Golden Years of the Weimar Republic - Political developments

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Golden Years of the Weimar Republic - Political developments

Advantages

  • Political advances receded, extremist parties attracted less people in elections and the trauma of inflation had been treated.
  • Elections in 1924 indicated a return of greater support for parties that supported the republic. By December the Nazi vote was down to 3%.
  • The Nazis made little impression on the national political scene in 1928.
  • Flags became a symbol of political allegiance in the Weimar years.
  • Hermann Muller (SPD) appeared to offer a stable government. One of the longest coalitions.
  • 1924 - 1928, the left wing SPD remained the largest single party.
  • The broad appeal of the Centre Party made it more flexible and pragmatic than the SPD. No coalition governments was formed without its participation.
  • DVP was committed to parliamentary democracy and also participated in all coalitions.

Disadvantages

  • Democratic parties were struggling to provide stable governments that commanded widespread support.
  • Right wing anti-republican parties were still in a position to do political damage.
  • Governments were scarcely more stable than in the years 1919-23, despite the fact that support for anti-democractic parties.
  • Inherently unstable. Rivalries weakened many parties.
  • Sometimes, seemingly trivial issues could wreck a coalition cabinet (1926 - Hans Luther - Flags).
  • Problems of establishing and sustaining a stable government arose because the number of workable combinations of cabinet were limited.
  • Proportional Representation - deputies were chosen from party lists to collectively represent an area. Reichstag became a rather sterile chamber remote from concerns of ordinary people.
  • SPD participated only in one of the six cabinets that were established. Unwilling to make compromises that participation in coalition governments involved.
  • DDP gave the impression of being composed of worthy intellectuals who had limited political experience.
  • DVP drifted to the right and increasingly became narrow pressure group promoting the interests of big businesses.
  • DNVP were anti-republic and refused to join many governments. increasing diversity led to disputes over policy etc.
  • After failure at the Munich Putsch in 1923 that Nazis entered a period of decline. Hitler opposed the Young and Dawes Plan (Freedom Law with DNVP).
  • KPD were dedicated with the overthrow of the government. Labelled SPD as 'social fascists' and attacked them rather than countering the influence of the Nazis.

Evaluation

Coalition governments were fragile and temporary alliances.Parties represented narrow sectional interests, making it difficult for politicians with national appeal and national programme to emerge.Political violence receded and there were no more attempts by extreme groups to overthrow.

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