Women's campaigns against West German rearmament, 1949-1955

This dissertation addresses the issue of West German rearmament and the widespread opposition to it between 1949 and 1955. The study examines women's involvements in the campaign against German remilitarization in particular since the percentage of women opposed to rearmament was considerably higher than that of men. Specifically, the dissertation focuses on two women's peace organizations during the Adenauer era: the German Section of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF), officially reestablished in 1949, and the West German Women's Peace Movement (WFFB), founded in 1952. The case-studies of the two women's organizations describe the difficulties and problems of non-parliamentary opposition groups in general and women's groups in particular. Problems addressed will include the women's motives for their involvement, their self-awareness, political activities, channels of communication, as well as their reaction to governmental accusations of being Communists. The study concludes with an analysis of the achievements and the set-backs of the women activists. In addition to examining internal reasons for the women's successes and failures, the study deals with the socio-political and economic conditions which prevailed during the period under consideration. In illuminating the responses of the Adenauer government toward the peace protesters, the study goes beyond being a description of women's peace activities. Rather, it analyzes the women's motives, goals, and programs in the context of postwar German social and political realities.;Though the women failed to achieve their major goal of keeping the Federal Republic of Germany disarmed, they succeeded in setting examples and living lives which conformed to their political beliefs. The active women proved that powerful personal war and postwar experiences could help to overcome political apathy and transform many past fears of political action into energy for political action. In "daring more democracy" themselves, the activists contributed to a broader participation in the democratic process. Thus, these activists and their successors became a force in society.