POLITICAL IMPACT OF THE DEPRESSION 1929.

?

POLITICAL IMPACT OF THE DEPRESSION 1929.

Causes

  • The political system caused strain by the Depression.
  • It caused the collapse of the Grand coalition led by Herman Muller in 1930.
  • Provided an opportunity for the parties of the extreme left and right to gain support, and in doing so undermined the democratic system.
  • intensification of political violence.

Effects

  • 1. THE COLLAPSE OF GRAND COALITION:  (most broad coalition, representing 5 parties from SPD to DV.
  • October 1929: unemployment rose, rising cost of unemployment benefit placed a strain on state finances.
  • Dec 1929: state budget was in serious deficit due to falling tax revenues (split the coalition).
  • Right: DVP wanted to REDUCE unemployment benefits, on the left the SPD PROTECT the level of benefits and RAISE TAXES.
  • March 1930: Muller resigned, as they were deadlocked on this issue and was appointed by Bruning.
  • His appointment was influenced by military figures: General Groener and General Kurt Von Schleicher (indication of the army playing a role in politics).
  • Both men opposed parliamentary democracy and saw this as an opportunity to oppose an authoritarian style of gov.
  • Hindenburg = a president who hated democracy but respected the constitution and Bruning who had authoritarian leanings.
  • 1930 = 98 laws passed by reichstag vs 5 by decree, in 1932 it was 5 for Reichstag and 66 by decree.
  • Bruning coalitions excluded SPD, (largest party) and thus they didn't have enough support in the reichstag to pass laws.
  • March 1930: no government had majority, and gov were relying on ruling by presidential decree.
  • Weimar democracy was dead in the water.
  • 2. 1930 ELECTIONS AND GROWTH OF EXTREMIST PARTIES:
  • Bruning persuaded H to pass a law by decree to raise taxes and cut expenditure to balance the budget (caused havoc as article 48 was only for emergencies).
  • SPD called for a motion demanding the decree be withdrawn, Bruning dissolves R and calls for an election in sept 1930.
  • 1930: communists gained over a million votes and 77 seats in the reichstag.
  • 1928: Nazi's received 810,000 votes but in Sept 1930, they gained 6.5 million votes, representation in the reichstag increased from 12 to 107 seats.
  • 2/5 voters supported anti-democratic parties.
  • Reichstag became unmanageable and rarely met = did not meet at all between Feb and Oct 1931, its sessions became shorter and infrequent.
  • 3. THE INTENSIFICATION OF VIOLENCE:
  • 1930-33: level of political violence increased dramatically.
  • Nazi's and communists took their political struggle to the streets.
  • They broke up each others meetings and rival marches led to riots.
  • 1931: violence was too intense that Bruning issued a decree in Dec banning the wearing of political uniform (but had little effect).
  • April 1932: Hindenburg was persuaded to sign a decree outlawing the SA.
  • Membership of the SA continued to grow, 1932 the SA was estimated 400,000 members.
  • Violence was not controlled.

Overall summary

The election of September 1930 was a turning point, and showed a major increase in support for the extremist parties of the right and left, which rendered the Reichstag unmanageable and increasingly irrelevant. Long before Hitler came in power in 1933, authoritarian government had reinstated in Germany and Wiemar democracy was effectively dead. 

Comments

No comments have yet been made

Similar History resources:

See all History resources »See all The rise of Germany 1871 – 1945 resources »