAF members and lawyers were restricted.

Neo-Nazis

In the 1980s, the government turned its attention to neo-Nazi groups.
The government banned several neo-Nazi groups.
A 1991 EMNID study found that 4% of East Germans had extreme anti-semitic tendencies vs 16% in West Germany.

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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