oct 16, 1963 - Adenauer's fall

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Political miscalculations:
-In 1959, Theodor Heuss retired as President. Adenauer didn't want as SPD member as President, so encouraged Erhard to stand, but this would serve Adenauer's ulterior motive and would stop Erhard from being chancellor, but Erhard noticed and refused. Adenauer then announced that he would stand for president. After 18 days of internal party feuding and a lack of support, Adenauer looked foolish, self-seeking and vindictive
-August 1961, Adenauer didn't travel to Berlin so show solidarity during the building of the Berlin Wall and instead remained on the campaign trail. The press condemned Adenauer.

1961 election:
-The errors of judgment were reflected in the CDU losing their absolute majority and 1m votes, whereas the SPD gained 1m votes and the FDP vote share rose by 50%. Adenauer formed a coalition with the FDP, but only after agreeing with the FDP leader, Erich Mende, that he would resign after 2 years

Der Spiegel Affair
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State of German democracy in 1963:
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Adenauer's foreign policy:
-Based on the policy of Western integration (Westpolitik)
-Argued that Germany had to align with the West to achieve future unification from a position of strength


Hallstein Doctrine, December 1955:
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