Germany Notes (1 Viewer)

[Christie35]

These are all over the place, sorry

Republic Established 1918-19

Weimar Constitution 1934 ---> Nazi Toralitarian Dictatorship 1934

1st President- Hindenburg (and last)
Reichstag- Parliament ---> chancellor

Republic was established with a hole in it heart - carry impent of WW1 defeat- Philosophical

June- 191- Versallies. Aimed to Cripple; "War Guilt Clause" Official end of WW1, implied Germany was fully responsible for the outbreak of WW1

Military people were important

"Diktat"- non negotiated peace treaty.
France said "sign of recommence fighting- Politicians shamed Germany

Reparations- removal of Empire

 

[Christie35]

What impact did the Treaty of Versallies have on Germany?

DIKTAT!

Under the terms of the Treaty, Germany was to be disarmed and broken as a millitary power

Lost Alsace And Lorraine to France

Initial reaction was refusal to sign

Reality was that the German government had little choice but to sign the Treaty

 

[Christie35]

Reichstrat- Upper house: representative of LANDER (the eighteen German state)- limited powers

Election of members of Reichstage by PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION- botes cast for PARTIES

 

[Christie35]

Parties of Weimar

In favour of Democracy

Social Democratic Party
Independent Socialist Party

German People's party
German Democratic Party
Centre Party

Parties Against Democracy
Spartticist League
(later Communist Party)
National People's party

 

[Christie35]

To what extent did the Treaty of Versailles weaken Democracy in Germany 1919-24?

The extent to which the Treaty of Versailles weakened democracy in Germany between 1919/1924 was fairy extentsive. However, in conjunction with various other influences considered, the extent to which democracy weakened in the period 1919/1924 is even more widespread. As such, the period in review was known as a period of political, social and economic instability. This is due to a number of reasons - one very important one been DOLTCHTOSSLEGENDE- the 'stab in the back' legend. Another important weakness of Democracy were the harsh conditions imposed on Germany as a result of the war.


Can someone please contribute? This is to help all of us!

 

[Christie35]

Democracy had been 'born with a hole in its heart'. This was consequence of many reasons. The public had since lost faith in its government, as a result of the spread of the DOLTCHTOSSLEGENDE. This was the belief that Germany had not been defeated in the war; rather, they had been betrayed. This was demonstrated by the signing of the armistice that was signed on the 11th November, 1918. However, despite the fact that it was the German army who requested the informal nation binding truce it was the politicians who were held responsible.

 

[Christie35]

An important basis for the public's loss of faith in the government was the poor economic conditions. This foundation had been a gradual result of the pressures from the duration of the war - and the continuence during the post- war period- which only climbed during the period leading up to, and during the course of, the Great Depression.

 

[Christie35]

The Allied Powers refused to negotiate with Germany with the existence of her old government. The United States wanted Germany to become a fellow democratic country. Henceforth, Germany established a democracy under compulsive terms. In addition to the pressure of reconstructing her government, Germany was brought under immediate pressure in regard to the poor economic and social state of affairs. This was just the begining of democracy's struggle for survival.

 

[Christie35]

Someone please write something on who supported democracy and who didn't- the letf and right polotical parties cause i didn't get that

 

[sarahd]

Someone please write something on who supported democracy and who didn't- the letf and right polotical parties cause i didn't get that

-generally: the leftish parties were more supportive of democracy than the right:

USPD, SPD, Centre Party...

the DVP, led by Hugenberg, at times undermined democracy. eg Harzburg Front (petitioning against Young Plan which leads back to the whole Versailles doodah)

-Nazis clearly, through Enabling Act etc. were the party that did the most to undermine democracy.

-Schleicher, through his political intrigues.

-but the left arguably undermined democracy by failing to present a united front (in fact the Reichstag, under Muller's chancellorship was dissolved in 1929 because they couldn't agree about unemployment insurance; this was effectively the last true democratic majority- bruning, schleicher, von papen, were chosen by Hindenburg and didn't have majority electoral support)

-it would be really shortsighted to just talk about political parties in undermining democracy- clearly the collapse of Weimar was due to a gamut of short and longer-term weaknesses, many of them inbuilt features of the republic.