history_germany_1918-1945_20141120142723 Flashcards
Autocracy:
When one person has absolute rule.
Constitutional monarchy:
The monarch has limited power within the lines of a constitution.
Stab in the back myth:
The view that the army had not really lost WW1, but Jews and socialists had undermined it. This weakened the Weimar democracy from the start.
Reichstag:
The German Parliament created in 1871, which had very little power. Real power laid in the emperor.
Soviet:
Elected council which had the support of more radical left-wing working class.
Bolsheviks:
Followers of Russian communism.
Coalition government:
Formed when a party does not have an overall majority, combines with parties and shares power.
Socialist republic:
A system of government without a monarchy that aims to introduce social changes for collective benefit.
Soviet republic:
A system of government without a monarchy that aims to introduce a communist state organised by the workers councils and opposed to private ownership.
Proletariat:
The industrial working class who would ultimately take power in the state.
First pas the post:
An electoral system that simply requires the winner to gain one vote more than the second placed candidate.
What would allied invasions of Germany lead to?
Destructive internal disturbances
When was Imperial Germany created and what did it remain?
It was created in 1871 and it remained an autocracy.
What did Ludendorff want to change Germany into?
A constitutional monarchy.
How did Ludendorff plan on turning Germany into a constitutional monarchy?
By the Kaiser’s handing over political power to a civilian government. To establish a more democratic government while keeping the Germany monarchy.
What were Ludendorff’s political turnaround aims?
- Secure Germany the best possible peace terms, because the allies would be more sympathetic to a democratic regime in Berlin.2.To prevent the outbreak of political revolutionary disturbances.
What was Ludendorff’s third and more secret aim?
To shift responsibility for Germany’s defeat in WW1 from military leaders, which had dominated Imperial Germany. To the new leadership.
What happened on the 3rd October 1918?
Prince Max of Baden a moderate conservative was appointed chancellor who had democratic views.
What were the constitutional reforms the turned Germany into a parliamentary democracy?
- Wilhelm 2 gave up his powers over army and navy to the Reichstag.2. Chancellor and government were made accountable to the Reichstag, instead of the Kaiser.3. Armistice negotiations with the allies were opened.
When were the elections for the new republic held for a National Constituent Assembly?
On 19th January 1919.
What did most political parties do at this time?
They renamed the parties, but this didn’t help the fact of the poor structure of the party system.
What did the election result lead to on the 6th February 1919?
The creation of a National Constituent Assembly.
Why were the results a major success?
- The high turnout of 83% suggested faith in the idea of democracy.2. 76.1% of the electorate voted for pro-democratic parties.3.The solid vote for the SPD, DDP and ZP made it easy to form a coalition government.
What was the coalition government known as?
The Wiemar Coalition.
What were the bad aspects of the elections?
- The DNVP gained only 10.3%, it had backing from important conservative supporters.2. The DVP and its leader Streseman did not support the Wiemar republic in 1919, because they wanted Germany to have a Constitutional Monarchy.
What was the situation like in May 1919?
Stability had returned to Germany. The Wiemar Republic had been established.
What did the effects of the war show?
Imperial Germany could not survive, so it was necessary to introduce a democracy.
How was society left untouched by the German revolution?
- The civil service, judiciary and army all remained intact.2. The power and influence of Germany’s industrial and commercial leaders remained unchanged.2. There was no change in the structure of big business and land ownership.
What did the SPD leadership hope?
Changes would happen due to constitutional reform.
What would have been a good basis to establish democracy?
Thoroughgoing social and economic changes.
What happened during the first half of 1919?
The increasing reliance of the moderate left on the conservative forces of Imperial Germany became a major factor in German politics.
Who threatened the Wiemar democracy?
The conservative forces.
What did Ebert do in November 1918?
Invited Hugo Preuss to draw up a new constitution for Germany.
What was the constitution based on?
Democratic ideas of Britain and USA.
What happened to the constitution on 31st July 1919?
The Reichstag voted strongly in favour of the constitution.
When did the President ratify the constitution?
11th August 1919.
When could the electorate vote for a President?
Every 7 years.
What were the Presidents powers?
- The right to dissolve the Reichstag.2. To appointment of the Chancellor.3. He was the supreme Commander of the Armed Forces.4. The capacity to rule by decree at a time of national emergency.
What were the 2 houses of parliament?
Reichstag and Reichstat.
What were the Reichstag?
The main representative assembly. It had deputies elected every 4 year on the basis of proportional representation.
What were the Reichstat?
They were a less important house. They had representative from all regional governments. It could only initiate or delay proposals and the Reichstag could overrule it.
What was the Bill of Rights.
A range of individual rights. It outlined broad freedoms.
What was included in the Bill of Rights?
- Personal Liberty.2. The right to free speech3. Censorship was forbidden.4. Equality for all Germans5. Religious freedom and conscience.
Why was Proportional representation (PR) criticised?
It encouraged the formation of many new small splinter parties.
What did PR make more difficult?
Forming and maintaining governments.
What was it hard for a olitical party to do in Weimar Germany?
Form a majority government.
What did negotiations and compromises do to the Weimar?
Make them appear politically unstable.
What was the main problem in the government?
Creating coalitions amongst the main parties.
What views were the parties meant to reflect?
Political, religious and geographical views.
What made PR encourage the emergence of political extremism?
The economic and political crisis of 1929-33.
What would have he first past the post system have helped?
The rise of Nazism and communism.
What did critics of the Weimar think voting should be like?
It should be like in the UK and USA.
What was the relationship meant to be like?
Have a fair system of checks and balances, but this was very complex.
Where was fear of an over-powerful parliament coming from?
The right wing and within liberal ciricles
What was the President there for?
To help limit the powers of the Reichstag.
What happened when the Reichstag’s power was limited?
Massive power went to the President.
What did framers of the constitution fail to do?
Keep balance of power between Reichstag and President.
What did article 48 allow the President to do? Name 2 things.
- Suspend civil rights in an emergency.2. Restore law and order by the issue of presidential decrees.
What was the intention of article 48?
To allow government to function in a crisis.
What happened in the crisis of 1923?
Presidential powers were used to good effect.
What did the Weimar constitution take no action to reform?
Old traditional institutions of Imperial Germany.
What was the civil service like?
Professional, but had old fashioned conservative values of Imperial Germany.
What was the Judiciary like?
They had traditional independence under the Weimar Constitution.
How were the Judiciary biased?
They favoured the extreme right, but condemned the extreme left.
What was the army like?
They had great status and many generals linked with Prussian landowners.
Who were the army not sympathetic towards?
Democratic Germany.
What were universities like?
They were proud of their traditional status.
What were universities sympathetic towards?
Old political ideas and rules
What were the conservative forces able to do?
Exert great influence of life in the Weimar Republic
What did many institutions remain dedicated to?
Imperial Germany.
What was the new constitution like compared to the previous constitution?
It was a great improvement.
What politics did Imperial Germany not have?
A democracy.
How did people show they approved of the new constitution?
They voted in favour of them.
What was the Weimar Republic seen as?
The most advanced democracy in the world.
What problems did the Weimar republic face?
The Treaty of Versailles and socioeconomic problems.
What were the issues of controversy in the Weimar Republic? Name 3 things.
- Proportional Representation.2. President and Reichstag.3. Traditional institutions.
What were the key terms of the constitution. Name 8 things.
- President2. Chancellor3. Reichstag4. Reichstrat5. Lander6. Supreme Court7. Bill or Rights8. The electorate.
What were the left wing movement like after the German revolution?
In a state of confusion
What were the Moderate Socialists committed to?
Parliamentary democracy
What did the Communists press for?
A workers revolution
In 1920, what happened to the USPD?
It split into the SPD and KPD which were very different.
What did the German Communists believe about revolution/
It would spread through Europe
