1.2 Overcoming Challenges Flashcards
28th June 1919?
Treaty of V had to be signed.
What made the constitution/government unpopular?
The treaty of versailles because of the widespread resentment Germany had for it as they thought that they could have possibly won and The fact that Germany were not allowed to take part in negotiations. This was emphasised when they were forced to take responsibilities for starting the war and paying huge reparations (132,000 million Gold Marks).
Why did the Republic start shakey?
Own unpopularity, challenges from other political groups and weaknesses of the constitution itself.
How was political opposition shown?
Voting,debates and violence.
How did the republic manage to stay in power?
Despite opposition groups recruiting private armies they managed to stay in power as the alternative was a left-wing government. Many right wingers who desired for imperial rule voted for the republic to prevent the more left wing government from taking power.
Why was allowing a Reichstag to acquire many political parties a challenge for the constitution?
Having 29 political parties in the reichstag was democratic but made it difficult for it to work effectively. Additionally, members moved between parties and some parties split all together, g.g. 1920 USPD split iver half left to join KPD . This was a problem as it confused voters
Why was proportional representation a problem?
It resulted in many politicians but none significantly interested voters.
Why was the impossibility for any party?s inability to gain a majority a problem?
This is because each party was focused on what they could get out of the coalition rather than to work together to govern. Many did not have the same aims, resulting in constant arguments even before laws were presented to the Reichstag.
What happened when the coalition broke down?
The president asked to use Article 48 to rule by decree which was only needed for emergencies, this made it seem like the government was in constant crisis.
How did the republic manage to stay in power?
The reichstag kept meeting, preventing the utility of article 48, despite the fact that many right wingers pressed for it when Hindenburg was elected for president.
Who was Paul Von Hindenburg?
He was military high command in the first world war, strong supporter of the Kaiser and imperial rule.
What did Hindenburg favour?
Despite taking an oath of Constitution, he favoured more authoritarian systems of government.
What happened between 1924-1929?
The German economy recovered and reached agreements with other countries that began to restore their position abroad, undoing some of the terms from the treaty.
Who was Gustav Stresemann?
This was the man who brought about improvements to the country. Leader of DVP. One of few who urged parties to work together and managed to achieve it.
What was his position on the republic?
He was initially against it but changed his stance once he witnessed the damage the party in fighting were doing.
