Adenauer and the CDU: The Rise of the Leader and the Integration of the Party

272 Pages·1960·10.345 MB·English

by  Arnold J. Heidenheimer (auth.)

Adenauer and the CDU
Adenauer and
theCDU
THE RISE OF THE LEADER and
THE INTEGRATION OF THE PARTY
BY
ARNOLD ]. HEIDENHEIMER
MARTINUS NI]HOFF - THE HAGUE - 1960
ISBN 978-94-011-8169-3 ISBN 978-94-011-8810-4 (eBook)
DOI 10.1007/978-94-011-8810-4
Copyright I960 by Marlinus Nijhotf, The Hague, Netherlands
Softcover reprint of the hardcover 1st edition I960
All rights reseruetl, iflClutling the right to translate or
to reproduce this book or parts thereof in any form
For my parents
Preface
This is a study in the reestablishment of de
mocratic party politics in divided and occupied Germany after
the downfall of the National Socialist tyranny. Its subject is the
growth of the Christian Democratic Union and the rise to power
of its leader, Konrad Adenauer. Closely associated with the
success of the German Federal Republic in achieving prosperity,
political and military power and the status of an ally of the
Western powers, the CDU has yet been the subject of widely
varying evaluations. Like the regime with which it is associated,
it suffers from the fact that for many observers admiration for
some German post-war achievements is mixed with residual
distrust and skepticism. In addition, understanding of the CDU
has been handicapped by confused images of the forces it
represents, lack of knowledge about its internal organization, and
the overwhelming position which its leader has achieved in
recent years. To observers both in Germany and abroad the
dominant Chancellor and party leader appears to overshadow
both party and government with the result that the 1950'S, the
vital period of German reconstruction, has already been labelled
the Adenauer Decade.
* * *
When, at about the mid-point of this decade, I began work on
what was to become my doctoral dissertation at the University
of London, I was still undecided whether to focus the study on
VIII PREFACE
the party's pre-history during the Weimar and Nazi periods, the
early period of its development under the Occupation, or on its
role as the dominant party in the Ferdetal Republic. The first
alternative had to be discarded, mainly because it proved im
possible to get ample and accurate information about the
activities of the relevant groups and individuals during the
Hitler regime. I did spend considerable effort investigating the
third alternative but I soon decided that there would be little
point in emphasizing the parliamentary and governmental role
of a party whose formative experiences were known only in
outline, especially when the party is one as adaptable and many
faceted as the CDU. The shape of the present volume is the
consequence of my decision to attempt to fill some of the im
portant gaps in public knowledge about the party's development
during the first five post-war years. Since I chose to concentrate
on the development of party leadership, organization and policy
formulation, I have necessarily focused on the role of Konrad
Adenauer, but have attempted to do so throughout within the
framework of the party. In order to carry through my analysis
for the period in which the CDU has been in power, I have
written chapters following through developments in these areas
during the 1950'S. But the study's major focus remains on the
occupation period, and its value, I hope, in the important
background it presents for those seeking to evaluate the role of
the CDU and its Chancellor during the Adenauer Decade.
* * *
My topic of investigation chosen, I was fortunate in receiving
assistance from many Germans who facilitated my research.
I acknowledge most gratefully the generous assistance of Dr.
Hans Georg Wieck, upon whose work on the CDU's beginnings I
have both drawn extensively and tried to build. I have also
benefitted from the work of Dr. Gerhard Schulz and other
German authorities. In the main, however, I relied on the
cooperation of Christian Democratic politicians and party agents,
and I would like to record that I received splendid response from
most CDU personalities and party offices when seeking in
formation or access to party records. I am particularly indebted
PREFACE IX
in this respect to, among the politicians, Dr.· Andreas Hermes,
Dr. Josef Miiller and Herr Ernst Lemmer, and among the party
agents, Dr. Konrad Kraske, Herr Bruno Dorpinghaus, Dr. Hans
Schreiber and Herr Otto Dullenbach. Several of these were kind
enough to make their personal archives accessible to me. I also
acknowledge gratefully assistance from Professor DoH Stern
berger and Dr. G6tz Roth (Heidelberg University) Dr. WoHgang
Hirsch-Weber (Institut fiir Wissenschaftliche Politik, Berlin)
Professor F. A. von der Heydte (University of Wiirzburg) Dr.
RudoH Wildenmann (University of Cologne), Dr. WoHgang
Hartenstein (Institut fur angewandte Sozialforschung, Bad
Godesberg), and Dr. Alfred Milatz (Bonn).
lowe much also to many teachers, friends and colleagues who
helped prepare me to undertake this task and/or encouraged me
in seeing it through. I am mindful of my obligation to the
Department of Government, Cornell University, particularly
Professor Mario Einaudi, for stimulating my interest in the study
of comparative politics. At the London School of Economics and
Political Science my research and writing efforts were patiently
guided by my excellent tutor, Mr. Keith Panter-Brick, while
Dr. Robert T. McKenzie throughout provided indispensable
stimulation and encouragement. I was also greatly assisted by
Dr. Hans Koeppler, Warden, Wilton Park and numerous other
British authorities. In the United States I benefitted from my
acquaintance with Professor Otto Kirchheimer of the New
School of Social Research, who has for many years been generous
in sharing his profound of German politics. I was also greatly
assisted by the advice and encouragement of Dr. Alfred Grosser
(Paris), Professor James K. Pollock of the University of Michigan,
Dr. Hugh L. Elsbree of the Library of Congress and Professors
Max Mark and Edward Heubel, my colleagues at Wayne State
University.
I appreciate greatly also the patient assistance given by
librarians, particularly those in the excellent Press Cuttings
Library of the Royal Institute of International Affairs (London).
I was also allowed to take advantage of the collection of German
materials at the Wiener Library (London), and appreciate the
courteous help provided by the Bundestag Press Library and
Archive (Bonn), the Bundespresseamt Library (Bonn), the
x PREFACE
British Library of Political Science (London), the Hoover
Institute and Library (Stanford University) and the various
CDU archives in Germany. The bulk of this research was financed
from the nominal stipends made available by the American
taxpayers through the Veterans Administration, but I gratefully
acknowledge a grant from Wayne State University which permit
ted me to bring some of my material up-to-date.
Finally, I am happy to have commanded the assistance of an
indefatigable critic and proofreader, these being among the
virtues of Patricia Claire Heidenheimer.
Wayne State University
Detroit, Michigan
January, 1960 ARNOLD J. HEIDENHEIMER
Contents
I. Introduction: Perspectives on Origins and
Context
A. GERMAN POLITICAL SYSTEMS AND THE PROBLEM OF PARTY
LEADERSHIP 1
B. THE GROWTH OF CHRISTIAN DEMOCRATIC PARTIES IN
EUROPE 10
C. PROLEGOMENA TO THE STUDY OF POST-WAR GERMAN
PARTIES 20
Party Formation and Initial Orsanization
1945-1946
II. The CDU's Emergence in Occupied
Germany
A. CHRISTIAN UNION, THE NEW DEPARTURE
B. REGIONAL FOUNDINGS, DIVERSE ACCENTS
C. THE PLETHORA OF PROGRAMS AND TENDENCIES
D. 'OLD' LEADERS FOR A 'NEW' PARTY?
Ill. Competing Zonal Leaders and Organizations
A. KONRAD ADENAUER AND THE BRITISH ZONAL COUNCIL 61
B. JAKOB KAISER AND THE BERLIN EXECUTIVE 72
C. THE SOUTH GERMAN FEDERALISTS AND THE BAVARIAN CSU 84
XII CONTENTS
Policy Conflicts and Party Inte8ration
1947-1949
IV. Patriotic Priority: All-German Faith
or West-German Fact'
A. THE EAST-WEST SPLIT AND AN ERSATZ PARTY ORGANI-
ZATION 92
B. ZONAL ANIMOSITIES AND CDU ADMINISTRATORS 102
C. THE ECLIPSE OF THE 'UNIFICATION FIRST' POLICY 107
V. Economic Policy: Planned Economy
or Free Market'
A. THE RISE AND FALL OF CHRISTIAN SOCIALISM II5
B. THE AHLEN PROGRAM AND THE NATIONALISATION ISSUE 122
C. BIZONIA, CRUCIBLE OF NEO-LIBERALISM 133
D. THE CDU ADOPTS ERHARD'S FREE MARKET POLICY 139
VI. Coalition Policy, Federalism and the Basic Law
A. ADENAUER AND SCHUMACHER MOLD CDU-SPD HOSTILITY 148
B. THE CDU LAND CHAIRMEN HOLD OUT FOR CONCESSIONS 157
C. THE BUNDESRAT ISSUE AND PARTY STRATEGY IN THE
PARLIAMENTARY COUNCIL 161
D. THE NATIONAL PARTY LEADERS DISPLAY THEIR POWER 168
1950-1959
VII. Adenauer as Chancellor and Party Leader
A. THE 'CORONATION': ADENAUER FORMS HIS GOVERNMENT 178
B. THE 'DUKES': THE SUBMISSION OF THE REGIONAL CDU
LEADERS 187
C. THE 'COURT': FORMATION OF THE FEDERAL PARTY ORGAN-
IZATION 196
D. THE 'WHIP': FOREIGN POLICY AND PARTY DISCIPLINE 205
VIII. Conclusion: Adenauer's Party Leader- 230
ship and the Reconstruction oj Germany
Bibliography 245
Index 252