1925 German Elections

What does the election of Hindenburg as President in 1925 tell us about political stability in Weimar Germany?

Introduction:

• 1924-1928 much calmer than immediate post-war years

• Political violence receded, extremist parties attracted less support in elections and trauma of hyperinflation successfully treated.

• Presidential election due in 1925 and assumed Ebert would be re-elected but unexpected death in Feb. 1925 caused political problems.

• 1925, Paul von Hindenburg, staunch opponent of republic, was elected its President on the death of Ebert.

• Hindenburg was a convinced monarchist, 77 years old and, before standing for the highest office in the republic, he requested the consent of the former Kaiser.

• To what extent can these developments be interpreted as a period of political stability?

The election of a new President:

• Ebert, first President of Weimar Republic, died on 28 February 1925.

• Ebert had been indirectly elected by National Assembly, but successor had to be elected according to terms of Weimar Constitution, which meant a full national election had to be held.

• Under terms of constitution, unless candidate received more than 50% of vote in the first round of voting, there had to be second ballot and possible to nominate alternative candidates in second ballot.

First round of voting:

• 7 candidates, including Karl Jarres for the right (DVP and DNVP), Otto Braun (SPD), Wilhelm Marx (Centre), Ernst Thalmann (Communist) and Erich Ludendorff (Nazi).

• Jarres won most votes, with SPD in second place, but no outright winner.

• Ernst Thalmann (1886-1944): Became Chairman of Communist KPD in 1925. Had been a member of SPD before 1914 but split with party in 1917 over its support for the war. Survived assassination attempt by right-wing paramilitary group in 1922 and one of the leaders of the Hamburg communist uprising in 1923. Guided by Stalin after 1925 and followed unquestioningly line that SPD were Communists’ main enemies. Communist candidate in presidential elections 1925 and 1932. Arrested by Nazis in 1933 and imprisoned in Buchenwald concentration camp, where he was executed on Hitler’s orders in 1944.

Second round of voting:

• Jarres withdrew in favour of Paul von Hindenburg, who allegedly consulted ex-Kaiser before reluctantly agreed to stand.

• SPD calculated that Marx had better chance of winning against Hindenburg than Braun, so withdrew its candidate and advised SPD supporters to vote for Marx.

• Number of candidates reduced to just three - Hindenburg, Marx and Thalmann.

• Because of Thalmann’s candidacy, the left vote was split so in the election on 26 April Hindenburg won with 48.3% (14.6 million votes) to Marx’s 45.3% (13.7 million votes). Thalmann trailed with 6.4% (1.9 million votes).

Paul von Hindenburg:

• Hindenburg was born in 1847 from a Prussian noble family in Posen and served whole career in Prussian army

• Early career seen as ‘steady rather than exceptional’.

• During the First World War he was recalled from retirement and earned distinction during his Eastern Front campaign, particularly victory at the Battle of Tannenberg in 1914.

• In 1916, he was promoted to field marshal and in 1916-18, along with Ludendorff, he was effectively military dictator of Germany

• In 1918 he accepted the defeat of Germany and retired

• Served as President from 1925-34, but accepted the post only reluctantly

• He wasn’t a democrat and looked forward to return of monarchy

• Nevertheless he took up responsibility of office and performed duties faithfully.

• From 1930 Hindenburg’s significance increased in political crisis → as President he was responsible for appointment of chancellors from 1930-4 and became crucial player in political intrigue.

• Given his authority, Hindenburg responsible for events leading to Hitler’s appointment as chancellor but was very old and easily influenced → had no respect for Hitler but didn’t have will/determination to make stand against Nazism.

What was Hindenburg like as President?

• Appointment of Hindenburg as President has remained controversial.

• Pitfalls of electing an old man set in his ways → in his heart, Hindenburg had no real sympathy for the republic and it values.

• On the one hand: Symbol of the past → military uniform, war medals and authoritarian views

• Revered by the right who regarded his election as the beginning of the restoration of the old order.

• For many, Hindenburg was the Ersatzkaiser (substitute Emperor)

• His election was seen as major step away from parliamentary democracy

• Those around him were mainly anti-republican figures, many from military

• He preferred to include DNVP in government and if possible exclude SPD.

• From the start, Hindenburg’s view was that the government should move towards the right, although it was only really after 1929 that serious implications of outlook became fully apparent for Weimar democracy.

• However, in the short term there was no immediate swing to the right when he was elected.

• When he took his presidential oath, Hindenburg appealed to the parties in the Reichstag to work with him in restoring national unity.

• Hindenburg initially stuck closely to the letter of the Weimar constitution and didn’t abuse his powers.

• In addition, his election was important in temporarily reconciling some anti-democratic political parties e.g. DNVP to existence of Republic and playing more constructive role in making parliamentary democracy work → the status of Hindenburg as President gave Weimar some respectability in conservative circle

Conclusion:

• For party politicians, it was business as usual ---> continued to place party political advantage above national interest.

• Co-operation between parties was merely means to secure tactical advantage.

• By early 1930s, Hindenburg becoming increasingly impatient with party political manoeuvring at a time of serious economic crisis and used powers to rule by decree on a routine basis.

• Therefore, after 1925, presidential power in the hands of a man who didn’t believe in democracy and wasn’t prepared to defend it against his enemies

• A.J. Nicholls, historian, 1968: Hindenburg ‘refused to betray the republic, but he did not rally the people to its banner’.