- Political Persecution in the Early Bonn Republic
- Conclusion – Unconstitutional Political Persecution in the FRG
Political Persecution in the Early Bonn Republic
Unlike the GDR, the Federal Republic of Germany during the Bonn Republic was founded as a democratic state governed by the rule of law. Nevertheless, there were cases of political persecution, often driven by the Cold War context and the confrontation with communism.
The Bonn Republic viewed communism—especially from the GDR and the Soviet Union—as an existential threat. This led to measures against leftist groups and individuals.
The Ban of the Communist Party of Germany (KPD)
The ban of the Communist Party of Germany (KPD) on 17 August 1956 marked the second prohibition of a political party in West German history, following the ban of the openly neo-Nazi Socialist Reich Party (SRP) in 1952. The Federal Constitutional Court ruled the KPD unconstitutional. This led to widespread repression of its members and surveillance by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution. At the time of the ban, the KPD had around 85,000 members.
Party assets were confiscated, officials were arrested, and an entire political movement was criminalised. The party’s chairman, Max Reimann, and several top officials fled to the GDR to escape arrest or sanctions.
The consequences were significant: the communist movement lost considerable influence and was pushed to the political margins of the Federal Republic.
Professional Bans in the FRG – Political Purges in the Public Sector via the “Radikalenerlass”
On 28 January 1972, the state premiers, in cooperation with Federal Chancellor Willy Brandt, adopted the so-called Radikalenerlass (Decree on Radicals). This decree required applicants and employees in the public service to be screened for their loyalty to the constitutional order to ensure that they supported the free democratic basic order at all times.
In practice, this primarily affected individuals with leftist political leanings, particularly members of the German Communist Party (DKP) or the Socialist University Federation (SHB).
Between 1972 and 1985, approximately 3.5 million people were screened. Around 1,250 applicants were rejected, and approximately 260 individuals were dismissed from public service.
The Radikalenerlass was met with national and international criticism and was seen as a restriction of freedom of speech and association. In the following years, several federal states distanced themselves from the practice. In 2016, the state of Lower Saxony established a commission to investigate and reassess the fates of those affected.
Consequences for Those Affected
The professional bans had devastating effects on the lives of thousands:
- Chilling Effect: Particularly student teachers were subjected to targeted pressure.
- Inquisition-like Hearings: Affected individuals were summoned to “hearings” and questioned about political views and activities that were not illegal.
- Existential Consequences: Rejections often led to unemployment without entitlement to benefits, forcing many into social assistance.
- Lengthy Legal Battles: It took an average of five years to reach the Federal Administrative Court—with no income during that time.
Historical Context of Professional Bans in the Bonn Republic
The Radikalenerlass continues a long tradition of political repression in Germany:
- German Empire: The “Lex Arons” of 1898 forced social democratic physicist Leo Arons out of academia.
- Nazi Era: The “Law for the Restoration of the Professional Civil Service” of 1933 purged political dissidents and Jews from public service.
- Early FRG: As early as 1950, the “Adenauer Decree” targeted KPD members; the KPD was banned in 1956.
Protest and Resistance
Widespread resistance emerged against the professional bans in the Bonn Republic:
- Local Initiatives: Groups like the “Initiativkreis gegen Berufsverbote” in Münster (1973–1985) provided solidarity and support to those affected.
- Mass Demonstrations: Up to 35,000 people protested nationwide; international solidarity came from France, the Netherlands, and Belgium.
- Legal Challenges: Labour courts often ruled in favour of the plaintiffs, prompting the North Rhine-Westphalia government to begin backing down in 1980.
Renewed Restrictions?
The debate over professional bans remains relevant today. In Lower Saxony, for example, SPD Interior Minister Daniela Behrens is currently planning to tighten disciplinary law—a move critics see as a return to the professional ban policy.
Prosecution of GDR Spies and Agents
During the Cold War, the Federal Republic was a target of espionage by the GDR. This led to countermeasures:
Internal Security: Laws such as the 1976 Anti-Terror Law were also used to combat perceived threats, leading to restrictions on civil liberties.
Surveillance and Arrests: The Federal Intelligence Service (BND) and the Office for the Protection of the Constitution monitored suspected individuals and organisations. GDR spies were arrested and brought to trial.
Handling of Protest Movements
The Bonn Republic faced various protest movements, some of which were viewed as threats:
Peace and Anti-Nuclear Movements: In the 1970s and 1980s, peaceful demonstrators were at times labelled “enemies of the state” and placed under surveillance.
Student Movement (1968): Protests against authority and capitalism were closely monitored. Some activists were surveilled or arrested.
Judiciary and Political Trials
The judiciary was sometimes used to suppress political dissent:
Restriction of Free Expression: Laws such as the Radikalenerlass and those criminalising anti-constitutional views curtailed political freedoms.
Political Trials: Leftist activists and supposed enemies of the state were sometimes convicted in questionable trials—for example, the Baader-Meinhof trial against RAF members.
Conclusion – Unconstitutional Political Persecution in the FRG
The history of political persecution in the Bonn Republic serves as a stark warning of how quickly a democracy can falter:
Even the democrat Willy Brandt—famous for his slogan “Dare more democracy”—violated the right to freedom of expression and association with the disproportionate Radikalenerlass, according to the European Court of Human Rights.
When political interests outweigh the rights of the individual, it becomes the responsibility of every citizen to defend liberty and the rule of law—and to stand against all forms of oppression.