Weimar Republic

Question 1

What were some of the strengths of the Weimar Republic?

Answer 1

> Democracy better than further violence in Berlin. Many preferred it to communism

> Stresemann brought economic and political recovery- new currency (Rentenmark), Dawes Plan (big US loans), Germany joined League of Nations

Question 2

What were some of the weaknesses of the Weimar Republic?

Answer 2

> Proportional representation meant no one party usually got a majority

> Resulted in weak coalition governments

> President could enact Article 48 to rule by decree without consulting Reichstag in ‘state of emergency’

> Nothing said what constituted a ‘state of emergency’ - turned President into a dictator- undermined democracy of Weimar

> Economically unstable- relied on big US loans for economy to thrive (Dawes plan)