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Weimar Republic (1919-1933) (First Crises of the Republic (1919-23)…
Weimar Republic (1919-1933)
Context
October 1918: German Second Reich collapsed
11 November 1918: Armistice signed
Kaiser abdicated and a new government was formed (included Social Democrats)
the start of the Weimar Republic (would last 14 years)
when new government signed this, revolution from below grew out of popular unrest
The Foundation of the Republic
January 1919, elections were held to the new Reichstag
at this time:
Germany had no democratic tradition
there was a lot of support from extremism
evident in the Spartacist Revolt
this support was strong throughout the existence of the Weimar Republic
1919, 75% of parliament supported the new Democratic Constitution and the new government
first government - coalition between centre party, democratic party and social democrats
New Constitution
key to the failure of the Weimar Republic
Germany - federation
each state had considerable power over education/police ect.
Reichstag elected every 4 years
system of proportional representation
60,000 votes - 1 seat in parliament
resulted in a multi party system which had difficulties forming strong governments
Conservative Germans remembered the Second Reich as:
economically successful
having a 'strong' leader
they view the government as weak, because:
impact of WWI
weak coalition governments
21 coalitions in 14 years - only 8 had majority of support in Reichstag
President
had considerable power
had the right to appoint/dismiss Chancellor
article 48
gave president special powers to rule the country by decree 'in the event that the public order and security are seriously disturbed or endangered'
no clear definition of exactly how/when it could be used
Hitler would later exploit this
elected every 7 years
Impact of WWI
despite support for democracy in the first elections, many Germans resented the way WWI had ended for Germany
millions of Germans had died - partly due to allied blockade
had been told throughout the war that they were winning - wartime propaganda
Amistice (Nov 1918)
many thought it would be based on Wilson's 14 points
German would not be punished - e.g. no article 231 'war guilt' clause
German troops still on French soil when Armistice was signed
TOV (June 1919)
diktat
not a negotiated peace
PM Scheidemann supposed to sign - so horrified by terms he resigned instead
meant the politicians of the Weimar Republic had to sign
people blamed the Weimar Government fro signing the diktat
continued allied blockade means German delegates had no choice but to sign, accepting the terms:
article 231 'war guilt'
pay indemnity of £6.6
army reduced to 100,000 men
no airforce or submarines
colonies lost
lost 13% of her territories
lost 12% of population
lost 48% of iron/ore deposits
refused membership to League of Nations
principle of self determination not applied to Germany
8 million German people living in other countries (Poland, New Zealand, Austria)
lost 12% of population
Rhineland demilitarised
situation created
'a seedbed for the Stab in the Back Myth'
Historians
some argue that the Weimar Republic was doomed as a consequence of the peace
right wing opposition would be constant
reparations would cause major economic problems
J.M. Keynes
treaties would put too much strain on the German economy, this would threaten the prosperity of victorious allies
First Crises of the Republic (1919-23)
first period of the republic was marked by
putschism
(revolts)
January 1919: first meeting in parliament couldn't take place in Berlin
due to a communist Revolt
Spartacist Revolt/Coup
bloodily suppressed due to loyalty of Freikorps (ex-soldiers)
leaders were arrested/executed
therefore was held in the city of Weimar
Ebert elected as president
November 1918 - May 1919: in Munich, a Socialist Republic (later a 'Soviet') held power
bloodily suppressed by Freikorps
1920: The Kapp Putsch
when government ordered the Freikorps to disband
led to right-wing attempt to overthrow government
German army unwilling to depend the Weimar Republic against a Right-Wing Coup
failed due to a general strike by Berlin workers
popular support ?
November 1923: this period ended with the Munich Putsch (Nazi Beer Hall Putsch)
failed
led by Hitler
later arrested
assassinations:
Erzberger - Leader of the Centre Party
Rathenau - Foreign Minister
Ruhr Crisis (1923)
early years of Republic marked by
policy of obstruction
government not cooperating in the implementation of the TOV peace terms
November 1922: German government asked for a 4 year suspension of reparations
French responded by sending troops to the Ruhu
French and Belgian troops occupied the Ruhr
used the industrial resources as payback for the lack of reparations
German government encouraged passive resistance policy
coal mining and industrial production fell to a minimum
occupation had negative effects on the German economy
production fell
unemployment rose from 2% to 23%
prices rose out of control
tax revenues collapsed
government printed more money
resulting in hyperinflation
Middle class lost many savings
Middle class lost faith in Weimar Republic (traditionally a class that supported the parliamentary democracy)
The Stresemann Years (1923-29)
Ruhr Crisis brought Gustav Stresemann into power
Ebert (president) used article 48 to rule by decree
able to direct politicians to take effective measures to resolve the economic crisis
e.g. Stresemann appointed as Chancellor (1923) and Foreign Minister (1924-29)
Stresemann realised Germany needed better co operation with Western Powers
economy stabilised:
1923: new currency, Rentenmark, introduce to replace the Reichsmark
1924: Dawes Plan - agreement on reparations
short term American credits invested in German industry to enable Germany to recover and pay reparations
Germany agreed to make annual reparation payments in return for US loans
political situation stablised:
Stresemann respected by conservative elite (who were still influential)
1925: Hindenburg became president
leading general from WWI
highly respected by patriotic German nationalists
Stresemann knew that a president with
'uniform and plenty of decorations'
was important
1925: Locarno Pact
postwar territorial securing settlement
Streseman signed
Germany guaranteed its Western borders - nothing said about Eastern borders
border proposal in line with Stresemann's fulfilment policy
hoped for better co operation with the Western powers (so that they could revise TOV in the East)
Stresemann risked a lot domestically by accepting Western borders (German nationalists saw it as weak)
did the fulfilment policy pay off?
1924
1926
1927
2 more items...
League of Nations
1 more item...
Cologne
1 more item...
Dawes Plan
better terms for reparations and US loans
however, German economy became over dependent on US money
2 more items...
Second Crisis of the Weimar Republic (1929-33)
October 1929: Wall Street Crash
Stresemann died early October 1929
American short term credits called in
led to an unemployment crisis in Germany
led to a political crisis in Germany
coalition parties lost to extreme parties
Nazi's especially benefited from the situation
appears to be a link between unemployment levels and support
figures
Year
Unemployment
Support for Nazism
1928
July 1929
2 more items...
2.6%
political polarisation decreased/erorded support for Weimar government
normal parliamentary situation: government not having parliamentary support has to resign
Weimar constitution: country could be governed by presidential decrees
from 1930, PMs frequently ask president for decrees to be able to govern the country
parliament would lose significance
figures
Year
No. Presidential Decrees
No. Sittings in Reichstag
1930
3 more items...
March 1930: Social Democrats left coalition
some historians cite this as the end of the Weimar Republic
Leadership Changes
Muller's Coalition
Herman Müller was Chancellor and SPD leader at the start of the Depression
refused to sanction welfare cuts in spite of the rising cost of unemployment benefits
as a result he was dismissed
1930-33:
3 different PMs each tried to form a strong government
Brünning (March 1930 - May 1932)
used article 48 to
reduce welfare spendings
order wage cuts
increase tariffs on imports
increase personal income taxes
these decisions led to increased poverty
referred to as 'Hunger Chancellor'
failed to gain support for his budget in 1930,
rather than compromising in parliament, he passed the budget via a presidential decree
undermined the authority of the Reichstag
announced new elections in 1930
hoped to win majority of support in parliament
instead, extremist parties gained support (Nazis: 18%)
Brüning had to accept this new realty of parliament having more extremists
banned the SA to reduce political violence
Brünings anti-Nazi policy combined with a proposal to break up bankrupt Prussian estates made Hindenburg's advisors turn against him
May 1932: dismissed by Hindenburg
Von Papen (May 1932 - December 1932)
appointed in May with very weak parliamentary support
government made up of 'elites'/barons and was dependent on presidential decrees
wanted to attract Nazi support
therefore, lifted ban on SA
offered Hitler a position in the government
after July 1932 elections, Nazi's had gained 37% support
Htielr demanded to PM and turned down the request
wanted to use army to restore civil disorder/ set up a military dictatorship
Hindenburg feared civil war - replaced von Papen with von Schleicher
von Schleicher (December 1932 - January 1933)
tried to split Nazis
by inviting Georg Strasser (prominent Nazi politician) to join his government
wanted to attract support from political left
used Brüning's ideas of land reform
failed strategy - Schleicher had virtually no support in the parliament
Hitler Chancellor (January 1933)
von Papen persuaded Hindenburg to appoint Hitler as PM
idea was to use the support of the Nazis in parliament to form a strong government to crush the political left
only 3 Nazis in the 11 man cabinet
the other ministers from the conservative elite would control Hitler
proved to be unable to
von Paper:
'within two months we will have pushed Hitler so far into a corner that he'll squeak'
Collapse of the Weimar Republic
Weaknesses of the Republic
conservative elite, still held many influential posts within the civil service, army, big businesses
no strong support for the republic or Parliamentarism within this group
new government had been forced to sign the peace treaty in 1919
weakened the economy
affected popularity of new government domestically ('stab in the back'
constitution
possibility to rule by decree weakened the parliament
system of proportional representation - resulted in weak governments
Strengths of Nazis
Goebbels responsible for party propaganda
played down antisemitism and emphasised 'fear of communism'
exploited weaknesses of Weimar Republic
Nazis sent mail to different groups, using themes that would appeal to them (e.g. farmers, businessmen, traditionalists)
SA especially important during political crisis after 1930
instrumental in seizure of power
party was well organised in different parts of Germany
Hitler was charismatic, a skilful orator and had a strong political instinct
After 1923 Munich Putsch, Hitler realised he needed to follow a policy of legality
after elections in July 1932, Nazi's had 37% of the support
Other Factors
no democratic tradition in Germany
the idea of a man like Htiler being appealling to many Germans is understandable if you take into consideration the 'tradition' of authoritarian leadership
'fear of communism' was widespread
made right-wing parties appealing
Wall Street Crash (1929) cannot be underestimated when explaining the Nazi Seizure of Power
1928: Nazi's had 2.6% of the vote
1930: Nazi's had 18% of the vote
Historiography
one view:
the fall of the Republic was a logical constitution of the militaristic and undemocratic tradition from Kaiser Wilhelm and Bismarck.
Democratic regime of Weimar went against German tradition of authoritarianism
second view:
Hitler was unique (especially in his racism) and represents a 'break' in German history/tradition
Hitler was an avoidable mistake, brought to power due to a combination of particular factors
democracy was not doomed due to the old German tradition, there had been a parliament in Bismarck's Germany elected by universal suffrage