Adenauer

• Theodor Heuss was elected as the first president of the FRG
• Adenauer was elected as chancellor of the FRG with a majority in the Reichstag
• Despite being the largest party, the CDU only gained 31% of the vote.
• He successfully managed to form coalitions with smaller parties and managed to gain his support such that by 1957, the CDU gained 50.2% of the vote. The vote fell slightly in 1961, he kept his position until 1963.
• He mostly worked in his coalition with the FDP and DP>
• He accepted German division and worked towards building a strong western state. He acted as his own foreign minister, rehabilitating their position in Europe.
• He gained support from ex-Zentrum Catholics who made up over half of the West German population.
• Adenauer could associate himself with the economic upturn and rise in living standards.
• He banned the KPD and SRP - many viewing this decision as highly undemocratic. He was criticised as having a chancellor democracy.
• The 1951 Reinstatement act allowed ex-Nazis back into the civil service.
• In the early 50s, 40-80% of officials were ex-Nazis.
• In his foreign ministry, 39/49 were ex-Nazi members. His minister of refugees was also an ex-Nazi.
• The main opposition group was the SPD, however they grew to be a very weak party. They were painted as communists by the CDU, despite being committed to the regime. The leader Schumacher carried out policy that was unpopular with the electorate. He opposed Adenauer's move westwards and believed that unification should be the top priority. He argued that the economic policies would be a failure - not the case. They suffered internal division on remilitarisation and were seen as a working class party in a state with a growing middle class.
• Adenauer had the impossible task of rebuilding from war:

  • 1950 - Construction law. 4 million new dwellings by 1957
  • 1953 - Equalisation of Burdens Act - compensation to victims of war crime
• He worked closely with his economic minister, Ludwig Erhard:

  • Bargaining law - participation of workers in factories decision making
  • New welfare reforms including the Pensions act of 1957
• He argued for the creation of the Bundeswehr (armed security police) to maintain internal control as well as control against eaters communism. This was agreed in 1956, but opposed by the SPD.
• Care had to be taken to prevent the Bundeswehr to develop into a independent politically influential organisation like the old Reichwehr.
• 1955 - The FRG was admitted into NATO.
• 1957 - it became a founding member of the EEC
• 1957 - joined the European Defence Community
• Adenauer's second term started promisingly in 1957 with 50.2% of the vote.
• In 1956, the FDP broke from the coalition due to disagreements over attitudes towards the GDR.
• The SPD grew stronger by reforming itself in 1959. It dropped commitments to work against capitalism and supported Erhard's economics. The new leader Willy Brandt was young and charasmatic.
• In 1959, Adenauer put himself forward as president. He could not find anyone to replace himself as chancellor and his arrogant behaviour caused fiction within his own party.
• In 1961, the GDR erected a wall dividing east and West Berlin. He didn't visit Berlin until later causing Brandt to accuse him of indifference.
• In the 1961 elections, the CDU vote fell to 46%. The FDP increased its vote from 7.7% to 12.8%. He negotiated another coalition but on the condition that he would resign after 2 years but he only ousted after a year.
• 1962 - Spiegel Affair. Defence minister Strauss ordered the arrest of news magazine Der Spiegel due to an article condemning the inefficiencies of the Bundeswehr. They took heavy handed action, leading to press outcry and student protests.
• In the early years, many had the attitude of 'ohne mich' leaving politics to the politicians and enjoying a quiet, private life.
• Surveys taken at the time suggest that 60% of the population preferred property, jobs and the possibility of a substantial income to all democratic freedoms.
• The Schwabing Riots of 1962, a police decision to take action against buskers became the catalyst for clashes between youths and the Munich police forces.