weimar germany
- Created by: ameliaxx
- Created on: 06-05-14 09:09
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- November 1918 Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicated.
- Jan 1919 elections.
- Feb 1919: new constitution agreed in the town of Weimar/Ebert President.
- System of government in the Weimar Republic (5 points)
- Elected president controlled army, administration and made emergency laws.
- Chancellor responsible to the Reichstag.
- Reichstag made laws, controlled the government and foreign policy.
- Proportional representation.
- Bill of Rights.
- 1919-23 Problems
- 1923-29 Prosperity
- 1929-33 Collapse
- Ineffective Constitution (3 things)
- Article 48 gives the President vast ‘emergency’ powers
- Proportional voting means lots of small, powerless parties and frequent changes in government
- The Army and the Judges were right-wing
- Left Wing Rebellions (2 years)
- Right-wing agitation (2 ways)
- 1920 Kapp Putsch - rebellion in Berlin
- Nationalist terrorists murdered politicians (Rathenau 1922)
- Invasion/Inflation
- France invaded Ruhr - workers on strike = hyperinflation caused by money printed to pay strikers.
- Munich Putsch
- Nazis tried to take control of Bavaria.
- Communists wanted world revolution/hated the new government.
- Right-wing politicians hated the ‘November criminals’ who signed Versailles Treaty – wanted the Kaiser back.
- Officials (esp judges) were disloyal and hated the government.
- Army led by General von Seeckt was unreliable.
- Proportional representation prevented one party getting a majority.
- Occupation of the Ruhr humiliated the Gernans and led to hyperinflation.
- Printing money to pay strikers.
- Nazis…
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