Weimar Germany, 1918-33: Politics

Question 1

How was the Weimar government created?

Answer 1

• Kaiser abdicated and fled the country
• Ebert became Chancellor and signed the Armistice on the 11th November 1918
• January 1919, elections held, Ebert becomes the first President (leader of the SPD)
• Government set up in Weimar, chaos in Berlin

Question 2

What was the Bill of Rights and what did this include?

Answer 2

• Part of the constitution, gave rights and freedom to all men and women
• Right to form unions, no state church
• System of social security, freedom to teach

Question 3

What were some of the main parties in Weimar Germany?

Answer 3

• KPD, communists, wanted to overthrow the Republic
• SPD, centre-left, supported the republic but rejected working with other parties, led by Ebert
• ZP, centre, supported by Catholics, led by Von Papen
• DVP, centre-right, recognised republic but wanted to return to a more autocratic system
• NSDAP, Nazis, led by Hitler, hostile to Republic

Question 4

What were the two main problems with the Weimar constitution?

Answer 4

• Article 48, allowed the President to pass laws in times of emergency without Reichstag, abused, 3x as many laws passed using this by 1930
• Proportional Representation, % of vote won was % of seats won, led to extreme parties in Reichstag and weak coalition governments, 9 from 1919-23