Bundestag election 1957

← 1953Election to the 3rd Bundestag in 19571961 →

(Second votes)

%

60

50

40

30th

20th

10

0

50.2

31.8

7.7

4.6

3.5

1.0

1.3

Otherwise.

Gains and losses

compared to 1953

% p

6th

4th

2

0

-2

-4

-6

+5.0

+3.0

-1.8

-1.3

+0.2

-0.1

-4.9

Otherwise.

Distribution of seats in the
3rd German Bundestag
according to parliamentary groups

A total of 519 seats

SPD : 181
CDU / CSU : 277
FDP : 43
non-attached ( FDV ): 1
DP : 17

The 1957 Bundestag election for the 3rd German Bundestag took place on September 15, 1957. The Union parties received an absolute majority with 269 of the 497 Bundestag seats (plus 8 and 22 Berlin members who were not entitled to vote ); Konrad Adenauer was re-elected Chancellor on October 22, 1957 .

In the 1957 Bundestag elections, it was possible for the first time in the Federal Republic of Germany to vote by post , which around five percent of those eligible to vote did.

background

Election poster of the CDU

Election poster of the SPD

Polling station

The election campaign was very polarized. Federal Chancellor Konrad Adenauer said at the CDU party conference in July 1957 that a victory for the SPD would mean the end of Germany. The SPD, which had joined the campaign Fight against Nuclear Death , claimed that there was a clerical-fascist danger, a new militarist nationalism in the ranks of the CDU / CSU. According to Joseph Rovan , the often hateful attacks concealed the fact that a broad consensus had gradually developed between the two camps in the Federal Republic . Many voters saw no reason to change government, either because of it or not . With the accession of the Saarland to the Federal Republic on January 1, 1957, Adenauer had a great success to show in a matter which the SPD had used as an argument against Adenauer's foreign policy. Adenauer's 1957 pension reform was also popular .

The elections were their biggest election victory to date for the Union parties: For the first and so far only time a party or party alliance received absolute majorities of the mandates and even of the votes in a federal election .

The CDU chairman and federal chancellor Konrad Adenauer ran for the third time as the CDU / CSU candidate for chancellor (election slogan: “ No experiments ” ), and for the SPD the party and parliamentary group chairman Erich Ollenhauer (1901–1963) for the second time . The CDU increased by five percentage points compared to 1953, the SPD by three (28.8% → 31.8%). The SPD result was received as a defeat.

The DP received 3.5% of the vote. In its favor, the CDU had refrained from listing direct candidates in some constituencies ( piggyback procedure ) and the DP had received six direct mandates . Due to the basic mandate clause , the DP moved into the Bundestag despite failing to meet the five percent hurdle . On the other hand, the Bavarian Party and the German Center Party failed to move in, although they had joined forces with the German-Hanoverian Party to form the Federal Union in order to jump the five percent hurdle and the SPD had refrained from direct candidates in four constituencies.

For the first time, the KPD did not run for election; it was banned in August 1956 .

In the 1957 Bundestag elections, it was possible to vote by post for the first time .

For the first and so far only time, the two Union parties competed against each other in one federal state: In Saarland , which joined the Federal Republic on January 1, 1957, the Christian People's Party of Saarland (CVP) had joined the CSU and entered under the name CSU / CVP against the CDU Saar .

Official end result

Result of the federal election of September 15, 1957
Voters, seats or parties	First votes		Second votes		Seats ¹	±	Direct mandates	Overhang mandates
Voters, seats or parties	number	%	number	%	Seats ¹	±	Direct mandates	Overhang mandates
Eligible voters	35,400,923	100.0	35,400,923	100.0
Voters	31,072,894	87.8	31,072,894	87.8
Invalid	916.680	3.0	1,167,466	3.8
Valid	30.156.214	100.0	29,905,428	100.0	497 (22)	+ 10	247	3
from that:
Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU)	11,975,400	39.7	11,875,339	39.7	215 (7)	+ 24	147	3
Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD)	9,651,669	32.0	9,495,571	31.8	169 (12)	+ 18	46	-
Christian Social Union (CSU)	3,186,150	10.6	3,133,060	10.5	55	+ 3	47	-
Free Democratic Party (FDP)	2,276,234	7.5	2,307,135	7.7	41 (2)	- 7th	1	-
All-German block / Federation of expellees and disenfranchised (GB / BHE)	1,324,636	4.4	1,374,066	4.6	-	- 27	-	-
German Party (DP)	1,062,293	3.5	1,007,282	3.4	17th	+ 2	6th	-
German Reich Party (DRP)	290,622	1.0	308,564	1.0	-	-	-	-
Federal Union (FU)	295,533	1.0	254,322	0.9	-	- 3 ²	-	-
Federation of Germans, Party for Unity, Peace and Freedom (BdD)	37,329	0.1	58,725	0.2	-	-	-	-
German Mittelstand (Mittelstand)	3,024	0.0	36,592	0.1	-	-	-	-
South Schleswig Association of Voters (SSW)	33,463	0.1	32,262	0.1	-	-	-	-
German Community (DG)	16,410	0.1	17,490	0.1	-	-	-	-
Patriotic Union (VU)	2,250	0.0	5,020	0.0	-	-	-	-
Party of Good Germans (PdgD)	356	0.0	-	-	-	-	-	-
Groups of voters / individual applicants	845	0.0	-	-	-	-	-	-
Free German People's Party (FDV)	-	-	-	-	(1)	-	-	-

¹in brackets the number of Berlin Bundestag members elected on the same day by the Berlin House of Representatives who do not have full voting rights

² three MPs from the center

Results in the federal states

The CSU associations in Bavaria and Saarland (CSU / CVP) were linked to one another on lists.

Result of the 1957 federal election in Baden-Württemberg
Voters, seats or parties	First votes		Second votes		Seats	Direct mandates
Voters, seats or parties	number	%	number	%	Seats	Direct mandates
Eligible voters	4,857,815	100.0	4,857,815	100.0
Voters	4,097,575	84.4	4,097,575	84.4
Invalid	142,818	3.5	189,735	4.6
Valid	3,954,757	100.0	3,907,840	100.0	67	33
from that:
CDU	2,111,326	53.4	2,061,701	52.8	37	32
SPD	1,053,371	26.6	1.009.019	25.8	18th	1
FDP	547.010	13.8	561,538	14.4	11	-
BdD	5,770	0.1	9,320	0.2	-	-
DG	4,917	0.1	6.102	0.2	-	-
DP	40,916	1.0	50,050	1.3	1	-
DRP	19,621	0.5	24,896	0.6	-	-
GB / BHE	171,218	4.3	185.214	4.7	-	-
Individual applicants	608	0.0	-	-	-	-

Result of the Federal Parliament election 1957 in Bavaria
Voters, seats or parties	First votes		Second votes		Seats	Direct mandates
Voters, seats or parties	number	%	number	%	Seats	Direct mandates
Eligible voters	6.240.499	100.0	6.240.499	100.0
Voters	5,470,347	87.7	5,470,347	87.7
Invalid	166.983	3.1	196.706	3.6
Valid	5,303,364	100.0	5,273,641	100.0	82	47
from that:
CSU	3,068,418	57.9	3,015,892	57.2	53	47
SPD	1,332,056	25.1	1,394,811	26.4	25th	-
FDP	252,341	4.8	240,695	4.6	4th	-
BdD	6.333	0.1	10,675	0.2	-	-
DG	4,571	0.1	4,991	0.1	-	-
DP	36,077	0.7	38,806	0.7	-	-
DRP	26,304	0.5	24,902	0.5	-	-
FU	212,559	4.0	168.210	3.2	-	-
GB / BHE	362,455	6.8	357.119	6.8	-	-
Middle class	-	-	12,520	0.2	-	-
VU	2,250	0.0	5,020	0.1	-	-

Result of the Bundestag election in Bremen in 1957
Voters, seats or parties	First votes		Second votes		Seats	Direct mandates
Voters, seats or parties	number	%	number	%	Seats	Direct mandates
Eligible voters	467.250	100.0	467.250	100.0
Voters	414,498	88.7	414,498	88.7
Invalid	8,741	2.1	15,898	3.8
Valid	405.757	100.0	398,600	100.0	6th	3
from that:
CDU	124,688	30.7	121.264	30.4	2	-
SPD	188,647	46.5	184.003	46.2	3	3
FDP	22,125	5.5	23,311	5.8	-	-
BdD	1,176	0.3	1,254	0.3	-	-
DP	56,390	13.9	55,118	13.8	1	-
DRP	5,230	1.3	5,488	1.4	-	-
GB / BHE	7,501	1.8	8,162	2.0	-	-

Result of the Bundestag election in Hamburg in 1957
Voters, seats or parties	First votes		Second votes		Seats	Direct mandates
Voters, seats or parties	number	%	number	%	Seats	Direct mandates
Eligible voters	1,328,657	100.0	1,328,657	100.0
Voters	1,185,178	89.2	1,185,178	89.2
Invalid	19,098	1.6	30,919	2.6
Valid	1,166,080	100.0	1,154,259	100.0	19th	8th
from that:
CDU	445.149	38.2	432,262	37.4	7th	1
SPD	538,847	46.2	528.645	45.8	9	7th
FDP	105,558	9.1	108,451	9.4	2	-
BdD	4,190	0.4	4,950	0.4	-	-
DG	180	0.0	-	-	-	-
DP	48,837	4.2	54,144	4.7	1	-
DRP	8,369	0.7	9,050	0.8	-	-
GB / BHE	14,950	1.3	16,757	1.5	-	-

Result of the federal election in Hesse in 1957
Voters, seats or parties	First votes		Second votes		Seats	Direct mandates
Voters, seats or parties	number	%	number	%	Seats	Direct mandates
Eligible voters	3,214,856	100.0	3,214,856	100.0
Voters	2,863,092	89.1	2,863,092	89.1
Invalid	102.907	3.6	135,829	4.7
Valid	2,760,185	100.0	2,727,263	100.0	46	22nd
from that:
CDU	1,064,466	38.6	1,116,494	40.9	20th	11
SPD	1,071,222	38.8	1,037,166	38.0	19th	10
FDP	243,877	8.8	232.872	8.5	4th	-
BdD	3.127	0.1	6,086	0.2	-	-
DG	789	0.0	-	-	-	-
DP	194.419	7.0	148,792	5.5	3	1
DRP	32,332	1.2	33,881	1.2	-	-
GB / BHE	149,953	5.4	151.972	5.6	-	-

Result of the federal election in Lower Saxony in 1957
Voters, seats or parties	First votes		Second votes		Seats	Direct mandates
Voters, seats or parties	number	%	number	%	Seats	Direct mandates
Eligible voters	4,438,885	100.0	4,438,885	100.0
Voters	3,950,248	89.0	3,950,248	89.0
Invalid	122,552	3.1	123.835	3.1
Valid	3,827,696	100.0	3,826,413	100.0	61	34
from that:
CDU	1,428,300	37.3	1,495,343	39.1	27	21st
SPD	1,279,201	33.4	1,255,204	32.8	22nd	8th
FDP	223,521	5.8	226.463	5.9	4th	-
BdD	4,446	0.1	6,812	0.2	-	-
DG	3,075	0.1	3,320	0.1	-	-
DP	503.615	13.2	435.936	11.4	8th	5
DRP	86,662	2.3	88,963	2.3	-	-
FU	13,444	0.4	13,549	0.4	-	-
GB / BHE	285,432	7.5	291.163	7.6	-	-
Middle class	-	-	9,660	0.3	-	-

Result of the Federal Parliament election 1957 in North Rhine-Westphalia
Voters, seats or parties	First votes		Second votes		Seats	Direct mandates
Voters, seats or parties	number	%	number	%	Seats	Direct mandates
Eligible voters	10,407,006	100.0	10,407,006	100.0
Voters	9,158,928	88.0	9,158,928	88.0
Invalid	221.965	2.4	303,657	3.3
Valid	8,936,963	100.0	8,855,271	100.0	154	66
from that:
CDU	4,911,300	55.0	4,813,996	54.4	87	53
SPD	3,049,317	34.1	2,965,616	33.5	54	13
FDP	528.307	5.9	554.781	6.3	11	-
BdD	3,897	0.0	9,890	0.1	-	-
DG	805	0.0	-	-	-	-
DP	108.509	1.2	141,330	1.6	2	-
DRP	54,469	0.6	57,755	0.7	-	-
FU	69,530	0.8	72,563	0.8	-	-
GB / BHE	207,568	2.3	224.928	2.5	-	-
Middle class	3,024	0.0	14,412	0.2	-	-
Individual applicants	237	0.0	-	-	-	-

Result of the Federal Parliament election 1957 in Rhineland-Palatinate
Voters, seats or parties	First votes		Second votes		Seats	Direct mandates
Voters, seats or parties	number	%	number	%	Seats	Direct mandates
Eligible voters	2,237,023	100.0	2,237,023	100.0
Voters	1,976,225	88.3	1,976,225	88.3
Invalid	68.008	3.4	77,220	3.9
Valid	1,908,217	100.0	1,899,005	100.0	31	15th
from that:
CDU	1,031,349	54.0	1,019,709	53.7	18th	12
SPD	586.124	30.7	578.203	30.4	10	3
FDP	185,300	9.7	185.288	9.8	3	-
BdD	4.134	0.2	4,788	0.3	-	-
DG	1,467	0.1	2,194	0.1	-	-
DP	27,225	1.4	29,698	1.6	-	-
DRP	46,326	2.4	51,350	2.7	-	-
GB / BHE	25,936	1.4	27,775	1.5	-	-
PdgD	356	0.0	-	-	-	-

Result of the 1957 federal election in Saarland
Voters, seats or parties	First votes		Second votes		Seats	Direct mandates
Voters, seats or parties	number	%	number	%	Seats	Direct mandates
Eligible voters	659.971	100.0	659.971	100.0
Voters	589,578	89.3	589,578	89.3
Invalid	31,031	5.3	38,487	6.5
Valid	558,547	100.0	551.091	100.0	8th	5
from that:
CDU	188,623	33.8	183.423	33.3	3	3
SPD	140.323	25.1	138,309	25.1	2	1
CSU / CVP	117,732	21.1	117,168	21.3	2	-
FDP	101,031	18.1	100,080	18.2	1	1
BdD	2,504	0.4	2,423	0.4	-	-
DG	317	0.1	883	0.2	-	-
DP	3,765	0.7	4,069	0.7	-	-
DRP	3,140	0.6	3,270	0.6	-	-
GB / BHE	1,112	0.2	1,466	0.3	-	-

Result of the Federal Parliament election 1957 in Schleswig-Holstein
Voters, seats or parties	First votes		Second votes		Seats	Direct mandates	Overhang mandates
Voters, seats or parties	number	%	number	%	Seats	Direct mandates	Overhang mandates
Eligible voters	1,548,961	100.0	1,548,961	100.0
Voters	1,367,225	88.3	1,367,225	88.3
Invalid	32,577	2.4	55,180	4.0
Valid	1,334,648	100.0	1,312,045	100.0	23	14th	3
from that:
CDU	670.199	50.2	631.147	48.1	14th	14th	3
SPD	412,561	30.9	404.595	30.8	7th	-	-
FDP	67.164	5.0	73,656	5.6	1	-	-
BdD	1,752	0.1	2,527	0.2	-	-	-
DG	289	0.0	-	-	-	-	-
DP	42,540	3.2	49,339	3.8	1	-	-
DRP	8,169	0.6	9.009	0.7	-	-	-
GB / BHE	98,511	7.4	109,510	8.3	-	-	-
SSW	33,463	2.5	32,262	2.5	-	-	-

First majority in the constituencies:

SPD

CDU / CSU

DP

FDP

consequences

The SPD and FDP formed the opposition. Erich Ollenhauer remained party and group chairman of the SPD, but declined in the federal election in 1961 on a new chancellor candidacy .

With 50.2% of the vote, the Union parties achieved the best result in the history of the Federal Republic of Germany and are the only alliance to date to have an absolute majority , but still formed a coalition with the DP ( oversized coalition ). With the resignation of the two DP ministers on July 1, 1960 and joining the CDU on September 20, 1960, the coalition was effectively ended.

literature

How to win voters . In: Der Spiegel . No. 37 , 1957, pp. 13 ( online ).

Web links

Commons : 1957 Germany Bundestag election - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Results of the election to the 3rd German Bundestag on September 15, 1957 at the Federal Statistical Office
Map of the results by constituency

Individual evidence

↑ ^a ^b Election to the 3rd German Bundestag on September 15, 1957 The Federal Returning Officer
^ Election to the 2nd German Bundestag on September 6, 1953 ( Memento of March 29, 2009 in the Internet Archive ) The Federal Returning Officer
^ Frank Brettschneider, Jan W. van Deth, Edeltraud Roller: The Federal Parliament election 2002: Analysis of the election results and the election campaign . Volume 10 of the series of publications of the working group “Elections and Political Attitudes” of the German Association for Political Science. VS Verlag, 2004, ISBN 3-8100-4123-8
↑ Joseph Rovan: History of the German Social Democracy . Fischer, Frankfurt 1980 (Paris 1978), p. 221.
↑ When the SPD loses . In: Die Zeit , No. 34/1957
^ Result of the election to the 3rd German Bundestag on September 15, 1957 according to constituencies. ( Memento of July 27, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) Federal Returning Officer
^ Result of the election to the 3rd German Bundestag on September 15, 1957 by country ( Memento from June 17, 2009 in the Internet Archive )
↑ Seats of the parties on September 15, 1957 by country ( Memento of June 17, 2009 in the Internet Archive )

[Wahl_1957-1] Election to the 3rd German Bundestag on September 15, 1957 The Federal Returning Officer

[Wahl_1953-2] Election to the 2nd German Bundestag on September 6, 1953 ( Memento of March 29, 2009 in the Internet Archive ) The Federal Returning Officer

[3] Frank Brettschneider, Jan W. van Deth, Edeltraud Roller: The Federal Parliament election 2002: Analysis of the election results and the election campaign . Volume 10 of the series of publications of the working group “Elections and Political Attitudes” of the German Association for Political Science. VS Verlag, 2004, ISBN 3-8100-4123-8

[4] Joseph Rovan: History of the German Social Democracy . Fischer, Frankfurt 1980 (Paris 1978), p. 221.

[5] When the SPD loses . In: Die Zeit , No. 34/1957

[6] Result of the election to the 3rd German Bundestag on September 15, 1957 according to constituencies. ( Memento of July 27, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) Federal Returning Officer

[Länder-7] Result of the election to the 3rd German Bundestag on September 15, 1957 by country ( Memento from June 17, 2009 in the Internet Archive )

[Sitze-8] Seats of the parties on September 15, 1957 by country ( Memento of June 17, 2009 in the Internet Archive )