Weimar Constitution

Weimar was the place chosen for the Constitutional Convention because it represented Germany’s culture rather than its militarism, which Berlin did. Berlin was also too unstable. Weimar seemed to signal a break with the past and suggest a new kind of future.

Germany's left wing parties

SPD (moderate), USPD (radical) and KPD (Communist). These tended to attract more working class voters.
The left wing believed in greater economic and social equality, wealth redistribution, more taxation to spend on public services, and greater workers’ rights.

Germany's centre parties

DDP and Zentrum (largely Catholic parties but with a wide range of supporters and views. Generally pro Weimar Republic).
The centre held liberal ideas such as individual and economic freedom, a more equal distribution of wealth, and some taxation for public services.

Germany's right wing parties

DVP, DNVP.
The right wing was conservative. It favoured authoritarian leaders, low taxation, traditional values, less equality and most were monarchists.

Political turmoil pre-convention

The USPD had left the government in December 1918.
The Spartacist revolt took place in Berlin from January 4-15, 1919. It was suppressed by the army and Freikorps with Ebert’s full support. Over 100 workers were killed.
Left wing parties were bitterly divided over Ebert’s actions. The KPD never forgave the SPD. The USPD split: some joined the KPD, others the SPD.

January 1919 elections

In January 1919 there were elections for the German Constituent Assembly.
The KPD boycotted them. Political parties that later voted for the constitution won 77% of the vote: the SPD had 38%, the Z and BVP 20%, the DDP 19%.

Terms of the Weimar Constitution

Weimar was the place chosen for the Constitutional Convention. Weimar seemed to signal a break with the past and suggest a new kind of future.

The Reichstag

The constitution established a democratic, parliamentary republic in which everyone 20 or older voted every four years for a new parliament, and every seven for a president.
Proportional Representation encouraged political participation by giving influence to minority views.
A coalition government was the usual outcome.
Changes of government happened more than every four years and so did elections. A change of government didn’t necessarily mean an election.

The Chancellor

The Chancellor was the party leader who could persuade other political parties to work with them. This involved a lot of compromise and deals could break down.

The president

The president was elected every seven years by a popular vote.
Presidential powers included: appointing or dismissing the chancellor; dissolving the Reichstag, calling for new elections and commanding the army.
Article 48 of the Constitution was significant. In emergencies, Article 48 was invoked to allow the president to rule by decree.
The Reichstag had to be informed of all measures the president took under Article 48 and could revoke them.

Länder and the Reichsrat

Germany was a federal state. The Länder (local states e.g. Bavaria) ran major services like education and the police.
All state monarchs were replaced in November 1918.
In an emergency, the federal (national) government could intervene in the Länder.
The Reichsrat was the second chamber of the federal government. There were 67 members from 17 Länder.
The Reichsrat could advise the Reichstag and reject new laws but could be overruled by the Reichstag.

Strengths and Weaknesses of the Weimar Constitution

The Weimar Constitution signalled a departure from the Kaiser's Germany. But it was not perfect.

Strengths of the Weimar Constitution

The strengths of the constitution included:
- It was highly democratic.
- No one party could dominate without over 50% of the vote.
- More people’s interests were reflected in government. The president’s emergency powers could be checked by the Reichstag.

Weaknesses of the Weimar Constitution

Weaknesses of the Weimar Constitution included:
- Germany had no experience of this level of democracy.
- Coalitions gave minority parties the balance of power: it needed the traditional élites and imperial civil service who tended not to support the Weimar Republic.

Historical assessment of the Weimar Constitution

Hite and Hinton (2000):
- ‘The constitution has been described … both as the most democratic in the world and as a major reason why democracy failed in Germany.’
Carr (1987):
- The problem for Weimar was the traditional élites with their traditional attitudes (anti-republic, pro-authoritarian) wielded too much influence.
- ‘The spirit of Imperial Germany lived on in the unreformed civil service, the judiciary and the office corps.’

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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