Bundestag election 1961

← 1957Election to the
4th Bundestag in 19611965 →

(Second votes)

%

50

40

30th

20th

10

0

45.3

36.2

12.8

2.8

1.9

1.0

union

SPD

FDP

GDP ^d

DFU ^e

Otherwise.

Gains and losses

compared to 1957

% p

6th

4th

2

0

-2

-4

-6

-4.9

+4.4

+5.1

-5.2

+1.7

-1.2

union

SPD

FDP

GDP ^d

DFU ^e

Otherwise.

Remarks:

^d 1957: GB / BHE 4.6%, DP 3.4%

^e 1957: BdD

A total of 521 seats

SPD : 203
CDU / CSU : 251
FDP : 67

The 1961 federal election took place on September 17, 1961. In the election to the 4th German Bundestag , the Union parties lost their absolute majority, but were able to continue to govern in a coalition with the FDP .

For the first time in 1961 only three parliamentary groups sat in the Bundestag; this was to remain so for 22 years.

background

Posters in the 1961 election campaign, Bonn

Posters in Nuremberg 1961

The election campaign was influenced by the construction of the Berlin Wall on August 13, 1961. For the CDU / CSU, Federal Chancellor Konrad Adenauer , who was accused of his long term in office (since the founding of the Federal Republic of 1949), came up for the construction of the wall Reacting hesitantly and waiting too long to go to Berlin after the Wall was built . He was only there for the first time on August 22, 1961, while US Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson , for example , was in Berlin on August 19, 1961. However, in the Allensbach polls this only meant a short-term slump in Adenauer's popularity.

Berlin's Governing Mayor Willy Brandt stood for the first time as a candidate for Chancellor of the SPD . It was the first choice for the SPD after the adoption of the Godesberg program of 1959, in which it finally said goodbye to the theory of historical materialism , Marxism and planned economy .

In the elections, the CDU / CSU lost the absolute majority it had gained in the 1957 Bundestag elections , while the SPD achieved significant gains, as did the FDP, which achieved its best result at federal level until 2009 under the motto With the CDU but without Adenauer . The German Party (DP), which was absorbed into the All- German Party , lost its last seats.

Official end result

Result of the federal election of September 17, 1961
Subject of evidence	First votes		Second votes		Seats¹	±	Direct mandates	Overhang mandates
Subject of evidence	number	%	number	%	Seats¹	±	Direct mandates	Overhang mandates
Eligible voters	37,440,715	100.0	37,440,715	100.0
Voters	32,849,624	87.7	32,849,624	87.7
Invalid	845.158	2.6	1,298,723	4.0
Valid	32.004.466	100.0	31,550,901	100.0	499 (22)	+ 2	247	5
from that:
Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD)	11,672,057	36.5	11,427,355	36.2	190 (13)	+ 21	91	-
Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU)	11,622,995	36.3	11.283.901	35.8	192 (9)	- 23	114	5
Free Democratic Party (FDP)	3,866,269	12.1	4,028,766	12.8	67	+ 26	-	-
Christian Social Union in Bavaria (CSU)	3,104,742	9.7	3,014,471	9.6	50	- 5th	42	-
German Peace Union (DFU)	587,488	1.8	609.918	1.9	-	-	-	-
German Community (DG)	21,083	0.1	27.308	0.1	-	-	-	-
German Reich Party (DRP)	242,649	0.8	262,977	0.8	-	-	-	-
All-German Party (GDP)	859.290	2.7	870.756	2.8	-	- 17²	-	-
South Schleswig Association of Voters (SSW)	24,951	0.1	25,449	0.1	-	-	-	-
Community of voters for a neutral Germany (WGnD)	778	0.0	-	-	-	-	-	-
Groups of voters / individual applicants	2.164	0.0	-	-	-	-	-	-

¹ in brackets: number of the Berlin Bundestag deputies elected by the Berlin House of Representatives who are not entitled to vote
² seventeen deputies of the German Party (DP)

Results in the federal states

Result of the 1961 federal election in Baden-Württemberg
Subject of evidence	First votes		Second votes		Seats	Direct mandates
Subject of evidence	number	%	number	%	Seats	Direct mandates
Eligible voters	5,211,883	100.0	5,211,883	100.0
Voters	4,419,748	84.8	4,419,748	84.8
Invalid	145,850	3.3	230,585	5.2
Valid	4,273,898	100.0	4,189,163	100.0	66	33
from that:
SPD	1,385,442	32.4	1,342,885	32.1	22nd	6th
CDU	1,955,620	45.8	1,899,266	45.3	32	27
FDP	697.279	16.3	697.311	16.6	12	-
DFU	90.287	2.1	95,137	2.3	-	-
DG	6.111	0.1	6,901	0.2	-	-
DRP	27,455	0.6	31.052	0.7	-	-
GDP (DP-BHE)	111,704	2.6	116,611	2.8	-	-

Result of the 1961 federal election in Bavaria
Subject of evidence	First votes		Second votes		Seats	Direct mandates
Subject of evidence	number	%	number	%	Seats	Direct mandates
Eligible voters	6,551,728	100.0	6,551,728	100.0
Voters	5,714,545	87.2	5,714,545	87.2
Invalid	136,235	2.4	227,583	4.0
Valid	5,578,310	100.0	5,486,962	100.0	86	47
from that:
CSU	3,104,742	55.7	3,014,471	54.9	50	42
SPD	1,690,099	30.3	1,652,642	30.1	28	5
FDP	450.506	8.1	479.830	8.7	8th	-
DFU	83,946	1.5	87,388	1.6	-	-
DG	7,299	0.1	7,772	0.1	-	-
DRP	24,768	0.4	28,699	0.5	-	-
GDP (DP-BHE)	214,672	3.8	216.160	3.9	-	-
WGnD	633	0.0	-	-	-	-
Individual applicants	1,645	0.0	-	-	-	-

Result of the general election in Bremen in 1961
Subject of evidence	First votes		Second votes		Seats	Direct mandates
Subject of evidence	number	%	number	%	Seats	Direct mandates
Eligible voters	507.760	100.0	507.760	100.0
Voters	447.936	88.2	447.936	88.2
Invalid	8,312	1.9	19,695	4.4
Valid	439.624	100.0	428.241	100.0	5	3
from that:
SPD	220.130	50.1	212.734	49.7	3	3
CDU	121,347	27.6	115.493	27.0	1	-
FDP	63,985	14.6	64,955	15.2	1	-
DFU	12,362	2.8	12,639	3.0	-	-
DRP	4,767	1.1	4,922	1.1	-	-
GDP (DP-BHE)	17,033	3.9	17,498	4.1	-	-

Result of the 1961 federal election in Hamburg
Subject of evidence	First votes		Second votes		Seats	Direct mandates
Subject of evidence	number	%	number	%	Seats	Direct mandates
Eligible voters	1,386,411	100.0	1,386,411	100.0
Voters	1,227,787	88.6	1,227,787	88.6
Invalid	18,143	1.5	34,050	2.8
Valid	1,209,644	100.0	1,193,737	100.0	18th	8th
from that:
SPD	570,382	47.2	560.038	46.9	9	8th
CDU	392.417	32.4	380,613	31.9	6th	-
FDP	182.919	15.1	187.255	15.7	3	-
DFU	42,670	3.5	43,442	3.6	-	-
DRP	10.175	0.8	10,541	0.9	-	-
GDP (DP-BHE)	11,081	0.9	11,848	1.0	-	-

Result of the 1961 federal election in Hesse
Subject of evidence	First votes		Second votes		Seats	Direct mandates
Subject of evidence	number	%	number	%	Seats	Direct mandates
Eligible voters	3,395,285	100.0	3,395,285	100.0
Voters	3,028,241	89.2	3,028,241	89.2
Invalid	84,359	2.8	149,552	4.9
Valid	2,943,882	100.0	2,878,689	100.0	45	22nd
from that:
SPD	1,271,675	43.2	1,233,312	42.8	21st	19th
CDU	1,055,277	35.8	1.003.279	34.9	17th	3
FDP	425.210	14.4	438.726	15.2	7th	-
DFU	62.507	2.1	65,989	2.3	-	-
DG	585	0.0	-	-	-	-
DRP	14,375	0.5	18,418	0.6	-	-
GDP (DP-BHE)	114,100	3.9	118.965	4.1	-	-
Individual applicants	153	0.0	-	-	-	-

Result of the 1961 federal election in Lower Saxony
Subject of evidence	First votes		Second votes		Seats	Direct mandates
Subject of evidence	number	%	number	%	Seats	Direct mandates
Eligible voters	4,613,112	100.0	4,613,112	100.0
Voters	4,083,490	88.5	4,083,490	88.5
Invalid	81,650	2.0	140,535	3.4
Valid	4,001,840	100.0	3,942,955	100.0	60	34
from that:
SPD	1,556,255	38.9	1,526,824	38.7	25th	19th
CDU	1,606,479	40.1	1,536,956	39.0	26th	15th
FDP	476,886	11.9	519.139	13.2	9	-
DFU	46,259	1.2	50,380	1.3	-	-
DG	2,543	0.1	4,186	0.1	-	-
DRP	59,731	1.5	63.251	1.6	-	-
GDP (DP-BHE)	253,372	6.3	242.219	6.1	-	-
Individual applicants	315	0.0	-	-	-	-

Result of the 1961 federal election in North Rhine-Westphalia
Subject of evidence	First votes		Second votes		Seats	Direct mandates
Subject of evidence	number	%	number	%	Seats	Direct mandates
Eligible voters	11,085,775	100.0	11,085,775	100.0
Voters	9,799,429	88.4	9,799,429	88.4
Invalid	233.453	2.4	281.183	2.9
Valid	9,565,976	100.0	9,518,246	100.0	155	66
from that:
SPD	3,593,596	37.6	3,549,359	37.3	60	25th
CDU	4,602,409	48.1	4,530,553	47.6	76	41
FDP	1,063,302	11.1	1,118,460	11.8	19th	-
DFU	184,218	1.9	188,442	2.0	-	-
DG	2,299	0.0	4,369	0.0	-	-
DRP	41,851	0.4	43,932	0.5	-	-
GDP (DP-BHE)	78.105	0.8	83.131	0.9	-	-
WGnD	145	0.0	-	-	-	-
Individual applicants	51	0.0	-	-	-	-

Result of the 1961 federal election in Rhineland-Palatinate
Subject of evidence	First votes		Second votes		Seats	Direct mandates
Subject of evidence	number	%	number	%	Seats	Direct mandates
Eligible voters	2,348,108	100.0	2,348,108	100.0
Voters	2,069,927	88.2	2,069,927	88.2
Invalid	69,645	3.4	99.994	4.8
Valid	2,000,282	100.0	1,969,933	100.0	31	15th
from that:
SPD	675.693	33.8	659.830	33.5	11	5
CDU	988.462	49.4	964.270	48.9	16	10
FDP	255.961	12.8	259,578	13.2	4th	-
DFU	29,260	1.5	29,867	1.5	-	-
DG	1,194	0.1	1,978	0.1	-	-
DRP	42,389	2.1	44,644	2.3	-	-
GDP (DP-BHE)	7,323	0.4	9,766	0.5	-	-

Result of the 1961 federal election in Saarland
Subject of evidence	First votes		Second votes		Seats	Direct mandates	Overhang mandate
Subject of evidence	number	%	number	%	Seats	Direct mandates	Overhang mandate
Eligible voters	714.512	100.0	714.512	100.0
Voters	626.817	87.7	626.817	87.7
Invalid	35,156	5.6	47.208	7.5
Valid	591,661	100.0	579,609	100.0	9	5	1
from that:
SPD	198,625	33.6	194.003	33.5	3	-	-
CDU	291.936	49.3	284.255	49.0	5	5	1
FDP	75,373	12.7	74,893	12.9	1	-	-
DFU	18,580	3.1	18,683	3.2	-	-	-
DG	300	0.1	633	0.1	-	-	-
DRP	5,303	0.9	5,404	0.9	-	-	-
GDP (DP-BHE)	1,544	0.3	1,738	0.3	-	-	-

Result of the 1961 federal election in Schleswig-Holstein
Subject of evidence	First votes		Second votes		Seats	Direct mandates	Overhang mandates
Subject of evidence	number	%	number	%	Seats	Direct mandates	Overhang mandates
Eligible voters	1,626,141	100.0	1,626,141	100.0
Voters	1.431.704	88.0	1.431.704	88.0
Invalid	32,355	2.3	68,338	4.8
Valid	1,399,349	100.0	1,363,366	100.0	24	14th	4th
from that:
SPD	510.160	36.5	495.728	36.4	8th	1	-
CDU	609.048	43.5	569.216	41.8	13	13	4th
FDP	174,848	12.5	188,619	13.8	3	-	-
DFU	17,399	1.2	17,951	1.3	-	-	-
DG	752	0.1	1,469	0.1	-	-	-
DRP	11,835	0.8	12.114	0.9	-	-	-
GDP (DP-BHE)	50,356	3.6	52,820	3.9	-	-	-
SSW	24,951	1.8	25,449	1.9	-	-	-

First majority in the constituencies:

SPD

CDU / CSU

consequences

Election poster of the CDU

For the first time, only three parliamentary groups were represented in the Bundestag. The previously opposition FDP entered into a coalition with the CDU / CSU. Contrary to the previous maxim, she elected Chancellor Adenauer as Federal Chancellor on November 7, 1961, as she was able to assert herself with the demand that he should cede the office to a successor in the same legislative period. Nevertheless, for a long time she was called to have "fallen over". In October 1963, Konrad Adenauer finally resigned as Federal Chancellor, his successor was the popular Economics Minister Ludwig Erhard .

The SPD, on the other hand, managed to attract new groups of voters, for which the new party program and the new candidate were reasons. The SPD was on the way to becoming a People's Party .

Individual evidence

↑ ^a ^b Election to the 4th German Bundestag on September 17, 1961 ( Memento from May 6, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) The Federal Returning Officer
^ Election to the 3rd German Bundestag on September 15, 1957 ( Memento from May 6, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) The Federal Returning Officer
↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j Result of the election to the 4th German Bundestag on September 17, 1961 by country ( Memento from January 12, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) (XLS; 32 kB)
↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j Seats of the parties on September 17, 1961 by country ( Memento of January 12, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) (XLS; 21 kB)
↑ Godehard Weyerer: Chancellor on call: 50 years ago Konrad Adenauer was elected Chancellor for the fourth time , calendar sheet of November 7, 2011, Deutschlandfunk

Web links

Commons : Federal Parliament Election 1961 - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Results of the election to the 4th German Bundestag on September 17, 1961 at the Federal Statistical Office
Bonn. Forming a government: who spoons . In: Der Spiegel . No. 40 , 1961, pp. 25-32 ( online ).
Map of the results by constituency

[Wahl_1961-1] Election to the 4th German Bundestag on September 17, 1961 ( Memento from May 6, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) The Federal Returning Officer

[Wahl_1957-2] Election to the 3rd German Bundestag on September 15, 1957 ( Memento from May 6, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) The Federal Returning Officer

[Länder-3] ↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j Result of the election to the 4th German Bundestag on September 17, 1961 by country ( Memento from January 12, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) (XLS; 32 kB)

[Sitze-4] ↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j Seats of the parties on September 17, 1961 by country ( Memento of January 12, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) (XLS; 21 kB)

[5] Godehard Weyerer: Chancellor on call: 50 years ago Konrad Adenauer was elected Chancellor for the fourth time , calendar sheet of November 7, 2011, Deutschlandfunk