Citizens elect 1st German Federal Diet

© wdr Counting the votes for the 1st German Federal Diet

On 14 August 1949 West Germans are called on to elect the 1st German Federal Diet. Of the 31 million eligible voters, 78.5 percent take part in the elections. Of the 19 parties competing, 11 manage to clear the „five percent hurdle“. The Union parties, CDU and CSU, emerge as victors with a 31 percent share of votes cast. The SPD takes second place with 29.2 per cent, and the FDP occupies third place with 11.9 percent of voters’ ballots.