7.Political Developments and the Workings of Democracy, 1924-28 (S2)

Question 1

What were the NSDAP results of the May 1924 election?

Answer 1

The NSDAP achieved 6.5 % of the vote

Question 2

What declined during the 1928 elections and why?

Answer 2

Support for extremist and anti-republican parties. This is because people are less likely to turn towards extremism when the economy is thriving.

Question 3

How many coalition governments were there during the Golden Age?

Answer 3

7

Question 4

Why were there so many coalitions?

Answer 4

They were weakly led and each coalition contained many squabbling parties

Question 5

Which political party was involved in the most coalition governments

Answer 5

The SPD

Question 6

Discuss the support and ideas of the KPD during Weimar Germany. Give 2 facts.

Answer 6

• The largest communist party outside Russia
• Had support in industrial areas such as the Ruhr and Berlin
• Dedicated to the overthrow of the Weimar Republic

Question 7

Discuss the support and ideas of the SPD during Weimar Germany Give 2 facts.

Answer 7

• They remained the largest single party in the Reichstag
• The SPD had close links with trade unions and appealed mainly to industrial workers
• It had limited appeal to young people, agricultural workers and the Mittlestand

Question 8

Discuss the support and ideas of the Catholic Centre Party during Weimar Germany. Give 2 facts.

Answer 8

• Established to defend the interests of the Roman Catholic Church.
• Supported by all classes as made up of Catholics in general
• No coalition government was formed without the participation of the Centre Party

Question 9

Discuss the support and ideas of the NSDAP during Weimar Germany. Give 2 facts.

Answer 9

• Leader, Adolf Hitler was banned from public speaking until 1927 and focuses on asserting control over the Nazi Party
• Rural areas in the North showed the most political support for the Nazis
• The Golden Age allowed Hitler to make a name for himself as a talented politician within the Reichstag
• Took a dip in votes during the Golden Age

Question 10

How many members did the Nazi party have at the end of 1927?

Answer 10

Only 75,000 members

Question 11

What was the name of Hitler’s 1925 autobiography?

Answer 11

Mein Kampf, which translates to ‘my struggle’.

Question 12

Who was voted to become the next President of the Weimar Republic in 1925?

Answer 12

Paul von Hindenburg.

Question 13

Why did the German people vote in favour of Hindenburg?

Answer 13

Hindenburg was a symbol of the past, a war hero and had authoritarian views.