Political developments and the working of Democracy 1924-28
- Created by: Becca Newman
- Created on: 19-06-19 09:42
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- Political Developments + the working of Democracy 1924-28
- Reichstag elections + coalition governments
- Elections
- 2 elections in 1924 - return to supporting pro-Weimar parties (SDSP, DVP + Centre)
- 1928 election support for extremist groups declined even further
- Nazis made little impression on the nation
- 1928 election support for extremist groups declined even further
- 2 elections in 1924 - return to supporting pro-Weimar parties (SDSP, DVP + Centre)
- Coalition governments
- 7 coalition cabinets between November 1923 - March 1930
- It was only more stable due to the falling support for extremist groups
- Only 6 of the 23 cabinets between 1919-1932 had majority support in the Reichstag
- It was only more stable due to the falling support for extremist groups
- Governments couldn't plan for long-term - could only move from issue to issue
- 1926 - Hindenburg demanded that the old imperial flag be flown next to the new republican flag the dispute broke the coalition
- The number of workable coalition parties was limited
- SDP + DNVP would never work together
- 1928 Grand Coalition by herman Miller of the SPD offered a more stable government
- Longest living + remained in government until March 1930
- 1928 Grand Coalition by herman Miller of the SPD offered a more stable government
- SDP + DNVP would never work together
- 7 coalition cabinets between November 1923 - March 1930
- Elections
- The Development of Political Parties
- Proportional Representation - Deputies in the reichstag did not represent a constituency - no link between deputies and people
- Deputies had to behave according to what their part dictated
- Factional rivalries weakened many parties
- Party leaders gave priority to their party interests rather than the interests of the party
- Factional rivalries weakened many parties
- Deputies had to behave according to what their part dictated
- SPD
- 1924-28 they were the biggest party
- Had a vital interest in securing the success of democracy
- However they only participated in 1 coalition government
- Had a vital interest in securing the success of democracy
- Had close links to trade unions + appealed to industrial workers
- Little support among farmers, women or the young or the Mittelstand
- 1924-28 they were the biggest party
- Centre Party
- Established to defend the rights of the RCC - its appeal crossed class borders
- Supported by industrial workers, farmers, landlords + professional groups (eg. teachers)
- No coalition government was formed without it
- 1928 - Bruning became the leader + he was less committed to parliamentary democracy than Marx was
- No coalition government was formed without it
- Supported by industrial workers, farmers, landlords + professional groups (eg. teachers)
- Established to defend the rights of the RCC - its appeal crossed class borders
- The DDP
- In decline in the mid 1920s
- Appealed mainly to academics - composed of intellectuals with limited political experience
- Committed to parliamentary democracy but had a hard time deciding what it stood for
- Appealed mainly to academics - composed of intellectuals with limited political experience
- In decline in the mid 1920s
- The DVP
- Committed to parliamentary democracy + participated in all the coalition cabinets
- Main support came from industrialists
- Gustav Stresemann was DVP
- After his death the party drifted to the right
- Gustav Stresemann was DVP
- Main support came from industrialists
- Committed to parliamentary democracy + participated in all the coalition cabinets
- The DNVP
- By mid 1920s it attracted support from industrialists, professional groups + even some industrial workers
- Anti-democratic + nationalist - wanted to restore the monarchy
- DNVP refused to join coalitions most of the time
- Joining the 1926 + 27 cabinets were due to younger members more willing to compromise
- DNVP refused to join coalitions most of the time
- Anti-democratic + nationalist - wanted to restore the monarchy
- In 1929 Hugenberg was chosen as party leader - conforming their shift to their right after a loss in support
- Hugenberg led the campaign against the Young Plan
- By mid 1920s it attracted support from industrialists, professional groups + even some industrial workers
- The NSDAP (Nazi Party)
- After the failure of the Munich Putsch the Nazi Party experienced a decline
- Hitler decided that winning mass support was the way to get to power
- Until 1927 Hitler couldn't speak in public - used this time to assert his control
- 1927 - Nazis had only 75,000 members + 7 deputies in the Reichstag
- They began to concentrate their efforts in the rural areas
- Did badly in the 1928 election
- By October 1929 the membership was 150,000 + they took control of their first town
- Did badly in the 1928 election
- They began to concentrate their efforts in the rural areas
- 1927 - Nazis had only 75,000 members + 7 deputies in the Reichstag
- Until 1927 Hitler couldn't speak in public - used this time to assert his control
- Hitler decided that winning mass support was the way to get to power
- After the failure of the Munich Putsch the Nazi Party experienced a decline
- The KPD
- Had support in industrial + port areas (Ruhr, Saxony + Hamburg)
- Dedicated to the overthrow of the Weimar republic
- Tactics of the KPD were dictated by the Communist party of the Soviet Union
- At the height of hyperinflation - the KPD leaders were instructed to start a revolution in Germany
- Les to Communist uprisings in Saxony + Hamburg
- After 1924 the Soviet Leadership told the KPD to attack the SPD
- They labelled the SPD 'Social-facists'
- This division in the working class movement weakedened the anti-Nazi sources
- They labelled the SPD 'Social-facists'
- After 1924 the Soviet Leadership told the KPD to attack the SPD
- Les to Communist uprisings in Saxony + Hamburg
- At the height of hyperinflation - the KPD leaders were instructed to start a revolution in Germany
- Tactics of the KPD were dictated by the Communist party of the Soviet Union
- Dedicated to the overthrow of the Weimar republic
- Had support in industrial + port areas (Ruhr, Saxony + Hamburg)
- Proportional Representation - Deputies in the reichstag did not represent a constituency - no link between deputies and people
- Election of Hindenburg as president
- Ebert (1st President) died on 28th february 1925
- Unless a candidate received more the 50% of the vote - a second ballot had to be done
- 1st Ballot - 7 candidates but no winner
- 2nd ballot Karl Jarres for the right pulled out in favour of Hindenburg
- Number of candidates was split to just 3 - Hindenburg, Marx + Thalmann
- Thanks to the split on the left Hindenburg won by 3%
- Number of candidates was split to just 3 - Hindenburg, Marx + Thalmann
- 2nd ballot Karl Jarres for the right pulled out in favour of Hindenburg
- 1st Ballot - 7 candidates but no winner
- Unless a candidate received more the 50% of the vote - a second ballot had to be done
- Many saw Hindenburg's election as a step away from democracy (as he was right wing)
- However he didn't abuse his powers and stuck to the constitution
- By the early 1930s Hindenburg grew tired of party maneuvering
- Used his powers to rule by decree on a routine basis
- Ebert (1st President) died on 28th february 1925
- Attitudes to Public reform from the Elites + Other Social Groups
- Elites were hostile to parliamentary democracy + Fatherland was born out of betrayal to the Fatherland
- This hostility was strengthened by the signing of the Versailles treaty
- Many elites believed that Hindenburg would steer germany back to its old ways
- This hostility was strengthened by the signing of the Versailles treaty
- Many industrial workers felt the Republic had not delivered on its promises to create equality
- Crushing of revolts by the army was evidence of failing democracy
- Middle class support for moderate parties was vital
- Many middle calss who were supportive of the Republic
- There were also many who suffered during the hyperinflation and resented the Republic
- Elites were hostile to parliamentary democracy + Fatherland was born out of betrayal to the Fatherland
- Reichstag elections + coalition governments
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