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Y221: Democracy and Dictatorships in Germany 1919–1963

Divided Germany: The Federal Republic and the DDR 1949–1963 — Basic Law and constitution of West Germany

  • 3 things to know
  • Unit group 2

Overview

Recall questions on the Basic Law and constitution of West Germany, the 1949 election, the economic miracle, political and social stability.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

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Key term

What was the outcome of the first Bundestag election in 1949?

Numbers

Give three reasons for the West German economic miracle.

Numbers

Name two social reforms that helped stabilise West German society.

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    Explain why West Germany's constitution of 1949 was called the Basic Law.

    Model answer

    Its authors saw the western state as provisional and did not want to make the division of Germany permanent, so the name signalled that a full constitution awaited reunification.

  2. 2

    Give three features of the Basic Law designed to avoid the failings of Weimar.

    Model answer

    A five per cent hurdle in the accompanying electoral law, applied to the national vote from 1953, kept tiny parties out of the Bundestag, the constructive vote of no confidence meant a Chancellor could only be removed if a successor was elected at the same time, and the Constitutional Court could ban parties hostile to democracy.

  3. 3

    What was the outcome of the first Bundestag election in 1949?

    Model answer

    The CDU/CSU narrowly beat the SPD, and Adenauer became Chancellor of a coalition with the Free Democrats by a single vote in the Bundestag.

  4. 4

    Define the social market economy.

    Model answer

    It was Erhard's combination of free markets, competition and a stable currency with a strong welfare system, rejecting both state planning and unregulated capitalism.

  5. 5

    Give three reasons for the West German economic miracle.

    Model answer

    Marshall Aid and the 1948 currency reform provided a sound start, the Korean War boom created huge foreign demand for German goods, and refugees from the east supplied skilled labour at moderate wages.

  6. 6

    What evidence shows the scale of West German recovery in the 1950s?

    Model answer

    The economy grew at around eight per cent a year and unemployment fell from roughly eleven per cent in 1950 to under one per cent by 1961.

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