Weimar Republic 1924-29 Flashcards
What are the two views of the period 1924-9?
- A remarkable period of recovery
2. A superficially promising period but in reality it had major weaknesses
When did Stresemann become Chancellor?
August 1923
When was the failure of Hitler’s Munich Putsch?
November 1923
Other than the Munich Putsch, what else happened in November 1923?
- Rentenmark is introduced and ends the inflationary crisis.
- Stresemann’s government falls but he remains Foreign Minister
When does President Ebert die, and when is General Hindenburg elected to take his place?
February 1925
April 1925
When was the Locarno Treaty?
October 1925
When was the Treaty of Berlin? (This confirms the Rapallo Pact of 1922)
April 1926
When did Germany join the League of Nations?
September 1926
When was the Dawes Plan?
April 1924
When was the Young Plan?
June 1929
When does Stresemann die?
3 October 1929
When was the Wall Street Crash?
29 October 1929
When did the Anti-Young Plan win 14% of voters?
December 1929
What did the Weimar Republic last longer than?
Hitler’s Third Reich
What evidence is there that the government wasn’t that stable 1924-28?
There was 6 changes of government 1924-28, because no party had got a majority meaning they were all weak and short lived coalition governments.
Which parties were generally committed to Weimar democracy?
SPD
Centre Party
DDP
Which party was the main creator of the Weimar Republic?
SPD
Summarise the main details of the SPD 1924-28
- Large support from the working class, giving them the greatest electoral support for much of the period
- Tension between those wanting it to remain Marxist party of the proletariat (wanting general socialism) and the modernists who wanted a reformist party.
- From 1918 to 1932 it led coalition governments with the Z party in Prussia and advocate democracy
What was the DDP?
The liberal middle-class party. Its members were important in drawing up the constitution, but it failed to attract the majority of the conservative middle class
Which parties had fluctuating attitudes towards Weimar democracy?
DVP
DNVP
What was the DVP?
A moderate conservative party under Stresemann’s leadership, which was for social reform whilst remaining right wing.
Summarise the main details of the DVP 1924-28
- Its main support was from the Protestant middle class and industrialists who wanted free trade.
- Never became a major force in the Weimar Republic despite Stresemann’s achievements.
What was the DNVP?
The main Conservative Party
Summarise the main details of the DNVP 1924-28
- It was initially hostile towards the Republic, but became more pragmatic and joined the government in 1925 and 1927-8
- It was split between reactionaries and moderates
- Benefits were seen from cooperating with the government to protect the interests of the industrialists and land owners.
- It majorly lost the 1928 election when it was part of the government so it moved to the right under its new leader.
Which parties were hostile to Weimar democracy?
KPD
NSDAP
What was the KPD?
A revolutionary Marxist party that was committed to a soviet style system.
It was formed from the Spartacists and radicals from the USPD.
It attempted several revolts between 1919 and 1923 but failed to overthrow the Republic, leading them to concentrate on mass support instead.
Summarise the main details of the KPD 1924-28
- It became a disciplined and bureaucratic party under Ernst Thaelmann.
- It gained between 9 and 17% of the vote, mainly from the working class.
- It became increasingly dominated by the USSR which through the Comintern, tried to influence tactics of Communist parties throughout Europe. Stalin urged it to be hostile to the SPD so that left wings were divided.
How many members did the KPD have by 1932?
360,000
Summarise the main details of the NSDAP 1924-28
- Tried to use more legal electoral methods as opposed to force in order to gain power, having failed to overthrow the regime previously.
- Some support in farming areas but little mass support before 1930.
Between what years were there no attempted coups?
1924 and 1929
