Germany 1918-39

(front)

How did the weimar republic work?

(back)

The new Weimar constitution gave the vote to all people over the age of 20

A system of Proportional representation was used for elections in the Reichstag

The government was run by the Chancellor (prime minister)

Germany became a Federal system with power shared between central and state governments

(front)

What were the problems with the constitution?

(back)

Artcle 48 meant that the President had emergency powers to rule by decree without the Reichstag and even to suspend the constitution

Owing to PR there were lots of small parties and extreme parties were able to get representation (the Nazis)

Most of the Weimar governments were short lived coalitions

(front)

Why did many Germans dislike the Treaty of Versailles?