General Information about Germany –
History after World War II
In 2009 the Fall of the Wall had its 20th anniversary while the Federal Republic Germany celebrated
its 60th year of existence marked by the resolution of the “Grundgesetz” (Basic Constitutional Law).
This offers a perfect occasion to take stock. What has happened in these six decades?
The Fifties: economic miracle, west integration and world championship
After twelve years of Nazi dictatorship with all its dreadful impacts and Germany’s capitulation at
the end of World War 2, Germany is divided in four zones by the allies. While the western Allies
envisaged the construction of a parliamentary Democracy and realize the foundation of the Federal
Republic Germany with the proclamation of the Basic Constitutional Law (on May 23rd 1949), the
USSR implies socialism in its zone and the German Democratic Republic (GDR) is founded (on
October 7th, 1949). So Germany is separated into East and West and the Cold War takes its course.
The new founded Federal Republic establishes close links to the western democracies – it’s founding
state of the Montanunion (1951), it signs the Rom Treaties (1957) and joins the NATO (1955). Also an
economic and social stabilization takes places with social market economy, the Marshall Plan and
the currency reform (1948) leading to an economic upturn called the “Wirtschaftswunder”. With the
signature of a agreement for compensation(“Wiedergutmachungsabkommen”) by Chancellor
Adenauer and Israel’s Foreign Minister Scharett a process of coming to terms with the pasts begins.
1954 Germany wins the World Cup (“Wunder von Bern”), 1956 the last prisoners of war return from
the USSR.
Film: Das Wunder von Bern, Soenke Wortmann, 2003
The Sixties: Construction of the Wall, student movem ent, new liberalism
The Cold war is under way to its climax, the number of refugees fleeing the GDR increases. The GDR
Regime closes the access to West Berlin and builds the Wall, turning the border to the Federal
Republic into a strip of death, where numerous citizens, trying to get to the Federal Republic will
lose their lives in the following 28 years. The American President Kennedy backs the American
guarantee for West Berlin’s freedom in his famous speech in Berlin (1963). In the same year a
German-French treaty of friendship is signed, the Auschwitz-Proceedings begin and Ludwig Erhard
(“father of the economic miracle”) gets Chancellor. In 1966 the Federal Republic is governed the first
time by a Grand Coalition of SPD (Willy Brandt: Foreign Minister) and CDU/CSU (Kurt Georg
Kiesinger: Chancellor). That is also the time when the economy grows fast, more than two millions
guest workers are enlisted and a lot of them stay since.
The second half of the century is coined by the students and academics protest movements against
the fixed order of value and “antiquated” patterns of thinking. This changes the political culture and
society in West Germany sustainably– feminism, new ways of life, antiauthoritarian upbringing,
sexual freedom, long hair, discussions, rebellion and new liberalism are all products of the trying out
of democracy.
In 1969 Willy Brandt becomes the first SPD Chancellor, leading a social- liberal coalition and initiating
various domestic reforms ranging from the extension of the social net of benefits to the
improvement of the system of education.
Film: Das wilde Leben, Achim Bornhak, 2007
The Seventies: Policy of détente, economic crises, RAF (Red Armee Fraction)
On December the 7th 1970 Willy Brandt emphasizes Germany’s plea for reconciliation with the
famous prostration on the monument for the victims of Warsaw Ghetto. On the same day the
German-polish Treaty is signed, as part of the the Moscow and Warsaw Agreement (“Ostvertraege”)
it serves as basis for a new general peace framework and advances the opening to the East focused
by Brandt. In March 1970 there is the first German-German summit meeting between Brandt and
Willi Stoph.1971 Willy Brandt is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his policy of compromise towards
the eastern states. In the same year the USSR recognizes the factual membership of West Berlin to
the economic, social and legal order of the Federal Republic. Thus the situation in the separated
Berlin relaxes a bit. 1973 the two German States declare to establish good neighborly relations in the
Basic Treaty (“Grundlagenvertrag”) and both states join the United Nations. After the exposure of a
GDR spy in Chancellor Brandt’s immediate surroundings he steps down and is succeeded by Helmut
Schmidt (SPD). Since 1973 the economy is affected by the incipient oil crisis.
The Seventies were a century of external peace for Germany, but of domestic unrest/restlessness:
The Red Armee Fraction around Andreas Bader and Ulrike Meinhof aims at unsettling state,
economy and society with their attacks and kidnappings. 1977 is the year of terror; its end is marked
by the suicide of the imprisoned leading terrorists.
Film: Der Baader Meinhof Komplex, Uli Edel ,2008; Sonnenallee, Leander Haussmann, 1999
The Eighties: Green Party in the “Bundesta g”, running from GDR, Fall of the
Wall
With the Greens a new political force appears in the Federal Republic of Germany. The 1980
founded Party arose from the Peace Movement and environmental activists. Just three years later
they are represented in the Bundestag, performing with sunflowers and woolly jumpers and thus
being sort of a cultural shock for the established parties. Since 1982 the Chancellor is Helmut Kohl
(CDU).
But the event of the century of course is the Fall of the Wall on November the 9 th 1989. Under the
pressure of their own people the GDR opens the passages to the West, a step nearly no one neither
in East or West has considered possible. Now the time of the German Seperation comes to an end.
In its preceding there were weeks of peaceful protests in the GDR. The reforms of the Sowjet head
of state Michael Gorbatschow and the democracy movement in Hungary created an atmosphere, in
which a lot of people in the GDR dared to openly articulate their dissatisfaction with their state by
escaping via Hungary and Czechoslovakia and with the so called “Montagsdemonstrationen”
(demonstrations held every Monday). By these means the structures of the GDR are affected so
heavily that Erich Honecker resigns as SED-Secretary-General and his other posts on October 18th
1989.
After the announcement of travel facilitations thousands of GDR citizens come to the border to the
Western part of Berlin where passages are opened. The Wall finally has come down. In December
there are negotiations on the democratic reorganization of the GDR. At the same time a growing
number of people demand a German Unity.
Film: Good Bye Lenin, Wolfgang Becker, 2003; Das Leben der Anderen, Florian Henckel von
Donnersmarck, 2006
The Nineties: Reunification, “Aufbau Ost”, Move to Berlin
On March the 18th 1990 the first free “Volkskammerwahlen” of the GDR are hold, the election
campaigns center on the form and pace of the Unification with the Federal Republic. The Victory of
the conservative Alliance for Germany is a clear vote for a fast Unification and the implementation of
the social market economy. With the establishment of an economy, currency and social union the
incorporation of the GDR into the Federal Republic is factually realized in May. With regard to
foreign affairs the approval of the four Allies in the Two Plus Four Agreement signed on September
12th 1990 guarantees the unified Germany full sovereignty with the end of the allied sovereign
power on October 3rd 1990. In December 1990 the first all-German elections are hold with Helmut
Kohl becoming the first Chancellor of the unified Germany. In foreign politics the Federal Republic
advocates strongly for the deepening of the European Union (e.g. Schengen-Abkommen)
The Nineties are affected by the economic consequences of the Unification and “Aufbau Ost”
(financial support for former East Germany): Bund and Laender make a pact to equal the differences
resulting of 40 years of separation. That is why there is the so called “Solidaritaetszuschlag”, an extra
tax, supporting “Aufbau Ost”. Since the unification Berlin is the capital of the Federal Republic of
Germany and with the move of the Bundestag, the Government and the Ministries from Bonn to
Berlin also seat of government (since 1999). Gerhard Schroeder as head of the red-green coalition
moves into the new chancellery.
Film: Berlin is in Germany, Hannes Stoehr, 2001
The Noughties: Globalization, Reforms, World Cup
There are a couple of occasions in the first decade of this new millennium for the world to look on
Germany. The first World Exhibition of the century takes place in Hannover with focus on the topics
of sustainability and the balance between human, nature and technique. Globalization is closing
ranks in the world, economically and politically – at the end of the century the downside of this will
show in the world wide financial crisis.
2006 the whole country is in a cheerful party mood because of the World Cup. The “summer fairy
tale” changes the image of Germans around the world: they are hearty hosts and can party
hilariously. 2007 the European Union celebrates its 50th anniversary during the German Presidency
of the European Union. In the “Berlin Declaration” the achievements, shared values and roots of the
Member States are remembered. The Union was enlarged 2004 and 2007 by 12 to 27 members
mostly middle European Countries. In the same year also the G8 meeting takes place in Germany
(Heiligendamm) giving new impulses concerning global climate protection, Africa policy and
cooperation with threshold countries.
In domestic politics Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder (SPD) and his coalition partner Buendnis 90/Die
Gruenen lay emphasize on Reforms of the welfare state and anti unemployment programs with the
so called Agenda 2010. With regard to foreign affairs Germany demonstrates on various occasions
its willingness to assume international responsibility within the Union to help solving conflicts and to
promote civil society. In November 2005 Angela Merkel is elected the first female Chancellor and is
reelected in 2009 this time with a new coalition partner.
Film: Deutschland. Ein Sommermaerchen., Soenke Wortmann, 2006; Die fetten Jahre sind vorbei,
Hans Weingartner, 2004