Political Developments And The Working Of Democracy, 1924-28 Flashcards
1
Q
What was the largest single party in the Reichstag?
A
SPD
2
Q
What had the important roles of the SPD been thus far?
A
Took leading role in 1918 revolution and establishment of Weimar Republic
3
Q
What was the SPD mainly interested in?
A
The success of democratic government
4
Q
How many coalition cabinets were established in this period, and how many were SPD apart of?
A
Six. SPD were only a part of one
5
Q
What made the SPD an inflexible party?
A
Couldn’t let go of the revolutionary Marxist rhetoric that had been its trademark since its foundation in the 1860s. This hangover from the past made the SPD inflexible on issues as they didn’t want to make compromises that the coalitions were doing, hence why they didn’t get involved in these coalitions much
6
Q
Who did the SPD have most support from?
A
Close links with trade unions
Mainly appealed to industrial workers
7
Q
Where did SPD have limited appeal and support?
A
To young people and women and no support among farmers, agricultural workers or the Mittlestand
8
Q
How had the SPD been changing since the 1890s?
A
Been in the process of becoming a thoroughly reformist, moderate party
9
Q
Why had the Centre party been established?
A
To defend the interests of the Roman Catholic Church in the German empire, remained to keep this view during Weimar Germany
10
Q
What was the centre party based on but how was it flexible?
A
Based on religious affiliation but it’s appeal crossed class and occupational boundaries
11
Q
Who supported the Centre party?
A
Industrial workers and industrialists, farmers and their landlords, together with professionals such as teachers
12
Q
How was the centre party vital to the success of Weimar democracy?
A
No coalition government was formed without its participation
13
Q
Although the broad appeal of the centre party made it more flexible, how was it a problem?
A
Caused divisions over social and economic issues
14
Q
How did the centre party start a growing shift to the right?
A
When Heinrich Brüning became leader in 1928, he was less committed to parliamentary democracy than Wilhelm Marx, his predecessor
15
Q
What political viewpoint did the DDP have?
A
Liberal views
16
Q
When was the DDP declining by?
A
Mid-1920s
17
Q
Who did the DDP appeal to?
A
Academics and professionals
18
Q
What impression did the DDP give off?
A
Being composed of worthy intellectuals with limited political experience
19
Q
What did the DDP have great difficulty doing?
A
Conveying what it stood for
- riddled with internal disputes
20
Q
What was the DDP committed to and how was it a ‘supporting’ party?
A
Committed to success of parliamentary democracy, was part of all coalitions in this period
21
Q
What political view did DVP have?
A
Conservative, committed to Weimar democracy
22
Q
How was the DVP also a ‘supporting’ party?
A
Took part in all coalition cabinets of the period
23
Q
Where did DVP support come from?
A
Academics but main support from industrialists
24
Q
What political viewpoints did the DNVP have?
A
Conservative and nationalist, anti-democratic
25
When did DNVP broaden its appeal?
In 1920s beyond the traditional landowners of East Germany
26
Who supported DNVP by mid 1920s?
Industrialists, professionals and even some industrial workers
27
What were the main aims of the DNVP?
restoration of the monarchy and dismantling TOV
28
How was DNVP an anti-Weimar party?
Refused to join a coalition in this period
29
How did DNVP diversify?
Increased divisions over policy and tactics, many of its new and younger members were willing to compromise with democracies parties e.g joined the Marx cabinet in 1927
30
Why did the DNVP return to the right and when?
When they lost much support in the 1928 Reichstag election, so returned to anti-democratic ways
31
How was the DNVP shift to the right confirmed?
When Hugenberg was chosen as party leader in 1928
32
What was the role of Hugenberg in the DNVP?
1929, led the DNVP into an alliance with the Nazis and paramilitary groups in the campaign against the young plan. This meant the DNVP returned to its blind opposition to the Weimar Republic
33
When did Friedrich Ebert die?
28th February 1925
34
What did the terms of the Weimar Constitution say for the national election after Ebert’s death?
Unless a candidate received more than 50% of the vote in the first round of voting, there had to be a second ballot and it was possible to nominate alternative candidates in this second ballot
35
Who were the seven candidate in the first round of 1925 presidential election?
. Karl Jarres for the right (DVP and DNVP)
. Otto Braun for SPD
. Wilhelm Marx for Centre party
. Ernst Thälmann for communist party
. Erich Ludendorff as Nazi party candidate
36
What were the results of the first round of the 1925 presidential election?
. Jarres won most votes
. SPD in second
. No outright winner
37
What changes were made in the second round of the 1925 presidential election?
Jarres withdrew for Hindenburg, who allegedly consulted the exiled ex-Kaiser before reluctantly agreeing to stand
Marx had better chance at winning than Braun, so SPD withdrew Braun and encouraged SPD supporters to vote for Marx
Number of candidates reduced to just three: Hindenburg, Marx and Thälmann
38
Why was the left vote split in the second round of the 1925 presidential election?
Due to Thälmann’s candidacy
39
When were the results of the second ballot of the 1925 presidential elections and what were they?
26th April:
. Hindenburg won with 48.3%
. Marx got 45.3%
. Thälmann trailed with 6.4%
40
How did the right regard Hindenburg’s election?
As the beginning of the restoration of the old order
- many saw him as the Ersatzkaiser (substitute emperor), and his election was seen as a major step away from parliamentary democracy
41
How was Hindenburg a symbol of the past?
. Military uniform
. War medals
. Authoritarian views
42
How was Hindenburg not the move away from democracy that was expected in the short-term?
. When he took the presidential oath, he appealed to the parties in the Reichstag to work with him in restoring national unity
. He stuck closely to the Weimar constitution and didn’t abuse his powers
. His election was important in reconciling, at least temporarily, some anti-democratic parties such as the DNVP to the existence of the Weimar Republic and playing a more constructive role in making parliamentary democracy work
43
How was party politics quite corrupt under Hindenburg?
It was generally more about business, with cooperation between parties merely being a means to secure tactical party political advantages. These advantages were put above the national interest of Germany
44
Why was Hindenburg becoming increasingly impatient by 1930s?
He was annoyed at all the party political manoeuvring at a time of serious economic crisis, so he used his power to rule by decree routinely
45
Why was Hindenburg a long-term threat to Weimar democracy?
Although he wanted it to work, in a time of economic crisis he didn’t believe in democracy and wasn’t prepared to defend it when his enemies, the communists, came around
46
What happened to the Nazi party after the 1923 Munich Putsch?
Entered a period of decline, but also of reflection and reorganisation
47
What did Hitler do in prison?
Wrote Mein Kampf, realised the route to power wasn’t through revolution but winning mass support legally. The Nazis needed the support of the army and other key groups of the elite if they hoped to win power
48
How was it difficult for Hitler to rebuild the party as he was released?
The party and Stormtroopers were banned organisations at the time
49
When was Hitler finally allowed to speak in public again?
1927
50
Before Hitler was allowed to speak in 1927 but was released from prison, what did he do in this time?
Asserted his undisputed control over the Nazi party, to reorganise and re-orientate the campaigning
51
What was Nazi membership and influence like by the end of 1927?
Only had 75,000 members and several deputies in the Reichstag
52
What decision did Nazis make in 1928 to get support?
Made it decision to broaden the party’s appeal: concentrated efforts in rural areas, in mainly Protestant North Germany, hoping to capitalise on the farmers there
53
How did the Nazis do in the 1928 Reichstag election?
Lost 100,000 votes across Germany
In some areas in North Germany, Nazi’s share of votes was as high as 18%
54
What was Nazi membership by October 1929?
Over 150,000
55
How was Nazi control starting to revive by 1929?
Took control of its first town council
56
What was Hitler’s main chance since being released from prison to make a name for himself as a national politician?
The campaign agains the young plan
57
What theory was Hindenburg involved in coming up with?
The stab in the back theory, blaming the Weimar Republic for WW1 loss
58
Who would be happy with the election of Hindenburg?
Pretty much everyone except the left
59
What kind of candidate was Hindenburg and what did this mean?
Independent candidate (not in a party) - meant he won’t politicise all his decisions
60
What were elitist attitudes to the Weimar Republic?
. Firmly entrenched in the army, civil service and judiciary
. Hostile to parliamentary democracy
. Firm view that the republic was born out of betrayal of the fatherland
. TOV signing and political/economic crisis strengthened this hostility
. Election of Hindenburg somewhat reconciled the elites to the existence of the republic as they believed Hindenburg could steer Germany back to authoritarian government
61
What were the industrial workers’ attitudes to the Weimar Republic?
. Many felt the republic had not delivered on its promises of greater equality and social justice
. Many felt that the crushing of revolts by the army and the police being involved in elections was a clear sign of parliamentary democracy failing
62
What were middle-class attitudes towards the Weimar Republic?
. Their support for moderate moderate parties was vital if the Weimar Republic would be solidified as they made up so much of the population
. Greatly varied in wealth, religion and political affiliations so hard to generalise views
. Many continued to prosper under the Republic so didn’t mind it
63
What is another name for the lower-middle class?
Mittlestand
64
What were Mittlestand views of the Weimar Republic?
. Suffered greatly in incomes due to hyperinflation and had no organised way to defend their interests
. Welcomed the return of economic stability under Stresemann and political stability under Hindenburg
. This resentment towards the Weimar Republic continued because of the effects of the hyperinflation crisis
65
How influential was the KPD in Germany?
Never became a genuinely mass party
66
Where did the KPD have support?
Important industrial and port areas such as the Ruhr, Saxony, Hamburg and Berlin
Had significant presence in the Reichstag in this period
67
What kind of party was the KPD and what did this mean?
Revolutionary party, dedicated to the overthrew of the Weimar Republic
68
How were the KPD controlled by the Soviet Union?
They were a member of the Comintern, so the policies and tactics of the KPD were dictated by the communist party of the Soviet Union
69
What was an example of the close relations between KPD and Russia?
1923, at the height of the hyperinflation crisis, the KPD leadership was summoned to Moscow to be instructed to launch a communist revolution in Germany. This led to communist uprisings in Saxony and Hamburg, which were ruthlessly suppressed by the army
70
What was the main priority of the KPD after 1924?
Attack the SPD as a party that had betrayed the working class as the opportunity for revolution was over
- concentrated on attacking the SPD rather than countering the influence of the Nazi party
71
What weakened anti-Nazi forces in Weimar Germany during this period?
The division in the working-class movement
72
How many Reichstag elections in 1924?
2
73
Which parties returned to popularity in the 1924 elections?
Those that supported the Weimar Republic: SPD, DVP, DDP and Centre party
74
How did the Nazis fare in the 1924 Reichstag elections?
. May - won 6.5% of vote (first contested election with Nazis involved)
. December - down to 3%
75
How many voted for pro-republican parties in December 1924 elections?
67%
76
When did KPD fortunes start to fall?
After May 1924 elections
77
What is the significance of pro-republican parties doing well in 1924?
Political stability is clear as extremist parties not in the picture
78
What did the nationalist right parties start to do in 1924?
Began to accept the republic and work within it, although their electoral position was weakening from December 1924
79
When did the DNVP join a Reich coalition for first time?
January 1925, clearly trying to get involved in a republic
80
What was the main problem with the political developments in 1924 in terms of stability?
Democratic parties couldn’t provide stable governments yet as there were still 62 KPD deputies elected in May 1924 Reichstag elections (anti-republican parties still in a position to do damage to the Weimar Republic)
81
Who did the stability of Weimar democracy fair in 1928?
Support for anti-republic and extremest parties declined even more
82
How did the Nazi party do in 1928?
Made little impression on the political scene:
. 2.6% of votes and only won 12 seats
- trailed behind even minor parties such as the Bavarian’s people’s party
83
How did the KPD do in 1928?
Saw a revival in electoral support:
. Got 54 seats in 1928 election compared to 45 in December 1924
84
How were governments clearly not very stable in the ‘Golden age’?
Seven coalition cabinets from November 1923 to March 1930
- coalition governments through the short history of the Weimar Republic were unstable
85
How were coalition cabinets across the whole period of the Weimar Republic unstable?
Only six of the twenty three cabinets between 1919 and 1932 had majority support in the Reichstag and many minority governments only survived as long as there was some resemblance of unity between the parties that made up the coalition
86
What was significant about the chancellor between Jan 1925 and Jan 1926?
Hans Luther wasn’t part of a party
87
How were governments in ever-changing coalitions a mess?
. Governments couldn’t plan in the long term
. Each different coalition had new views
. The governments tended to muddle along from issue to issue
88
What did historian Gordon Craig say about the instability of governments in this period?
He said the governments ‘resembled an endless cabinet crisis, with more time and energy expanded on the tasks of filling ministerial chairs than in governing the country.’
89
How was the destruction of coalition cabinets often silly?
Often over trivial issues e.g 1926, government of Luther collapsed after a dispute over flags
- Hindenburg had ordered that the old imperial flag, with its black, white and red colours should be flown alongside the Weimar Republic flag (now German flag) at all German consulates in other countries, the resulting dispute led to a collapse of Luther’s coalition government
90
How were flags symbolical during the Weimar years?
Became a symbol of political allegiance, with anti-Weimar (nationalist) groups continuing to use the old imperial flag
91
Why did the problem of establishing a stable coalition come about?
The number of parties that worked together was limited
- SPD and DNVP refused to serve in same cabinet and the more moderate parties didn’t have enough seats to command a majority
92
Which coalition in this period seemed to propose the possibility of a more stable coalition?
Herman Müller’s (SPD) 1928 Grand coalition
- one of the longest-lived coalitions in Weimar era, staying in office until March 1930
93
How was even Müller’s grand coalition heavily divided?
. Established in June 1928, but the parties only agreed on government policies by the spring of 1929
. Ongoing disputes over budget and foreign policy
. Only survived because of strong working relationship between Müllsd and Stresemann, the foreign minister
94
Why did the pro-democracy parties of this period fail to establish a stable democratic system?
. Deputies in the Reichstag did ‘t represent a particular constituency, under proportional representation, deputies were chosen from party lists to collectively represent a large area
- therefore there was no connect between a deputy and his or her constituents
. Party list system gave party committees control over Reichstag deputies. Deputies weren’t allowed to display any individuality but had to behave accordingly to the dictates of their party bureaucracies
- this meant the Reichstag became a sterile debating chamber remote from the concerns of ordinary voters
95
How did the leadership of pro-democracy parties mess up the possibility of political stability?
. Factional rivalries weakened many parties (rivalries within own party)
- when leading party members became ministers in coalitions, party committees wouldn’t allow them any flexibility to operate on their own initiative
. Party leaders often gave higher priority to the interests of their own party than the wider national interest
- this brought the parliamentary system into disrepute and support for democratic institutions therefore suffered
