Germany Population: 83 million, Size ~ Montana

Before 1871, Germany had been divided into a series of small principalities. First attempt at unification was the Frankfurt Assembly in A gathering of liberal intellectuals who petitioned Wilhelm I, the King of Prussia to lead a united Germany. Frankfurt Assembly 1848 Path to German Unification Kaiser Wilhelm King of Prussia 1st Emperor of Germany

Otto von Bismarck Minister of Prussia 1st Chancellor of Germany Unification would finally occur under Prussian leadership of Otto von Bismarck in 1871, with a capital in Berlin. Although the first German empire did have an elected parliament that met in the Reichstag – the Chancellor was responsible only to the Kaiser (emperor), not the parliament.

German Unification 1871 German Empire (Reich)

The Reichstag – German Parliament in Berlin

Germany and World War I

Trench Warfare, Tanks, Aircraft, Machine Guns, Nerve Gas, 10 million dead

The formation and fall of the Weimar Republic The Weimar Republic emerged out of Germany’s defeat in WWI. The Weimar Republic, founded in 1919, was largely the work of Social Democrats and its institutions reflected their belief in liberal institutional principles.

The Weimar Republic

Kurt von Schleicher, Last Chancellor of Weimar Republic Dec 1932-Jan 1933 Presidential-Parliamentary System Friedrich Ebert President

Hyperinflation

Unemployment

The Instability of the Republic Economic instability helped galvanize radical groups in inter- war Germany. They found numerous recruits in the masses of poor and demoralized WWI veterans who blamed the liberal democratic Weimar government for the terms of the Versailles treaty and Germany’s postwar misery.

President Paul von Hindenburg, The German Nationalist People’s Party succeeded in electing former WWI Field Marshal Paul von Hindenburg as Germany’s President in 1925 and was reelected in 1932.

In the meantime, the National Socialist German Worker’s Party (Nazi Party) was also growing in strength under the charismatic leadership of Adolf Hitler, who would take German nationalism in an entirely new and sinister direction. National Socialist German Worker’s Party (Nazi Party)

The Nazi party was a highly successful catch-all party It stood in opposition to the Communist Party (which it viewed as an outside agent for Soviet expansion) as well as the social democrats (which it viewed as an appeaser of Western imperialists). The appeal of the Nazi party was populist German nationalism and it drew widespread support across German society. Appeal of the Nazis

Politics and Religion in the 1932 Election Distribution of Catholics Distribution of Nazi Voters

March 1933 Parliamentary Elections

Nazi Germany Adolph Hitler, Chancellor , President (Führer) National Socialist German Workers' Party - Nazi

World War II defeat – complete destruction of Germany

Division of Germany

The Berlin Wall

Construction of the Berlin Wall 1961

Fall of Berlin Wall, Thursday November 9,

Unification of Germany October 3, 1990

Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany, CDU 2005-pres. Gerhard Schroeder, Chancellor of Germany, SPD The Grand Coalition 2005-present

Democracy in the Federal Republic of Germany

Denazification Only partial denazification after WWII. Many former middle level Nazi bureaucrats and administrators found positions in post-war Germany, especially in the courts. Most, however, embraced new democratic parties on either the right or left.

Germany’s first postwar constitution Established by German leaders selected by Western occupiers Framers were not directly elected as in the Weimar Republic. The Basic Law Intended as a compromise, temporary “basic law” or Grundgesetz. The Grundgesetz was set to expire following German reunification after which a permanent constitution would be established (had to wait 40 years).

Constitutional Reform? The Basic Law was never submitted to a popular vote. Ratified by regional state legislatures. There has still never been a popular vote on the Basic Law even following reunification. The Basic Law was just declared binding on former East Germany as well. This has led some in Germany to call for its replacement with a real Constitution.

The Federal System Germany divided into 16 states (Lander) three of which are city- states (Berlin, Hamburg, Bremen). Each state (Land) has its own unicameral State legislature (Landtag), elected every 4-5 years at different staggered periods. Each state has its own state government appointed by the majority party in the Landtag, headed by a minister-president (like a governor).

Bundesrat - Upper House The Bundesrat directly represents the states. Representatives chosen by majority party in each state legislature. Bundesrat members vote based on instructions from state legislatures (delegate vs. trustee).

Bundestag - Lower House The Bundestag: the lower house of the national legislature or Federal Diet It functions something like the British House of Commons – people elect representatives, who appoint government, and may remove government.

Political Parties in the Federal Republic of Germany Social Democratic Party SDP 1863-present Christian Democratic Union CDU, 1945-present Christian Social Union of Bavaria Free Democratic Party The Greens 1979-present The Left

Islam in Germany There are about 3 million Muslims (mostly Turks) living in Germany. So far, German institutions have been more accommodating to religious rights of Muslims than France.

US German Relations?

US Military Bases in Germany