2.3) Germany: Political developments and the Working of Democracy, 1924-28.

ELECTIONS:

• 2 elections in 1924, both showed support for parties who favoured Weimar Republic.
• These were SPD, DDP, DVP and Centre.
• 61%+ and 67+ voted for Pro-republic parties in May and December.
• Nazis lost half their vote from 6.5% to 3% in May and December.
• Communist party was ignored.
• Nationalists decided to work with the repubulic instead of against it.
• Nationalists electoral support fell.
• First time ever, Conservative right wing party DNVP coalitioned with a reich government in Jan 1925.
• Democratic parties that struggled to give stability were supported.
• In 1928 the Nazis lost more votes but the KDP got more.
• The Nazis were now even behind minor parties like Bavarian peoples party.

COALITION GOVERNMENTS:

• 1923-1930 = 7 coalitions.
• Weimar Governments in the golden age were more stable than those before it.
• Support for extreme left/right parties was declining.
• Weimar coalition were unstable. Only 6/23 cabinets from 1919-32 had majority supprt in the Reichstag.
• Minorty parties only survived if there was some unity between a party in a coalition.

• Many say Weimar had an endless cabinet crises.
• Some issues wrecked a coaltition cabinet.
• E.g. Luther's Government fell over flags when Hindenburg wanted the old imperial flag with the republic one in German consulates abroad.

• There were problems in having a stable coaltion. Parties like SPD and DNVP wouldn't serve in the same cabinet.
• Moderate parties didn't have enough for a majority.
• But the 'Great Coalition of 1928' by Hermann Muller lasted for 2 years.
• Memebers in this coaltion took a year to agree on policies but there was still conflict over budgets and foreign policy.

• Better conditions in 1924-28 allowed pro-democracy parties to give a stable democratic system in which they failed.
• Deputies in the Reichstag didn't represent their constituency.
• Deputies were chosen via party lists to represent a large area.
• There was no connection between them and constituents.
• Had to bahave according to party, ignored electoral demands.
• Many factions of parties were weakened and in a coalition cabinet were not flexible.
• Many parties only cared for their interests.

THE SPD:

• 1924-28, largest single party.leading role in revolution and making of Weimar in 1918.
• Wanted a vital democratic government but was only in 1/6 of the coalition after 1924.
• Marxist rhetoric was it's trademark in the 1860s which meant that it made the SPD inflexble on important issues.
• Was more effective as opposition than governent.
• Linked with tradeunions appealling to industrialist.
• Wasn't liked by Farmers, young or middle class.

THE CENTRE PARTY (ZENTRUM):

• Defended interests of Roman Catholics.
• Was supported by industrialists, farmers and landlord.
• Party was flexble but divided on social/economic issues.
• Was vital for democracy, was in every coaltion.
• But in 1928 it drifted to the right as Heinrich Bruning was more right wing than Marx.

DDP:

• Declined in mid-1920s, was liked by academic and professional groups.
• Gave impression that it had intellectuals that had limited experience.
• Had internal disputes.
• But still wanted success in democracy and was in every coaltion.

DVP:

• Conservative, but like DDP wanted democracy and was in all coaltions
• Supported by industrialists, leading figure was G. Stressemann.
• Became more right wing and pressure group like after Stressemann's death.

THE DNVP:

• Conservative nationalists, extended from supported landowners to industrialists, proffessional groups and workers.
• Was anti-democratic and wanted a monarch back, resented the TofV.
• Anti-Weimar, refused to join coalitions.
• But party became more diverse, divided internally as young members agreed with democratic parties.
• Joined Luther and Marx cabinet in 1926 and 27.
• Hungenburg took over when it lost great support and restored it's old ways of anti-democracy.
• Allied with the Nazis against the young plan.

THE NSDAP (NAZIS)

• Declined after failed Munich Putsch and had to reflect.
• Hitler wrote Mein Kampf and thought of different tactics in prison.
• He decided to win mass support rather than an armed overthrow.
• Hitler was released early from prison and wanted to rebuild the party.
• But his party and stormtroopers were banned in organisations.

NSDAP (NAZIS) CONTINUED:

• Until 1927 he was banned from speaking and used the time to reorganise the party.
• At the end of 1927 he had 75k members and 7 deputies it the Reichstag.
• They wanted broad support and concentrated on rural areas and Protestant north.
• Lost 100k voters in 1928 elections, but in the north their vote got 18%.
• In October 1929 they had 150k followers and had their first town council.
• Nazis were now reviving.

THE KPD COMMUNISTS:

• Largest party outside Russia. Had support in vital industry places like the Ruhr, Saxony and Hamburg.
• Wanted to overthrow the Weimar.
• Policies and Tactics were influences by Soviet Union.
• E.g. During the crises of Hyperinflation and occupation of the Ruhr the KPD was told in Moscow to revolt in Saxony and Hamburg.
• After 1924 they were told to attack the SPD instead of Nazis.

• Ebert, the first president died in 1925.
• Full national/constitutional election had to be held for his successor.
• If candidate never got 50% in the first round, their would be a second round, like UK's AV.
• Karl Jarres (right wing), Otto Braaun (SPD), Wilhelm Marx (Centre), Thalmann (KPD) and Ludendorff (Nazis).
• Jarres got most votes but no majority, SPD were 2nd.
• Jarres withdrew and Hindenburg took over.
• SPD thought Hindenburg would do less well than Marx compared to Braun and removed it's candidate to aid Marx.
• Hindenburg, Marx and Thalmann were left.
• The left vote was split because of Thalmann's candidacy and Hindenburg won with 48%.
• SPD got 45%.

• Hindenburg was a war hero, authoritarian, many saw him as moving away from democracy.
• Many said his winning was the start to restore the old order.
• But many thought wrong, he encouraged many parties in the Reich to work with him.
• He obeyed the constitution and never abused his powers.
• He helped anti-democracy parties like DNVP make democracy work.

• Many parties wanted politcal advantage over national interest.
• In the early 1930s Hindenburg became impatient and his party moved carefully with the economic issues.
• He used power to rule by decree routinely, so after 1925, presidential power was with a man with no belief in democracy and interest to defend it.

ATTITUDES OF THE ELITE AND SOCIAL GROUPS:

• The old elites who were fond of the army, civil service and judiciary were against democracy and linked Weimar to betrayal.
• It hated it even more after the TofV, political and economic crises at the start of the republic.
• Hindenburgs victory actually made a bit of ammends as it brought back an authoritarian government.

• But many industrialists felt that Weimar never kept their promises and how they used the army/police against politicians showed how demcracy was failing.
• Mittlestand was important for moderate parties in making Weimar succeed.
• Couldn't generalise mittlestand as it was diverse with wealth, religion and party.
• But lower mittlestand lost out during hyperinflation and weren't represented.
• Stressemann brought economic stability and Hindenburg Political stability.