Weimar - Politics + Government Flashcards
Key Features of the Weimar Constituion
Universal Sufferage
Protection of Civil Liberties
President (Head of State) elected every 7 years
Chancellor (Head of Govt.) appointed by the President
Chancellor was accounatble to Reichstag
Elections utilised the proportional represenation system
Article 48 - Emergency Powers
Article 102 - Judiciary Independence
Article 109 - All Germans Equal Citizens
Article 118 - Freedom of Expression
Why was a new constituion needed ?
Revolution from Above
Revolution from Below
Economic crisis
Revolution from Above
Creation of a ‘constitutional monarchy’ in which the Kaiser retained his title but power was passed to the Reichstag. Led by Prince Max of Baden
Revolution from Below
Saliors in Kiel began a mutiny (Nov. 1918), this spread to major cities in Germany. They called for the abditcation of Kaiser Wilhelm.
Strengths of the new constitution
Democratic principles applied
Larger electorate leads to greater representation
Better protection for minority groups
Chancellor had to follow the Reichstag’s (elected) views
Men and Women viewed as equal citizens
Weaknesses of new constitution
Article 48 undermined the principles of democracy.
Proprotional representation led to weak coalitions .
Chancellors were frequently removed via votes of no confidence.
Only 60,000 votes needed for one seat - factionalism / difficult to gain majority
Extremist Parties in Reichstag
Pro-Weimar Political Parties
SPD
ZP
DDP
76% of the 1919 election
Anti-Weimar Political Parties
KPD
USPD
DNVP
NSDAP
Strengths of President Ebert
Good negociator / pragmatist,
Ebert-Groener Pact (1918)
Reform for workers
Wanted to end the communist threat
Weaknesses of President Ebert
Unpopular for signing ToV
not the ‘strong man’ that the right viewed was needed bad public speaker,
portayed poorly in the press,
Excessive A48 - 63x (1923-24)
The army had too much independence
He died at a crucial time
Strengths of Hindenburg
Well supported nationalist war ‘hero’, helped gain support from the right
Weaknesses of Hindenburg
Overly sympathetic to the right
No political experience
Believed he could use Hitler as a ‘puppet’ chancellor
Died at a bad time (1932)
Article 48 - 60x (1932)
Strengths of Stresseman
Major economic reform
Skilled Economist
Diplomat
Policy of Cooperation with Britiain and France
Nobel Peace Prize - Locarno Pact 1925
Weaknesses of Stresseman
His foriegn policies were not popular with the right wing - lacked parliamentary support
He died at a bad time (1929)
< 1 year chancellor
How did the instituions undermine the Weimar ?
Article 102 - Judiciary were independent from the Govt, allowing them to undermine the constituion.
The army failed to follow orders to suppress the Kapp Putsch (1920)
Judiciary were sympathetic to right wing - Hitler only serves 9 months
