the nature of support for the Weimar government, 1919-32 Flashcards
LO: working-class support, middle-class support, female support, the 'Black Horror', the referendum on Young Plan and other issues
what was the Stinnes-Legien Agreement?
in November 1918, union leaders, inc Karl Legien and major industrialists, such as Hugo Stinnes, agreed to create ZAG
what was ZAG?
Central Workers’ Association. It supported a series of reforms that improved the position of German workers
what did the Stinnes-Legien Agreement provide for German workers?
formal recognition of trade unions by employers, establishment of worker committees within factories and businesses, and an 8-hour working day for workers
what was the impact of the Stinnes-Legien Agreement on working-class support for the republic?
the agreement secured broad working-class support for the republic, as it improved workers’ conditions and guaranteed rights, leading most trade union leaders to back the republic
how did German workers show their support for the republic during the Kapp Putsch?
workers supported the republic by participating in a general strike, which helped defeat the Kapp Putsch
how did strikes in Germany change from 1922 to 1929
strikes declined significantly, with 4,500 strikes in 1922 and the number halving by 1924. strikes continued to decrease throughout 1925-29
how did the economic crisis of 1929 affect working-class support for the republic?
as unemployment grew, more workers began to support the Communis Party (KPD), with its support rising from 10.6% in 1928 to 14.3% in 1932
what was the initial level of midle-class support for the Weimar republic?
the middle class initially supported the republic, particularly for its promise of ending the war, but felt threatened by the growing power of the working class by mid-1919
how did the middle class react to hyperinflation in 1923?
hyperinflation devastated middle class savings, leading many to blame the new democracy for their financial losses and weakening support for the regime
how did the Great Depression of 1929 impact middle-class support?
the economic crisis led many middle-class voters to abandon traditional parties in favour of the Nazis, believing they could protect them from socialism and communism
how were women affected by WW1 on the home front?
women faced the hardships of securing food and fuel for their families and were increasingly employed in factories producing munitions, suffering some of the worst effects of the war
how did women contribute to the downfall of the monarchy at the end of WW1?
working women were involved in strikes that played a significant role in bringing down the monarchy and were enthusiastic about the birth of the republic
how did women’s representation in trade unions affect their position in the workforce after WW1?
women benefited little in the workforce after the war, as trade unions, dominated by male workers, did little to support women’s jobs when men returned to work
which political parties did women tend to support in the 1920s?
women were more likely to support moderate parties, with about 60% of the ZP vote coming from women, and 40-45% SPD votes coming from women
how did female voting behaviour shift after 1930?
after 1930, nearly 50% of Nazi voters were women, as they sought stability and traditional values promised by the Nazi party
what was the ‘Black Horror’ propaganda campaign?
it was a campaign initiated by the Weimar Govt. to incite public outrage againsy the French occupation of the Rhineland, focusing on allegations of black soldiers raping white women
what was the aim of the Black Horror propaganda campaign?
it aimed to whip up German public sentiment against the French occupation and to gain international attention, particularly from the US, to pressure France to withdraw
how successful was the Black Horror campaign in Germany?
it succeeded in spreading stories of black soldiers abusing German women, despite the lack of evidence, and became a major political issue
what were the long-term effects of the Black Horror propaganda campaign?
it ultimately backfired, as the French defended their African troops, the US refused to intervene, and the occupation lasted until 1930, undermining the Weimar govt
what was the Young Plan of 1929?
it was a scheme for reducing Germany’s reparations payments, with a final sum of £1850 million, to be paid until 1988
why did right wing Germans oppose the Young Plan?
right wing nationalists viewed it as another betrayal, as they believed reparations were based on the ‘lie’ of the war guilt clause and opposed any further payments
what was the role of Alfred Hugenberg in the opposition to the Young Plan?
he was leader of the DNVP, and led a national committee that opposed the Young Plan, using his media resources to promote his message and gathering support from othe right wing groups
what was the political message of the National Opposition during the Young Plan referendum?
they called for the rejection of the Young Plan, the renouncement of the war guilt clause, and an end to reparations payments
how did the govt campaign for the young plan?
the govt presented the nationalists as extremists, and argued that the YP was a reasonable solution to Germany’s problems, successfully winning public support
what was the result of the 1929 referendum on the YP?
nationalists received only 13.8% of the vote (5.8 million), failing to meet the 21 million votes required for success
