THE WEIMAR REPUBLIC
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
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.
THREE PHASES OF THE WEIMAR REPUBLIC
1919-23 Problems
1923-29 Prosperity
1929-33 Collapse
PROBLEMS FACING THE WEIMAR REPUBLIC 1919-1923
Ineffective Constitution
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
1919
Spartacists led by Rosa Luxemburg & Karl Leibknecht
Workers Councils seized power across Germany
Communists took power in Bavaria.
1920
Red Army rebelled in the Ruhr.
Right-wing agitation
1920 Kapp Putsch - rebellion in Berlin
Nationalist terrorists murdered politicians (Rathenau 1922)
1923
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.
INSTABILITY OF THE WEIMAR REPUBLIC 1919-24
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.
NAZI ORIGINS AND BELIEFS
Nazis based on Anton Drexler’s German Workers’ Party
Hitler takes over and becomes absolute leader.
25 Point Programme
abolish Treaty of Versailles
expel anyone not ‘true’ German
anti-Jew
nationalise large industries
generous old age pensions
strong central govt
Mein Kampf
National socialism & loyalty to Germany
Racism; all races inferior to Aryans
Lebensraum (living space in Poland & Russia)
Obedience to Fuhrer
Use of armed force.
MUNICH PUTSCH
Causes
Weaknesses of the Weimar government
Nazi Party growing – but needs action if it is to stay unified.
Stresemann called off the strike in the Ruhr – seemed like another surrender.
Mussolini had seized power in Italy by a ‘march on Rome’ in 1922 – Hitler hoped to copy.
Kahr, Lossow and Seisser were planning a coup, with Hitler’s support. When they called it off, Hitler went ahead to try to force them to do it.
Munich Putsch Events (2 days)
8 Nov 1923
Hitler stormed a political meeting & said he was taking over govt of Bavaria.
Used stormtroopers to take over official buildings.
Government didn’t collapse
9 Nov 1923
Nazis marched on the town
Police shot at and rounded up stormtroopers
16 Nazis killed.
Hitler was arrested and imprisoned.
Results
Failure?
Hitler arrested, imprisoned and forbidden from speaking
Success?
trial a propaganda coup
Mein Kampf sells millions
Hitler starts to seek election strategy
SURVIVAL OF THE WEIMAR REPUBLIC 1919-24
Freikorps put down Communist revolts
Spartacists 1919
Red Army 1920.
Army put down Communist revolts
Bavaria (1919)
Rhineland (1923)
Strikes by workers caused the Kapp Putsch to collapse.
Stresemann - a brilliant politician became Chancellor 1923 who:
negotiated the Dawes Plan
controlled Inflation
persuaded the French to leave the Ruhr
Improved Foreign affairs
Locarno Pact 1925
entry into League of Nations 1926
encouraged Economic growth
introduced Reforms to help ordinary people
NAZIS IN THE WILDERNESS 1924-28
New plan by Hitler to take power by democratic means.
Reorganisation of Nazi party
sets up SS
takes over other extreme right parties
Hitler Youth
Josef Goebbels takes over propaganda
posters
leaflets
radio
films
rallies
businessmen finance Hitler (fearing Communism)
Poor performance in elections 1924-1929 - still only 12 seats in 1928
Less support because of improved conditions in Germany.
FACTORS HELPING HITLER COME TO POWER
Long-term bitterness about the Treaty of Versailles
Ineffective Constitution of Weimar Republic
Money from backers including
Thyssen
Krupp
IG Faben
Skoda
Henry Ford
Irenee du Pont
Propaganda – blames the Jews and the Communists
Programme appeals to many different groups in different ways
Attacks on other parties and Jews by the SA
Personal qualities
brilliant speaker
powerful eyes
good organizer
driven determination
Economic Depression – makes Germans desperate
Political manoeuvring between Von Papen and Von Schleicher helps Hitler
Hindenburg recruits Hitler
as chancellor in Jan 1933 because of disruptive power of Nazi deputies in Reichstag (he thought he could control Hitler).
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