Political Parties 1924-28 Flashcards
Who were the SPD?
.Largest single party in Reichstag.
.Moderate-left.
.Democracy success.
.Marxist rhetoric, inflexible.
.Only in 1 of 6 coalitions.
.More comfy in opposition.
.Trade union links - industrial workers support.
.Mittelstand and farmers not support - lacked young women and children appeal.
Who were Zentrum?
.Defend Roman Catholic Church’s interests.
.Appeal crossed class and occupations.
.Flexible and pragmatic.
.Industrialists, industrial workers, farmers, landlords, teachers, professionals.
.Divisions - social/economic issues.
.In all coalitions.
.1928 - leader change - right drift.
.Bruning - less committed to democracy than Marx.
Who were the DDP?
.Mid 1920s - decline.
.Professional groups and academics appeal.
.Worthy intellectuals of limited political experience.
.In all coalitions.
.Struggled to convey what they stood for.
.Riven by internal disputes.
.Parliamentary democracy.
Who were the DVP?
.Conservative.
.In all coalitions.
.Parliamentary democracy.
.Academic and industrialist support.
.1924-9 - Stresemann.
.1929 - Stresemann died.
.Became a narrow pressure group - promoted interests of big business.
Who were the DNVP?
.Conservative, nationalist, anti-democratic.
.Mid 1920s - industrialists, professional groups, some industrial workers.
.1920 - broadened appeal beyond East landowners.
.Restore monarchy.
.Dismantle Treaty.
.Mostly refused to join coalitions.
.Divisions - new wanted to cooperate in coalitions.
.1926 Luther cabinet and 1927 Marx cabinet.
.1928 - Hugenberg shift to right.
.1928 - lost support in election - back to right ways.
.1929 - Hugenberg joined with Nazis and paramilitary against Young Plan.
.Opposed Republic.
Who were the NSDAP?
.Reorganised after Putsch.
.Mein Kampf.
.Win mass support.
.Paramilitary violence.
.Banned with stormtroopers.
.End of 1927 - 75000, and 7 in Reichstag.
.1927 - Hitler could speak.
.Left prison early.
.1928 - rural focus - North.
.1928 - 100,000 lost but 18% North votes.
.October 1928 - 150000.
.1929 - Control of town council.
.National politician - campaign Young Plan.
.Signs of revival seen.
Who were the KPD?
.Largest out of Russia.
.Port and industrial areas.
.Reichstag presence.
.Overthrow Republic.
.Revolutionary parties.
.USSR dictated tactics and politics.
.Part of Cominterm.
.1923 - instructed to launch a revolution - Saxony and Hamburg uprising.
.1924 - Attack SPD.
.SPD Social fascists.
.Weakened anti-Nazi forces due to SPD/KPD conflict.
What statistics are there?
.Nazi from 6.5% to 3% to 2.8%.
.KPD from 10% to 12%.
.Dec 1924 right - 36%.
.1928 right 30%.
.440 seats in 1928.
.Pro-republic, 61% to 67%.
What happened in terms of elections?
.Two in 1924 - SPD, DDP, DVP AND ZP most support.
.Nationalists worked with republic but then weakened.
.1925 - DNVP in coalition.
.DDP lost support and ZP more right.
.Bruning - authoritarian system.
.KPD 1928 revival.
What happened with coalition governments?
.7 from Nov 1923 - March 1930.
.Extreme support declining.
.PR - SPD and DNVP not cooperate.
.6/23 cabinets had majority Reichstag support.
.1928 - Grand Coalition - Muller - took months to decide policies, Muller and Stresemann, but divided, SPD.
.1926 Luther - over flags.
.Hindenburg - fly imperial flag next to republic one.
.1928 Constitutional day - not inspiring.
What happened in the 1925 Presidential Election?
.President - control of chancellors, Article 48.
.Ebert back in 1922 - died 1925.
.If no candidate has 50% then new candidates stand.
.Marx and Hindenburg ran.
.Hindenburg - conservative, authoritarian but - Reichstag appeal, listened to constitution, reconciled DNVP, made democracy work.
.1930s - used decree rule many times - didn’t defend democracy - parties not cooperate well.
How did people feel about the Republic?
.Old elites, judiciary, civil service were hostile - betraying Fatherland - liked Hindenburg - back to authoritarian rule.
.Industrial workers - no better equality, social justice and police/army crushing revolts bad.
.Middle class - Some prospered, many declined - underline resentment but liked Stresemann and Hindenburg.
What happened to extremism?
.More peaceful after 1923.
.No coups/assassinations.
.No mass support gained.
.Streets - Nazis/SA against KPD/Red Fighting League.
.50 died and many injured.
