brandt era

• brandt was popular in west germany
• brandt was member of resistance during war , symbolised clean break from Nazis
• when he was mayor of Berlin , seen as a strong leader during erection of the Berlin Wall , seen as force for change
• 1969 - formed a coalition between SPD and FPD (Free Democratic Party). Not first time the CDU was not in power
• foreign policies:

  • Brandt pursued Ostpolitik (Eastern Policy)
  • Aimed to normalise relations with German Democratic Republic and Soviet Bloc
  • Measures included recognising GDR in 1973, visiting Poland and signing a treaty in 1970, and a treaty with the Soviet Union in 1970
  • Brandt faced criticism for accepting loss of German land to Eastern Europe
  • Despite criticism, Brandt was re-elected in 1972
  • Brandt also focused on building a united Europe.
• domestic support for Ostpolitnik stemmed from:

  • churches
  • industry
  • trade unions
  • radical left
• brandt was leader of SPD and chancellor of FRG from 1969-74
• domestic policies:

  • drove domestic reform , increased government expenditure on social welfare
• spending on social programmes increased by 100% between 1969-1975
• domestic reform policies interpretations:

  Donhoff (1982): “"People were seized by a completely new feeling about life. A mania for large scale reforms spread like wildfire, affecting schools, universities, the administration, family legislation. In the autumn of 1970 Jürgen Wischnewski of the SPD declared, 'Every week more than three plans for reform come up for decision in cabinet and in the Assembly.'"
• why was brandt forced to resign?

  1974 , his advisor Guillaume was exposed as spy for East germany. Brandt forced to resign
• interpretations of Ostpolitik:

  • Krell (1991): "The new paradox of West German Ostpolitik was that the only way of overcoming the realities of division was to begin by accepting them."
  • Wolfe (1971): "Domestic support for Ostpolitik emanates from four diverse groups: churches, industry, trade unions, and the radical left."
• spd - social democratic party
• FPD - free democratic party
• won widespread acclaim political opposition to construction of Berlin Wall (Nationalists loved that.)