Weimar Politics

Economic effects of WW1

• 1913-18- mark lost 75% if velue

• industry vast profits- increased class divide, decreased agricultural production

• Dec 1916 Auxiliary Labour Law- harh powers over labour- struggling workers oppressed

• War financed through printing money- higher inflation

• Only 16% of war cost met through taxation

Political developments during WW1

• 1917- German unity breaking down

• Increased military control- Hindenburg

• 1917- USPD formed- political splintering

• 1917 July- Reichstag voted for peace

Living conditions during the war

• 20-30% decrease in real earnings

• 1917 ‘turnip winter’- food shortages, malnutrition, disease- thousands dying a day

• 2m dead, 6.3m wounded

Terms of the Armistice

• Alsace Lorraine evacuated by Germany

• West bank of Rhine occupied by Allies

• Most German fleet + armament handed over

• Germany to hand over PoWs but not Allies

• Allied naval blockade remains

• seem as a betrayal from government, front lines hadn’t been defeated so Germany never lost- “stabbed in the back” myth grows

October Reforms: Events and significance

• Ludendorff and Hindenburg know they have to negotiate with USA- 14 points

• Kaiser brought in series of constitutional reforms to end his autocratic rule- Prinx Max of Baden new Chancellor- responsible to Reichstag

• Government to be made from majority parties in Reichstag including SPD- proportional representation, government controls armed forces

SIGNIFICANCE FOR ABDICATION

• ends autocratic rule, socialists gaining power, PR

• BUT Kaiser still held power to appoint Chancellor- turning point not end point

Peace Note: Events and significance

• 3/10- Prince Max writes to Wilson to ask for armistice

• Wilson took 3 weeks to reply- suspicion

• WW demanded evacuation of all occupied territory, end submarine warfare, fully democratise system- effectively asking for surrender + end of Kaiser- too much for Ludendorff- too many Germans had died- futility of war

• Ludendorff failed last ditch military effort- resigned +f led to Sweden

• Peace Note publicised- shock, hadn’t believed Germany were losing- undermined respect for Kaiser

SIGNIFICANCE

• shows WIlson that Germany wants ceasefire- all responsibility placed on Kaiser for war not ending

• Undermined respect of German authority, sense of betrayal

Naval Mutiny: Events and significance

• WIlhelmshaven- ordered to attack British ships- refused

• Kiel naval base- sailor mutiny + took control of base

• soviet councils set up in city, revolts spread to other ports + cities across Germany- most leaders not radsocs, but patriotic Germans who wanted a demrep

SIGNIFICANCE

• evident desire for democratic republic

• influence of Russian Revolution- appearance of threat of communist revolution- complete shift from autocracy, lost hope for Kaiser

Bavarian Republic: Events and significance

• 8th November- republic proclaimed, monarchy deposed

• ‘most decisive moment’

SIGNIFICANCE

• break from Kaiser- socialism/communism- showed Prince Max that he had lost control

• Change must happen to control instability

SPD Berlin general strike

• 9th Nov- Berlin workers called to join strike for abidcation

• threatened to withdraw support for PM’s government unless abdication within 24 hours- Kaiser refused

• Prince Max released statement saying Kaiser had abdicated, then resigned and handed position to Ebert

• Scheidemann on Reichstag balcony, declared existence of Republic

• Communists also declared- chaos, essential anarchy

• Groener told Kaiser army would not fight for him

SIGNIFICANCE

• Kaiser had fully lost control- signed abdication

• loss of loyal Kaiser support- all conceding to pressure- revolution from above

Stages of the German Revolution

Revolution from ABOVE (Ludendorff/Prince Max) → Revolution from BELOW (Sailor mutinies, revolts) → Ebert-Groener Pact → Armistice → Spartacist sup. → Election → Constitution

How serious was the crisis of 1918?

• Complete abandonment of known structure- collapse from above AND below

• Utter chaos- revolution AGAINST something, not for something

• Aftermath NOT organised e.g. socialist and communist declarations, many people still v. traditionalist etc.

Ebert

• Not a revolutionary- evolutionary change through reforms

• Conscious gov. lacked legitimacy bc. came to power through a revolutionary act- wanted to establish constiution

• Needs to find stability, Germany too weak for a radical left wing

The Spartacists + USPD

SPARTACISTS

• founded 1916 (became KPD Jan 1919)- led by Liebknecht + Luxemburg

• Opposed to WWI, wanted to disband army for local workers’ militias

• supported by workers in street demonstrations, membership c.5,000

USPD

• Founded 1917- Hugo Haase

• Wanted working Reichstag with societs, welfare improvements, reform of the army, opposed to WW1

• Membership c.300,000- had increased 1918

Pressure from the left in 1918

• wanted more radical change- v. influential in Revolution, couldn’t be ignored

• 22/11- temporary agreement to only exercise power in the name of workers’ and soldiers’ councils

• USPD wanted to abolish artistocracy, democratis civil service + army, nationalise industry

Ebert-Groener pact

• Depended on army for survival of government

• Wanted support against revolutionary threats- most army officers aristocratic- felt threatened by fear of communist revolution- mutual support needed

• Ebert would resist soldiers’ councils calls for democratisation, army would put down a communist revolution- Ebert would not reform the structure of the army

• Necessary + unavoidable for Ebert, seen as betrayal further left- results in violence

Left-wing violence 1918/19

• 6/12- Spartacist demonstration in Berlin on soldiers- 16 killed

• 23-4/12- sailors revolt in Berlin put down by army- 3 USPD ministers resign

• 6/1- Spartacist uprising- week of heavy fighting, crushed

Elections to the Constituent Assembly

• women allowd to vote for 1st time

• SPD- largest share of vote- 39%- NOT overall majority- needed to compromise

• Pro-republic/constitution parties 75% of vote- clear mandate to establish new constitution

• SPD + Centre + DDP + DNVP + DVP

• Chancellor = Scheidemann

Reasons for a Weimar Constitution

Strengths of the Weimar Consitution

Weaknesses of the Weimar Constitution

How democratic was the Weimar Constituton?