Weimar Germany 222-226

economic impact

food shortages,50% of milk, 60% of butter that was produced before the war

economic impact

300,000 people dies from starvation

economic impact

600,000 widows 2million fatherless children,1 third of its budget in war pensions

economic impact

industrial production was 2 thirds of what it was in 1913

political impact

stresses of the war led to revolution 1918

1914 Germany

proud, finest army in the world, good businesses, well educated

1918 Germany

destroyed old Germany, army was defeated, flour was mixed with saw dust, flu epidemic was sweeping the country

political impact

ex soldiers and civilians despised the new democratic leaders 1918

social impact

huge gaps between the living standards of the rich and the poor

social impact

1 and a half million demobilised soldiers returned to society

social impact

German workers were bitter at the restrictions placed on their earnings during the war

social impact

Germans were angry at loosing the war, there was a wave on unrest in berlin

far left wing

communist

far right wing

fascist (ruled by a dictator)

presidents role

choose a chancellor

chancellors job

chooses government ministers

Weimar constitution strengths

democratic, voting age had been decreased

Weimar constitution strengths

proportional representation

proportional representation

where party gets 1 representative for every certain number of votes it gets e.g if 20% of votes were won they gained 20% of seats

Weimar Germany weaknesses

proportional representation-smaller parties could gain seats

how does proportional representation cause weakness

no majority government, coalitions have to be formed

coalitions

different parties team up, leads to slow ineffective decision making

how many coalitions

7 coalitions between 1919 and 1923

Weimar constitution weaknesses

article 48, allows the chancellor to bypass the Reichtag in times of crisis, by 1930 Erbert used this 136 times

problem with article 48

undemocratic, gives the impression that a single all powerful leader is better than an elected parliament