Politcal Developments And Working Of Democracy Flashcards
What was the general consul of the years between 1924-28 , politically speaking?
Calm political climate, political violence receded, extremist parties attracted less support in elections and trauma of hyperinflation had been successfully treated
What were the key features of the may 1924 Reichstag election
- 61% voted for pro Republican parties
- first contested by the Nazis, where they won 6.5 % of the vote
- communists saw fortunes fall after this election
Significance of December 1924 election:
- 67 % support for pro Republican parties
- nazis only had 3% of the vote
- nationalist parties saw weakening electoral position in December 1924
- DNVP joined a reich coalition in January 1925 (anti- Republican parties were still in a position to do political damage)
Why did Nazi support decline so heavily in the years of the Weimar Republic?
- people had faith in the Weimar government
- use of co-alition governments
- economic revival and changing social climate gained wider support, from those who had originally been more extremist leaning
What was the overall impact of coalition governments in the years 1923-30?
- provided lack of stability to the Weimar Republic in these years -
- 6 of 23 reichstag governments had majority support
- many minority governments survived as long as there was unity amoung coalition parties
- multiple parties would form a co- alition parties, which reaffirmed this idea of conflicting interests
How fragile were these coalition governments?
- tended to muddle from issue to issue - small trivial issues could wreck the cabinet for example, the Luther Government collapsed - over a dispute regarding Germany’ s national flag - with black, white and red colours being flown alongside Republican german flag
What was the problems with the grand co-alition government of 1928?
- until spring of 1929 , parties couldn’t agree on policies, even though they joined in 28’
- disputes about budget and foreign policy - government only survived due to muller and Streseman
What was the problem with the Democratic system being Implemented in Germany at this time?
- deputies in the reichstag did not represent particular constituencies
- party list system gave party committees - had to behave according to their parties bureaucracies
- pro democratic leaders were also at fault - factional rivalries weakened parties
- party leaders gave higher priority to protecting interests of their own party, than wider interests
Summarise what happened to the SPD party in the years of the Weimar Republic:
- remained largest reichstag party
- lead role in establishing the Weimar Republic
- participated in one of 6 coalition governments, but had a vested interest in republics retention
Could not let go of its Marxist rehotoric - this meant SPD would oppose proposals in coalition governments
- appeal was with young, females, mittlestand, industrials
Summarise what happened to the Centre party in the years of the Weimar Republic:
- established interests of Roman Catholic Church
- supported by a range of occupations
- was more flexible and pragmatic than SPD
- no coalition without its participation
Summarise what happened to the DDP in the years of the Weimar Republic:
- declining by the 1920s
- appealed to academics and professional groups
- difficulty in conveying clearly what it stood for
- committed to success of parliamentary democracy and participated in coalition governments
Summarise what happened to the DVP in the years of the Weimar Republic:
- committed to democracy and coalitions
- supported academics and industrialists
- became a group promoting interests of big businesses
Summarise what happened to the DNVP in the years of the Weimar Republic:
- attracted support from industrials, professional groups etc..
- wanted rejection of TofV and restoration of monarchy
- parties tactics changed from younger members joining coalitions
- formed an alliance with the Nazis in right shift, reaffirming its opposition to Weimar
Summarise what happened to the Nazis in the years of the Weimar Republic:
- hitler wrote mein kampf in prison
- thought armed overthrowing of Weimar Republic would confirm power
Nazis knew they needed support for power - Nazis concentrated electoral support on rural areas,
Party showed revival in like 1920’s
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Summarise what happened to the KPD in the years of the Weimar Republic:
- support in industrial areas and port areas
- significant presence in the reichstag
Revolutionary party that wanted to overthrow Weimar Republic - communist uprisings in saxony and Hamburg were suppressed by the army
KPD targetted SPD for becoming social fascists
