The Crisis of the Weimar Republic (Chancellors) Flashcards
Paul Von Hindenburg:
Who did Hindenburg dismiss and why is this notable?
Heinrich Bruning, he was the ‘last hope’ the Weimar Republic really had
Paul Von Hindenburg:
What did Hindenburg (and Ludendorff) do prior to the early stages of the Weimar Republic?
They were the ones that advised the government to seek an armistice; he knew by August 1918 that German wouldn’t succeed, it was his huge influence that persuaded Kaiser Wilhelm to abdicate and go to Holland
Who was Paul Von Hindenburg?
Weimar Germany’s second president after Ebert - he led the nation through the catastrophe of the Wall Street Crash
Paul Von Hindenburg:
What wasn’t a good trait of his?
He was heavily influenced by those surrounded by him, he showed more signs of senility as the years went by
When was Hermann Muller second time of becoming chancellor from and until?
May 1928 until March 1930
Hermann Muller:
What did he form?
A grand coalition ranging from the SPD to DVP
Hermann Muller:
Why was he unsuccessful, thus leading to his resignation?
He was unable to divert the disastrous effects of the Great Depression in 1929
When Hindenburg refused to support him using the Article 48, he resigned
Hermann Muller:
Why was he extremely disliked?
When he was foreign minister, he was the one who had signed the Treaty of Versailles
When was Heinrich Bruning chancellor from and till?
March 1930 - May 1932
Heinrich Bruning:
What would supporters say he was trying to defend? And what else would they argue?
The Weimar Parliamentary regime in adverse circumstances, they also argued that he was near to succeeding, until he was forced to resign
Heinrich Bruning:
Why didn’t have much support from the Reichstag?
Because he was occupying too much of a middle ground, although he was attempting to bring Germany through the impact of the depression
Heinrich Bruning:
What would critics say about him?
That he deliberately intended his politics to deepen the economic crisis, and in such despair with no apparent improvement in sight, he feared people would play into the hands of the Nazis
Heinrich Bruning:
Why was his economic policy unpopular?
He targeted civil servants’ wages and his approach rejected inflationary policies which were financed by large-scale borrowing, e.g. he cut government deficit drastically, it was 38% lower in 1932 than in 1928
Heinrich Bruning:
Why was his foreign policy more of a success? (What did he finally cut + suspend and when!)
He took a more assertive approach, as reparations were cut and suspended in July 1931 under Hoover Moratorium
Heinrich Bruning:
Why did Hindenburg show no real gratitude towards Bruning, and why did it represent the common feeling people held?
Because of the Banking Crisis, and the collapse of the major bank, the Danat, and several others in 1931, this represented the common feeling people had had about Bruning which was that he REVIVED FEARS OF ANOTHER FINANCIAL CRISIS
