Political and economic Change Flashcards
Decline in Extremist Parties?
Nazis:
May-> Dec 1924= 6.5% to 3% of vote
34-14 deputies
1928: 2.6% of vote (behind extremist parties such as the Bavarian People’s Party)
KPD
62-45 deputies May to Dec (but in 1928 support increased)
CHANGE IN ATTITUDE OF DNVP
Joined Luther cabinet in 1926, Marx 1927
-> however Luther government collapsed
May -> dec 1924: 61 to 67 percent increase in pro Weimar parties
Attitudes of elites (negative)
Often army/civil service/judiciary, held a firm patriotism and the stab in the back myth that the Weimar politicians betrayed them
Workers felt the republic under delivered promises
Issue of coalition government
6/23 cabinets had a majority in the reichstag 1919-32
24-29: SPD only in 1 coalition
Coalition from 25 to 27: lead by centre and then no party…
Made it easy for a party to be represented: sectional interest.
60,000 votes needed to gain a place.
Lack of agreement between SPD and more conservative elites.
leaders concerned with own parties
Election of hindenberg 1925
SPD supporters were advised to vote for Marx (who was Centre) after SPD candidate Braun told to withdraw
Conservative rallying point
Won 48.3 to 45.3 (Marx) with Thalmann coming 3rd at 6.4 … this would have settled the difference
Hindenberg ordered that the flag should change from the old imperal flag (black, white a red) & be flown alongside republican (black, red & gold)
DNVP AND SPD did not serve in the same cabinet
Grand coalition of 1928 lead by muller only survived because of his relationship with Hindenberg
Unemployment
1922-25 mining companies lost 132,000
1 mil 1925 - 3 mil 1926 (did not fall below 1924/5 levels)
- more seeking work
- companies reducing work forces (efficiency)
- public spending cuts
Agriculture
Farmers revolt 1928
Wealthy had taken out loans but others had savings which were wiped by inflation
1923 - easier to borrow money but resulted in debt
1929: 3/4 of agricultural levels pre war
1926 rise in bankruptcies
25 and 6 - grain surplus
28 - farmers revolt
Middle class
1928- 183,000 civil servants seeking employment
90,000 without help - some got paid but only 1/3 of normal salary
Strikes
COMPULSORY ARBITRATION introduced.
Meant the government would settle disputes over payment - BUT - would result in workers getting locked out
1924:1900
26:350
27:800+
28:400
Living standards
1925: over 178,000 new homes built
1924 new schemes of relief launched
Less overcrowding
Real wage increases 9% 1927 12% 1928
Industry improvement
- fertilisers
- cars
- planes
- 3000 cartels formed
(Big and small companies combining to fix prices and protect profits)
Repairs of Houses and schools financed
Tariffs on imported goods
Dawes plan
Less payment until 1929 (1000 mil then increase by 2500 mil)
Loan of 800 mil
French troops left the Ruhr
RENTONMARK introduced. HJALMAR SCHACHT
HOWEVER allied forces stayed in the Rhineland and the Young plan officially resolved issue and said reps until 1988.
Reduced to 1.8 Bil but annual amount increased.
Hugenberg ‘freedom law’ - 13.8% of electorate
