7 - 'golden age' political developments Flashcards
reichstag elections in the ‘golden age’
2 elections in 1924 - return of greater support for pro-republican parties
1928 election - extremist + anti-republican parties declined further, NSDAP only 12 seats
coalitions - 7 between Nov. 1923 and Mar. 1930 - unstable, divisions, disputes
SPD in ‘golden age’
- remained largest single party
- only in one of six coalitions
- inflexible - more comfortable in opposition
- appealed to industrial workers
centre party in ‘golden age’
- based on religious affiliation
- appeal crossed boundaries
- more flexible but divisions
- growing drift to right
- in all coalitions
DDP in ‘golden age’
- intellectuals
- in decline
- in all coalitions
DVP in ‘golden age’
- in all coalitions
- Stresemann
- drifts to right
DNVP in ‘golden age’
- conservative
- nationalist
- broadened appeal in 1920s
- refused to join coalitions
- growing diversity and divisions
- anti-democratic
KPD in ‘golden age’
- largest communist party outside Russia
- significant presence
- dedicated to overthrow of Republic
- concentrated attack on SPD
NSDAP in ‘golden age’
- started to broaden appeal in 1928
- did bad in 1928 election
- decline after failure of Munich Putsch in 1923
- Hitler decided (whilst in prison) it would be better to win mass support
- while party and storm troopers banned - reorganised party
- showing signs of revival
when did Ebert die?
first president of Weimar Republic
died 28th Feb. 1925
how was a new president election in the republic?
national election had to be held
a candidate had to receive more than 50% of vote
how did the election of Hindenburg go?
first round: 7 candidates - Jarres (DVP + DNVP) most votes, SPD second - no outright winner
second round:
- Jarres withdrew in favour of Hindenburg (who allegedly consulted exiled ex-Kaiser before reluctantly agreed to stand)
- SPD calculated Marx had better chance against Hindenburg than Braun so withdrew + advised SPD to vote for Marx
- 3 candidate - Hindenburg 48.3%, Marx 45.3%, Thalmann 6.4%
who was Hindenburg?
- symbol of past - authoritarian, military
- election seen as step away from democracy - but stuck to constitution
- early 1930s - Hindenburg increasingly impatient with party manoeuvring + ruled by decree
what were the old elites, army, civil service, and judiciarys attitudes to the Republic?
hostile to parliamentary democracy, though it betrayal
what were industrial workers attitudes to the Republic?
felt Republic hadn’t delivered on promises of greater equality + social justice
what were the middle-class attitudes to the Republic?
support vital if Republic to succeed, many supported, many resented
