2. Opposition, control and consent 1918–1932

Question 1

The impact of the Treaty of Versailles on German politics

Answer 1

Campaigning point for politicians

Anger towards the treaty was mainly due to misinformation about how bad the war actually was and instead believed ideas Germany could have won

Reparations enabled resentment

Weimar government were traitors to the country for arranging the armistice and signing the shameful treaty

Question 2

The government was opposed by extremists for it’s:

Answer 2

1. Liberalism and democratic principles
2. Involvement in the Treaty of Versailles
3. Failure to produce a strong, deceive government and a strong leader
4. Failure to unite Germany

Question 3

The Sparticists Revolt

Answer 3

January 1919: Sparticists (members of USPD) aimed to overthrow the government - thousands of armed workers took over key buildings such as newspaper offices

Question 4

Consequence of The Sparticists Revolt

Answer 4

Chancellor Ebert moved government to Weimar

The Freikorps crushed the rebellion and executed it’s leaders

Question 5

The Kapp Putsch

Answer 5

March 1920: Attempt to overthrow the government by Wolfganf Kapp with the support of Lundendorff (general in WWI) - The leaders proclaimed themselves the new government, dissolved the National Assembly and said the Weimar Constitution was no longer in force

Most of the army did not join the putsch but would not fight the rebels

Question 6

Consequence of The Kapp Putsch

Answer 6

Took over Berlin on 12 March and the government fled

Germany had a new government for a few days until the trade unions called for a general strike

Four days after the strike, the Kapp government failed and the Weimar government returned

Question 7

The Munich Putsch

Answer 7

November 1923: Hitler decided to mount a Nazi takeover of Germany to Mussolini’s March on Rome - SA surrounded a large beer cellar in Munich where important officials were in a meeting. Hitler crashed into the hall and announced that the government was deposed and he and Ludendorff were to form a new government.

Question 8

Consequence of The Munich Putsch

Answer 8

The Beer Hall Putsch was put down by the Munich police. Its ringleaders, including Adolf Hitler, were arrested.

Hitler’s trial enabled him to give a speech about his beliefs which was widely reported and increased his fame.

Question 9

Making Concessions: Ebert-Groener Pact

Answer 9

10 November 1918: Ebert had agreed the Ebert-Groener Pact with the new leader of the army in which the army would support the new government as long as it opposed the more left-wing ideas of parties in the Reichstag

Question 10

Making Concessions: Stinnes-Legien Agreement

Answer 10

On 15 November 1918: Ebert reached an agreement between labour (represented by the trade unionist Karl Legien) and capital (represented by industrialist Hugo Stinnes) reached on 15 November 1918. The Unions agreed not to interfere with private ownership and in return, they were granted them full legal recognition and an 8 hour working day.

Question 11

The result of making Concessions

Answer 11

Half-hearted alliances meant the government often had to turn to the Freikorps to restore order if the army refused and if both refused, the government was in a very difficult position

Question 12

Regional disruption - left wing opposition

Answer 12

Weimar government had varying control in each region of Germany - not all accepted the constitution e.g. in Bavaria and Saxony, the communists set up their own government

Question 13

The result of regional disruption - left wing opposition

Answer 13

The Weimar Government used the army and the Freikorps to restore order - troops marched in and broke up meetings in each land, taking over the federal government until the Weimar constitution could be put back in place

Question 14

Lopsided control

Answer 14

The weimar government was forced to rely on the Reichswehr (army) to manage extremist threats

Left wing opposition: dealt with quickly and often brutally by the army + those brought to court were sentenced harshly

Right wing opposition: army sometimes did not act against right-wing groups at all (Kapp Putsch) and the judiciary were noticeably less harsh on right-wingers who came to trial (Munich Putsch)

Question 15

The result of lopsided control

Answer 15

This made left-wing opponents more angry and gave right-wing opponents more confidence that people wanted a strong right-wing government

Question 16

Evidence of support for the idea of a democracy

Answer 16

Turnout of voters from 1918-32 consistently remained above 75% which suggests they were in favour of the democratic process because they were prepared to go and vote

Question 17

Political parties that supported the constitution

Answer 17

SPD + Moderate parties such as the Centre Party, the German Democrats (DDP) and the German People’s Party (DVP) that often played a part in forming coalitions

Considering the people who voted for these parties, it would suggest the people who favoured the constitution were mainly middle-class business people, Catholics and the professional classes.

Question 18

Popular support for the constitution

Answer 18

People supported the idea of democracy just not the the Weimar Constitution - critics at the time criticised what the government was/was not doing e.g. criticising the parties in the Reichstag failing to making coalitions work but not the idea of democracy

Question 19

Evidence for support for the constitution

Answer 19

When the economy did improve from 1924 to 1929, the constitution and the parties that supported it (mainly SPD) got more support - in 1924 the SPD won 131 seats in the Reichsatg which rose to 153 in 1928 which is surely a sign of approval