History - Democracy and Dictatorship in Germany, Establishment + Development of the Weimar Republic

When was the Weimar Republic established?

1919\.

Who were some important figures in WR?

Erich Lundendorff: German General, was practically a military dictator in 1916-1918 with Hindenberg, and was a supporter of Kapp Putsch + Hitler.

Kaiser Wilhelm II: Emperor from 1888-1918, then abdicated after his failures in WWI.

Paul Von Hindenberg: Was recalled from retirement to lead Eastern Front in WWI. Reluctantly became president in 1925, he didn’t support Democracy and appointed people such as Hitler.

Friedrich Ebert: Co-chairman of SDP + Leader of German Provisional Govt, and President of WR in 1920.

How impactful was the Treaty of Versailles on Germany?

Germany wasn’t fully destroyed and was still extremely powerful - despite the fact that many Gerrman’s now lived under foreign rule due to lost land, though the loss of the Armed forces and the empire did lead to anger through the German people.

What did the Treaty of Versailles mean for Germany?

Only 100,000 men in army (reduced from 4.5 million), Rhineland demilitarized, conscription banned, 12.5% of population lost, 10% of land lost, Posen and the Polish corridor given to Poland, lost 48% of iron industry, had to pay £6.6 billion in reparations.

What was the political structure of the WR?

The people could vote every 4 years to change the Reichstag, or every 7 years to change the Head of State President.

What are some influencial political parties in Weimar Germany?

Left

KPD: German Communists Party, opposed WR and wanted revolution.

SDP: Socialist-Democratics, supported working class unions and parliamentary democracy.

Centre: made to protect Catholic interests in the 19th century.

DVP: German People’s Party, founded by Streissemann, initially disliked WR but supported parliamentary Democracy

NSDAP: National Socialist German Workers Party, abandoned socialism to follow right wing agenda.

Right

What is proportional representation and how did it affect the WR?

Every 60,000 votes in Germany let 1 representative into the govt, meaning no one party rules, which meant smaller parties could gain some access. No majority party meant unsteady coalitions were forced. It caused instability - though the system did have some positives, it ultimately led to the fall of the republic.

What was Article 48 and how did it affect the WR?

Article 48 meant that in a crisis, the Chancellor could overrule and decide, (Ruling by Emergency Decree) going over the Reichstag. It was easily abused, and overused a lot during the Ruhr crisis in 1923-1924, during hyperinflation and the Wall Street Crash, and through the depression in the 1930s.

Who was Streissemann and what did he do?

Streissemann wanted support for moderate parties and less for extremists, and put many economic strategies in place, such as starting the Rentenbank and putting in place the Dawes and Young plans.

How did Streissemann end hyperinflation?

He starts Rentenbank, and a new currency, the Rentenmark, which started the process of financial stability, and this currency was accepted quickly. This was completed by 1924 with the introduction of Reichmark, replacing Rentenmark. This restored confidence in the currency and compensation was given to those whose savings had been destroyed by inflation. He introduced this within his first 100 days in office.

What was the Dawes plan?

A plan in 1924 to loan 800 million marks worth of USD from the US to finance an expansion of the German government, industry, and banks. Germany got to pay a reduced amount of reparations over extended time: 1 billion marks p/y for 5 years, and then 2.5 billion marks after that. (£6.6 billion = 132 billion marks).

What was the Young plan?

In August 1929, the Young plan was introduced to help reduce reparations and extend Germany;s repayment period, which would help government spending. The total sum was reduced by 20%/37,000 million. They were made to be paid over 58 years, and helped stimulate Germany’s economy.

Did Streissemann’s strategy cause economic recovery?

Growth in the industry meant more worker strikes as they now held more power.

Stable currency meant increase in exports tax, forcing industrialists to cut costs, which was worsened by the fact that there was an extra 5 million workers due to a previous baby boom. 2 million were unemployed.

German agriculture didn’t recover, global overproduction caused a fall in prices and by 1929 1/2 of German farms were unprofitable. This caused large scale peasant protests who began to support NSDAP.

How did Streissemann help improve foreign relations?

He drew support from the middle classes, and got Germany back on the international stage by joining the League of Nations in 1926, he signed the Locurno treaty guaranteeing its frontiers with France and Belgium, the Allied Disarmament Commission withdrew from Germany in 1927. Streissemann got attacked despite his success, for negotiating with the Allies/former Allies.

How did Streissemann help improve living and working conditions?

Wages for unionised workers rose, working hours were reduced to 8 hours a day, welfare benefits and pensions were improved. However, the ‘Welfare State’ was expensive (more expensive then reparations) and it angered employers as it increased the taxes of businesses, and could only be sustained as the economy grew, conditions didn’t improve for agricultural workers, and some mayors introduced short term recovery programmes, but these were heavily reliant on foreign money.

How did Streissemann help improve culture?

The tolerant republic allowed art to flourish, removing pre-war censorship, artists such as Otto Dix grew, German cinema evolved with new technology, liberal attitudes in film/art/stage shocked many with the film ‘All Quiet on the Western Front’ shocking many with its poor depictions of the military. Risque songs in nightclubs and ‘transvestite’ balls gave an impression of corruption that many blamed on the new govt.

What threats did the Weimar Govt face?

Communist revolts, threats from the right and invasion of the ruhr/hyperinflation.

How did communist revolts threaten the Weimar Government?

Many had hoped for a soviet style government and nationalised industry. The Spartacists attempted to seize power in Berlin, but the revolt lacked worker, trade union, and soc-dem support. Two leaders of the Spartacists, Rosa Luxemberg and Karl Liebknecht were murdered and the revolution was crushed - although Communist threat still prevailed with strikes and soviets being set up throughout Germany.

How did the right threaten the Weimar Government?

Army and Civil Servants from the old regime disliked the new republic. Extreme right parties emerged, gaining support after Germany’s WWI defeat. The most notable being the German Workers Party - many were racists and extremists but they had support from landowners, industrialists and the middle class. Threats such as the Kapp Putsch and the Munich Putsch showcased this.

What was the Kapp Putsch?

In March 1920, when the govt. began to disband the Freicorps, many groups were outraged. One group marched on Berlin, but the Army refused to crush the rebellion and the government fled - but the trade unions called a general strike paralysing public services and ending the revolt.

What was the Munich Putsch?

In November 1923, Batheria was ruled by a Conservative Catholic Regime that wanted right wing parties and restore pre-world war values, and this is where the Nazi party originated. They planned a putsch in Sept ‘23, before marching to Berlin to establish a military dictatorship - the coup began and Hitler seized the state governer. The police interrupted the march and killed 16 Nazis. The Batharian State Commissioner, Head of the Batherian Police and the Commissioner of the Batharian Army (Kahr, Von Selser and General von Lossow) all back out of the putsch. Hitler was arrested, put on trial, and imprisoned, though his sentence was lenient.

How did hyperinflation and the invasion of the Ruhr threaten the Weimar Government?

In 1923, Germany failed to pay reparations of coal and timber, so France and Belgium sent troops to occupy the Ruhr. Ruhr workers went on strike and Ger govt. stopped paying all reparations, so French brought in miners and factory workers to get their share. Germany then printed more money to pay the currency to the striking workers, so the currency was useless by August 1923. This caused starvation and unrest, and a new governments ‘great coalition’ had to be formed, ending German strikes. This angered nationalists who seen it as giving up to French. In 1923 $1 of USD = 4,200,000.

How did the failings of the Weimar Republic help the Nazi party gain support from 1929-1933?

The Grand Coalition of 1928: SDP got 9.1 million votes/153 seats and were the biggest party - the next closest party was the communist party, so instead the SDP had to join with the DVP and the DDP, but when the depression hit the coalition couldn’t agree on what to do.

Growing Political Chaos: Membership to the KPD and NSDAP grew due to the depression, extreme right and left getting more support, but the politics became more divided and violent. The government seemed unstable and weak to Germans so many didn’t vote.

Who was President and who was Chancellor under the Great Coalition of 1928?

President Hindenberg and Chancellor Muller.

How did the impact of the Great Depression help the Nazi party gain support from 1929-1933?

The collapse of the US stock market brought the collapse of the Weimar Government. Germany had been relying on US loans. Unemployment hit its worst during 1932, with 33% of the workforce was unemployed. Peoples savings were wiped out by the depression, the government’s money was ruined, no one could pay tax but many needed benefits.

How did the rise and appeal of Hitler help the Nazi party gain support from 1929-1933?

Anton Drexler began the Nazi party with Hitler in charge of propaganda, then in 1920 they changed their name to the National Socialist German Worker’s Party, targetting the working/jobless man. In 1921 Hitler became leader of the party and attempted to seize governmental power, such as the Munich Putsch. He now wanted to win power through election, not force. The WG had appeared weak so Nazi’s offered public work schemes and they feared communism, so NSDAP seemed a good option.

When did NSDAP’s seats increase majorly?

In 1930, from 12 to 107, causing a divided reichstag. This made it hard for Bruning to govern and gave the impression that democracy had failed.

How did Hitler come to power?

Hitler refused to be vice-chancellor, so it was agreed that Hitler would lead a Nazi-Nationalist coalition with Von Papen as vice chancellor. Papen convinced Hindenberg that he could control Hitler as there was only two other Nazi’s in cabinet (Frick + Goering).

How was Nazi propaganda affective in the beginning of Hitler’s rule?

Propaganda depicted the Nazi party giving jobs, food, destroying communism and showing Germans/Germany as strong. Examples such as “Work and Food” in 1932, and “National Socialism: The organised will of the Nation” showcase this.

What was the Backstairs intrigue?

Von Papen had been replaced by Schleicher so began talks with Hitler about revenge. Schliecher failed to gain a Reichstag majority which strengthened Hitler’s position and caused Hindenberg to lose confidence in Scliecher and want his removal. Hindenberg brought Hitler to govt. as he thought the Nazi party was in decline and therefore would be easier to control. The Army and major landowners were worried about Sliecher’s plans to bring strands of left and right together and worried about a communist takeover.

Why did Nazi support decline in 1932?

The inability to fund a full scale election campaign, however this was somewhat irrelevant as they still had a large scale following.

Why did some call the Weimar Republic the ‘golden years’?

Culture flourished through liberal arts, attitudes and nightclubs, Streissemann improved foreign relations after WWI, Dawes and Young plans and the new currency improved the economy and confidence in the currency, industrial wages and conditions improved.

Why would some disagree with calling the Weimar Republic the ‘golden years’?

Agricultural workers didn’t get improvements and wages were half of what industrial workers were making, causing extremes in wealth and poverty. Political instability and inconfidence grew through the ever changing governments.