Weimar Government by 1924

The Problems of Coalition Government in Weimar Germany

The Weimar Constitution tried to give everyone a voice, but this meant that coalitions were often short lived. As a result, the Weimar Government was weak and its authority was often undermined.

Proportional representation

Proportional representation gave minority parties powerful voices in government, especially if they were necessary to hold a coalition together.
Different political parties had different political aims. These would often clash and it was difficult for Chancellors to find a compromise.

Opposing interests in coalition government

Left wing parties wanted increased social welfare, higher taxes for the rich, workers’ rights and, in some cases, land reform.
Right wing parties supporting landowners, business owners and wealthier or middle class Germans were often opposed to these points.
Earlier coalitions in this period were focused on the SPD and left-of centre parties. But the KPD was unwilling to cooperate with the SPD.
Later coalitions were focused more on the centre and right wing.

Short lived coalitions

Coalitions did not last long, so it seemed that Germany was not being properly run, or had very weak governments.
Centre parties worked with both left and right wing parties. And so despite lots of changes of government, the changes in policies were not as great as voters might expect. This could create disillusion.
What people voted for and what they got were different, even if their party was in government. Deals and compromises were necessary to create coalitions.

Opposition to the Weimar Republic

There was a lot of political violence in the Weimar Republic. Governments relied heavily on the army and Freikorps to suppress any trouble.
Many political parties were opposed to the Weimar Republic: the KPD, DNVP and NSDAP. These parties also had paramilitary wings.

The State of the Weimar Republic by 1924

With hindsight, the Weimar Republic seems doomed from its birth. Nevertheless, it survived the political and economic turmoil of the immediate post-war period.

Condition of the Weimar government

The Weimar Republic was intact.
Ultimately, the German Army had supported the Republic, albeit unwillingly. But the judiciary was very soft on right wing offenders, very harsh on left wing.
There were still much political extremism. But by 1924, they were increasingly finding themselves on the political fringe.
Article 48 of the Weimar Constitution had been used a great deal and there was still political instability in the sense of numerous coalition governments.

Dealing with political issues

Germany had called off passive resistance in the Ruhr; introduced a new currency and ended hyper-inflation.
Although the Ruhr was still occupied, there was growing sympathy for Germany abroad, especially in Britain and the USA.

Contemporary views of the Weimar Republic

Preuss (1919), a liberal lawyer:
- ‘Germans cannot shake off their political timidity and their deference to the authoritarian state.’
An SPD poster (1920):
- 'Put quarrels aside…Proletarians unite! Down with the counter-revolution!’
Tucholsky, a German Jewish socialist:
- ‘When the Republic was created, these judges held over from the monarchy found it impossible to transfer their allegiance to the new…state.’
Kapp (1920):
- ‘The ineffective government, lacking authority … is not capable of mastering the danger.’

Historical assessment of the Weimar Republic

Nicholls (1979): ‘The peace settlement continued to poison the political atmosphere in Germany for many years.’
Hiden (1974): ‘The pernicious effects of the Treaty of Versailles [are that it] added dimensions to existing conflict…which had…survived the revolution.’

1The Weimar Republic 1918-1933

1.1Establishment Of The Weimar Republic 1918-1924

1.1.1Post WW1

1.1.2Weimar Constitution

1.1.3Peace Settlement

1.1.4End of Topic Test - Germany Post WW1

1.1.5Economic Issues

1.1.6Economic Issues 2

1.1.7Social Issues

1.1.8End of Topic Test - Economic & Social Issues

1.1.9Extremist Threats

1.1.10Extremist Threats 2

1.1.11End of Topic Test - Extremist Threats

1.1.12Political Instability & The Invasion of the Ruhr

1.1.13Weimar Government by 1924

1.1.14End of Topic Test - Weimar Government by 1924

1.1.15A-A* (AO3/4) - Germany Post WW1

1.2The 'Golden Age' Of The Weimar Republic 1924-1928

1.2.1Economic Developments

1.2.2Industry & Agriculture

1.2.3End of Topic Test - Economic Developments

1.2.4Social Developments

1.2.5Social Developments 2

1.2.6End of Topic Test - Social Developments

1.2.7Political Parties

1.2.8Political Stability

1.2.9End of Topic Test - Weimar Politics

1.2.10Germany's International Position

1.2.11Germany's International Position 2

1.2.12End of Topic Test - International Position

1.2.13A-A* (AO3/4) - The Weimar 'Golden Age'

1.3The Collapse of Democracy 1928-1933

1.3.1The Impact Of The Depression

1.3.2Politics After The Depression

1.3.3The Appeal Of Extremism

1.3.4End of Topic Test - The Depression & Politics

1.3.5'Backstairs Intrigue'

1.3.6'Backstairs Intrigue' 2

1.3.7End of Topic Test - Backstairs Intrigue

1.3.8Political Developments

1.3.9The State by March 1933

1.3.10End of Topic Test - Political Developments

1.3.11A-A* (AO3/4) - The Collapse of Democracy

2Nazi Germany 1933-1945

2.1The Nazi Dictatorship 1933-1939

2.1.1Hitler's Consolidation Of Power

2.1.2The Terror State

2.1.3End of Topic Test - Consolidation of Power

2.1.4Opposition

2.1.5Propaganda

2.1.6A-A* (AO3/4) - Terror State & Propaganda

2.1.7End of Topic Test - Propaganda

2.1.8Economic Policies

2.1.9Economic Policies 2

2.1.10Impact Of Economic Policies

2.1.11Impact Of Economic Policies 2

2.1.12End of Topic Test - Economic Policies

2.1.13Social Policies

2.1.14Social Policies 2

2.1.15Volksgemeinschaft

2.1.16End of Topic Test - Social Policies

2.1.17A-A* (AO3/4) - Economic & Social Policies

2.2The Racial State 1933-1941

2.2.1The Radicalisation Of The State

2.2.2Anti-Semitism

2.2.3Development Of Anti-Semitic Policies

2.2.4Development Of Anti-Semitic Policies 2

2.2.5End of Topic Test - Anti-Semitism

2.2.6Treatment of the Jews in the Early Years of War

2.2.7Deportation & Anti-Semitism Evaluation

2.2.8End of Topic Test - Early Treatment of the Jews

2.2.9A-A* (AO3/4) - The Racial State

2.3The Impact Of War 1939-1945

2.3.1Home Front

2.3.2Impact On Society

2.3.3Impact On Society 2

2.3.4End of Topic Test - Impact of the War

2.3.5War Economy

2.3.6War Economy 2

2.3.7Policies Towards The Jews & Untermenschen

2.3.8A-A* (AO3/4) - Impact of the War

2.3.9End of Topic Test - War Economy

2.3.10Opposition

2.3.11Opposition 2

2.3.12Nazi State by 1945

2.3.13End of Topic Test - Opposition

2.3.14A-A* (AO3/4) - Opposition & The State in 1945

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