Chancellors and their governments background knowledge Flashcards
What was the Weimar Republic governed by in 1928 under Chancellor Muller?
-the ‘Great Coalition’
How did Muller’s government come to power?
-he was a socialist and took office in 1928
-signed the Treaty of Versailles in 1919
-was briefly chancellor after the Kapp Putsch in 1920
-from 1920 onwards he was the leader of his party (SPD)
-in May 1928 he became chancellor for the first time
When did Muller become chancellor both times?
-1st=briefly in 1920
-2nd=May 1928
What was the main policy and action of Muller’s government and why did it fail to do?
-formed a grand coalition government ranging from SPD to the KPD->coalition failed to agree on how to fund the rising unemployment payments brought about by the Depression
What were the reasons for Muller’s government’s fall?
-SDP coalition led to Hindenburg looking to replace him as chancellor
-government was divided over measures to deal with the issues going on at the time->mainly about whether to increase unemployment contributions to support people
-SDP argued that employers as well as workers should bare some of the extra costs->DVP argued relief benefits should be cut
-March 1930 Muller resigned
-last coalition government with a working majority in the Reichstag->marks the effective end of parliamentary government
When did Muller resign and why?
-March 1930
-Muller resigned when Hindenburg refused to use Article 48 to support his government
What was Bruning’s nickname?
-the Hunger Chancellor
How did Bruning’s government come to power?
-March 1930->Hindenburg appointed Bruning as chancellor upon Schleicher’s advice
-formed a government from the centre-right but without a majority in the Reichstag
What was Bruning’s governments main policies and actions?
-July 1930->Reichstag rejected the government’s finance bill->Bruning had the bill issued by Article 48-> Reichstag demanded its withdrawal-> Bruning persuaded Hindenburg to dissolve the Reichstag
-1932->after the suspension of reparations he belatedly began modest reflation
-April 1932->SA banned in attempt to reduce street violence
What were the reasons for Bruning’s government’s fall?
-September 1930->Reichstag election ->Nazis caused a shock by making major gains->the increase in deputies from extremist parties harmed the effective working of the Reichstag-> frightened foreigners withdrew 800 marks in investment funds
-the Bruning government relied on presidential decrees rather than the Reichstag
-General Schleicher turned against him->felt that Bruning’s opposition to the Nazis was wrong
-Bruning’s proposals to break up bankrupt Prussia estates->persuaded Hindenburg to dismiss him in May 1932
What persuaded Hindenburg persuade to dismiss Bruning? When?
-Brunings proposal to break up bankrupt Prussia estates
-May 1932
What was Von Schleicher’s governments main policies and actions?
-he tried to get support for his plans by making the Nazi Gregor Strasser vice chancellor and developing Bruning’s land resettlement schemes
-Schleicher not only failed to win support of the left he also alienated the elite to warned Hindenburg of ‘Agarian Bolshevism’
How did Von Papen’s government come to power?
-May 1932->Schleicher persuaded Hindenburg to ask Papen to form a non-party government of ‘national concentration’->consisting of the elite or ‘barons’
-didn’t contain any members of the Reichstag->seen as a presidential government
-Papen hoped to gain support from the Nazis to help sustain his government
What were the reasons for Von Papen’s government’s fall?
-with 37% of the vote Hitler demanded to be chancellor with an Enabling Act that allowed him to issue decrees->Hindenburg refused
-Papen tried to gain support in the Reichstag->hopeless tast
-September->new Reichstag votes no confidence in him by 512 votes to 42
-Hindenburg dissolved the Reichstag after one day->Papen and Hindenburg originally planned not to call a new election due to Schlericher feared civil war->persuaded Hindenburg to allow new elections
-elite discussed a possible new government->Schacht and industrial leaders asked Hindenburg for a government led by Hitler->Hindenburg agreed only if Hitler could get a Reichstag majority->Hitler refused to take the necessary compromised->wanted a strong government
-Papen wanted to continue as chancellor->proposed to permanently replace the Reichstag and use the army to suppress opposition
-Schleicher was hostile to this drastic option->advised Hindenburg that it risked civil war->Schleicher was developing links with trade unions and section of the NSDAP around Gregor Strasser in a ‘diagonal front’ stretching from right to left to try to gain popular support for major constitutional change
What was Von Papen’s governments main policies?
-June 1932->Papen lifted the ban on the SA
-July->he used emergency powers to dispose the socialist led coalition in Prussia->further blow to Germany’s democracy
-the Reich chancellor became Prussian minister->president with a Reich commissioner as Prussian interior minister
-also agreed to Hitler’s demand to call for new elections
-Hindenburg agreed to hold an election->results were a disaster for the Weimar regime->extremists made further major gains->the Nazis and Communists won over half of the Reichstag seats
