Summary 5 - Heinrich Brϋning’s government (March 1930-June 1932)

Question 1

When did Bruning become the Chancellor of Germany?

Answer 1

March 1930

Question 2

Bruning’s government was supported by what percentage of the Reichstag?

Answer 2

35%

Question 3

What were the main actions of Bruning’s government whilst they were in power?

Answer 3

The government cut expenditure and raised taxes in order to reduce the budget deficit.

Question 4

How was Bruning’s government responsible for undermining democracy?

Answer 4

The complete lack of support that the government provided people severely
undermined democracy. People blamed the economic policies of Bruning for the hardship that they faced and therefore they blamed democracy for the problems that they faced. Consequently, people became more inclined to vote for anti-democratic parties with the belief that they would be able to provide the help that people so desperately needed and stabilise the economy.

Question 5

Which party did Bruning’s coalition exclude?

Answer 5

The SPD

Question 6

What were the consequences of Bruning’s coalition excluding the SPD?

Answer 6

They did not have the majority needed within the Reichstag in order to pass laws and therefore they had to rely upon Presidential decree in order to do so.

Question 7

In what way did Bruning’s government mark a turning point in Weimar politics?

Answer 7

Bruning’s government marked a turning point in Weimar politics as it was the beginning of a return to a traditional autocratic style of government ( passing laws by Presidential decree) paving the way for Hindenberg to appoint Chancellors who were not in favour of democracy and the eventual appointment of Hitler.

Question 8

What was the reason for the fall of Bruning’s government?

Answer 8

Bruning did not have the support in the Reichstag that he needed in order to pass laws. This prompted his to ask Hindenberg to pass his economic policy into law through the use of Presidential decree. This provoked another political crisis as Article 48 was only supposed to be used in times of emergency and not for the conduct of normal political business. The SPD won Reichstag support for a motion demanding that the decree be withdrawn prompting Bruning to dissolve the Reichstag and call for a general election. The Nazi’s went on to win a majority in the consequent election.

Question 9

Bruning called for a general election and dissolved the Reichstag when the SPD won a majority within the Reichstag demanding that the decree used to pass Bruning’s economic policy into law was withdrawn. Who won the consequent general election?

Answer 9

The Nazi’s won a majority in the consequent general election.

Question 10

The appointment of Bruning was an indication that which organisation had begun to play a key role in politics?

Answer 10

The army
The army hoped to start rearming Germany and believed this required a more authoritarian government

Question 11

In 1930, how many laws were passed by the Reichstag and how many were passed by Presidential decree?

Answer 11

98 laws were passed by the Reichstag
5 laws were passed by Presidential decree

Question 12

In 1931, how many laws were passed by the Reichstag and how many were passed by Presidential decree?

Answer 12

34 laws were passed by the Reichstag
44 laws were passed by Presidential decree

Question 13

In 1932, how many laws were passed by the Reichstag and how many were passed by Presidential decree?

Answer 13

32 laws were passed by the Reichstag
66 laws were passed by Presidential decree