early years of the new republic Flashcards
what made Weimar one of the most liberal democracies in history.
Its ideals included: equality for all; that political power would be only in the hands of the people; political minority representation in the new Reichstag; a cabinet and chancellor elected by majority vote in the Reichstag; and a president elected by the people
why was Germany in political and social chaos after the war
In Berlin and Munich, left-wing Marxist groups proclaimed Russian-like revolutions, only to meet violent opposition from right-wing nationalist Freikorps (small armies of ex-soldiers for hire) along with regular Army troops. Communists, Socialists and even innocent bystanders were rounded up and murdered in January 1919, in Berlin, and in Munich in May.
what did Hannah Vogt has write about the Weimar politicians?
‘the men who were to pick up the reins of government faced a tremendous, thankless task’. With the Kaiser gone, the social democrats were in charge, but they were not in control’.
why did people see the TOV as a diktat?
seen as a dictated punishment for Germany in which she was to take full responsibility for World War I. This led to resentment among many Germans and made Weimar’s presence in Germany resented.
how was weimar different from what germany was used to?
weimar GOV was notorious for its division, instability and ineffectiveness.Under Bismarck and Kaiser Wilhelm II, Germans had grown accustomed to a strong, stable and decisive government. But the Weimar political system was fundamentally democratic, designed to allow a multiplicity of voices and points-of-view. This arrangement may have worked if there had been a national consensus about Germany’s political and economic future.
what was the proportional system of voting system implemented in April 1920?
problem with the Reichstag was its amount of divergent political parties. awarded seats by meeting a quota, based on the proportion of votes cast. Reichstag was clogged with more than a dozen different parties the abundance of parties made it impossible for one or even two parties to ‘dominate’ the Reichstag. No party ever held a majority of seats in its own right; the closest any party came was the NSDAP in July 1932 when it won 37 per cent of seats.
why was not having a majority GOV a problem?
Coalitions were continually being formed and consolidated, tested by legislation, undermined by different views, fragmented, patched up and dissolved – only for the process to begin again. Parties found it difficult to set aside their ideological differences for any length of time. The Reichstag was often paralysed by division and unable or unwilling to pass legislation.
