Constituent Assembly debates heatedly over the name
When it was founded in 1952, the southwestern state was given the provisional name Baden-Württemberg. But it is not yet clear that it will stay that way. This was only decided at the meeting of the Constituent Assembly on November 5, 1953, when the question of the name was once again heatedly discussed.
Some find the double name too cumbersome and don’t understand why the new federal state can’t be given a shorter name, for example “Swabia”. Nobody can have anything against that… In the following debate recording, the SPD MP Stefie Restle is also promoting this, as is a MP before her, whose name is unfortunately not mentioned in the archive.
Other speakers:
Franz Gurk (CDU)Hermann Saam (FDP/DVP)Viktor Renner (SPD)
Baden-Württemberg: State constitution comes into force on November 19, 1953
In addition to the name Swabia, there are other suggestions such as “Rheinschwaben”, “Staufen” or “Alemannia”. But the decision was ultimately made by a clear majority in favor of the name Baden-Württemberg – so that the people of Baden can also be reflected in the name. From November 19, 1953, the new state constitution and with it the name officially came into force.
But the story doesn’t end there. The people of Altbaden continue their resistance and found the Badnerland Home Association. They found that everything was not going well and in 1956 they pushed through another referendum in the Baden part of the country before the Federal Constitutional Court. This actually took place – albeit only in 1970. To the great surprise of the people of old Baden, the majority of their compatriots feel comfortable in the new federal state. And so it remains in Baden-Württemberg.
#southwestern #state #BadenWürttemberg #November
