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c.

S0

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N!

The German people

Everyone over 20 could vote for party

lIsts for the Relchstag every four years;for sate assemblies every four years;for PresIdent every seven years.They

could also vote on pttsiscrns If:I Relchsrat

Assembly of 67 representatives of thestates

Could give advIce and reject new laws, butbe overriden by the Relchstag

The fundamental rIghts and duties of the

German people

Liberals had first drawn up a Statement of Fundamental

RIghts inlS4B.Thls had not been enacted. In 1919 It was

modernised to Include more social rights, e.g. to belong

to a union, and adopted as part of the constitution

Key

Elections

—0’. Influence on or power over

Germany remained a federal state.1 ie existing Lander

(local states, e.g. Prussia, Bavaria) were slightly reorganlst

and reduced to seventeen. All state monarchs, e.g. of PriM

and Bavaria, were replaced.The new states were organlsl

along similar lines to the national (or federal) governmW

They ran the major services In their state, e.g. educatk —

police, but In an emergency the federal government c..1

Intervene In the sates

Federal system

• ii The political structure of the Weimar Republic

Head of Statc President

Elected by voters every seven years

Power to appointidismlss Chancellor

I Commanded the armyCould dissolve Relchstag and arrange for new elections

In an emergenc could Issue laws by decree andconstitutional rights of the German people

iL I Government Chancellor and

I Had to have the confidence of the Relchstag

I Proposed laws to the Relchstag

V.To Interpret the constitutIon] ta-am

—

Relchstag

I Elected by all Germans over 20

‘Deputies elected on the basis of proportional

representation

Elections scheduled for every four years

30

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Verdicts on the. constitution

SOURCE 1.21 From a speech by Hugo Preuss, the liberal lawyer who headed the

Commission that drew up the constitution, to the Welmar Assembly, April 1919

I have often I stened to the debates with real concern, glancing often rather

timidly to the gentlemen of the J(gjgJearful lest they say to me: ‘Do you hope to (

give a parliamentary system to a ,zatitm like thL, one that resists it with evei’y

sinew in its body? Our people do no comprehend at all what such a system

implies.’ Onefinds suspkioneveijwhere; Gernuins cannot shake off their old

political tiflzidityafldtheirdfferelwAto the authoritarian state.

‘ .1-•

SOURCE 1.22 Guta S emann, DVP leader, talking to a German ambassador

The o inaryjjd I4qoffectionforEberL The truth is, the Germans do not

want a pi I iiat... He iws to wear a uniform and aflstful of

medaLs.

on the constitution, a USPD deputy, Cohn, warned

Hohenzollerns (the royalfamily), a general perhaps,

Reich.

Welmar and the Rise of Hider, 1979, p. 118

I,

they were not attributable to the

Constitution, which was a brave statement of liberal

Nazi Germany. A New Hlstoiy, 1995, pp.56—9

was in many ways a mirror image qf the social

ofhannony in) Gennan society. The Weimo.r Constituthrn was a

vilpies drawnfrom Socialist and liberal agendas; it represented A

in regard to economic objectives and unresolved class conflicts ‘

racy was stymied (impeded]from the beginning...

the most democratic documents in the worki In 1919, however,

whether such a democratic constitution could work in the hands

ri was neither psychologically nor historically preparedfor self-

SOURCE 126 D Peukert The Weimar RepublIc, 1991 p 50

Despite itSimpeif’ecUons, the Weimar Reich constitutionprovided an open

frameworkfQr an experiment in democracy which would have been quite capable

qffurtherrçffnement under morefavourable circumstances. It brought different

groups into the new order; enduringly so in the case of the old ‘enemies qf the

Reich’ in the Social Democratic labour movement and Catholic political groups,

temporarily so in the case ofsections of the middle class. It offered new

cORPOIIATIST ways ofattempting to reconcile basic social divisions, and it laid

down thefoundatibnsfor an expansion of the welfare state. lmnally, it was

signally succesl, by international standards, in helping make possible the

transition to a peacetime economy.

CI Read the contemporary accounts In Sources 1.21—3.

What problems for the survival of democracy In Germany do these comments

2 Read the verdicts of historians In Sources I .24—6.

a) What strengths do they identify In the Weimar constitutIon?) .

:.

3 Do they think that the constitution itself was a strong basis for democracy Ot 3

zj

S 3A Political parties in Weimar GermanyParties generally committed toWelmar democracy

gPO (Sozlaldemokratlsche PartelDeutschlaiids). Founded In )87S dils partywas the main creator of the WelmarRepublic, and for much of die period gainedthe greatesr.electoral support. largely fromthe working class. Yet for long periods it didnot participate in the coalition governments.although It did help maintain the governmentin office. There was tension betweenadvocates of keeping the SF0 a Marxist.class-based party of the proletariat, aimingfor genuine socialism, and dice. moderniserswho warned a more broadly based, reformistparty. The SF0 continually worried aboutlosing votes to die KF0 but was also wary offrightening potential democratic alliesamongst middle-class moderates.

The SF0 was strong not just In thefederal Reichstag. but In many scares. From1918 to 1932 it led coalition governments(with the Z) In the key state of Prussia,using Its position in power there to appointofficials supportive of democracy.

1 (Zentrum) - Centre Party. This party,created In 1870. exIsted primarily toprotect the interests of the CatholicChurch. It regularly attracted the supportof about two-fifths of voting Catholics. Ithad a broad appeal across the classes, andso it had left and right wings. From I 928,under (ass and BrUnlng, It moved to dieright. Catholics who supported the Zconsidered protecting Catholicism themost important issue and tended to votefor the Centre Party regardless of changingeconomic circumstances. Bavaria had itsown Catholic Party. the Bavarian People’sParty (BVP).

DOP (Deutsche DemokratlschePartei). This liberal, middle-class partymight have been the main base for a secureparliamentary system, if liberalism had haddeeper roots in Germany. Its membersplayed a major role in drawing up theconstitution, but it failed to attract themajority of the more conservative-mindedmiddle classes. Preuss and Rathenau wereloading members.

I Study Chart 3A. Copy and complete thistable. (You will be able to add morec.formacion by the end of Chapter 4.)2 Copy out the names of the following

parties. arranging them in order from leftwing to right wing:• NSDAP • DDP • DVP•KPD •DNVP .

.vP

Parties with a more fluctuatingattitud. to Weirnar democracy

DVP (Deutsche Volkspartei). Amoderate conservative party, underSrresemann’s leadership it becamecommitted to die Weimar system andmoderate social reform, whilst retaining amore right-wing stance. Its main supportcame from the Protestant middle class andindustrialists who favoured free trade.Despite Stresemann’s diplomaticachievements, his party never became amajor force in Welmar politics. After hisdeath, the DYP moved to the right, andhelped bring down MUller’s SPDgovernment in 1930.

Parties hostile to WeImar democniicy’

KPD (Kommunlstlsche PartelDeutschlassds). This was a revolutionaryMarxist party committed to a soviet-stylesystem. Formçd•from the Spartacists andradicals front the USPO, the KPDattempted a series of revolts between 1919and 1923. Ic failed to overthrow theRepublic, so then it concentrated onbuilding up mass support. From 1924 theKPD became a disciplined bureaucraticparty under Ernst Thaelmann. It gainedbetween 9 and 17 per cent of he vote,overwhelmingly from the working class.The KPD had 360,000 members by 1932.The KPD became increasingly dominated!by the USSR. which through the Third

COMMUNIST Inu 1lTIo. (or Comintern)sought to influence the tactics ofcommunist parties throughout Europe.Stalin encouraged It to be hostile to dieSPO, so left-wing forces in Germany weredivided.

DNVP (Deutsclmational. Volkspartel).This was the main conservative perry.Initially hostile to the Republic, the DNVPbecame more pragmatic, and joined the‘government In 1925 and In 1927—8. itremained split between reactionaries andmoderates. The majority came to realise thebenefits of co-operation in government toprotect die Interests of the Industrialists and Ilarge landowners that the party represented.Initially It also attracted support fromsmaller farmers and artisans. After majorelection losses in 1928 when It was part ofthe government, It moved to the right underIts new leader Alfred Hugenberg, anIndustrialist and media tycoon.

Party

Nazis

Nationalists

Poples Party

Centre Party

a6&* C Pg,4S.

NSDAP (Nationalsozlalistlech.Deutsche Arbelterpartel). In 1924 theNazis were part of a racialist grouping, butfrom 1928 onwards they campaigned ontheir own. Like the (PD. the NSDAP triedto use legal electoral methods to gainpower, having failed to overthrow theregime by force. The NSDAP receivedreasonable support In some regionalelections, especially in farming areas in1928, but overall there was little masssupport before 1930.

66

I

Si

00.,

00

c)

German name Prominent Political Mainfigures position supporters

COYP%

1

,CTlVT’f

dy Source 3.2. DId the vote for

es suppOtfl8 the RepublicIJ1ncrease. fall or stay di

)I/ii17/

Block (Racial-NadonalistMlaflc.)

Reichatag elections, 1919—33

Key

D Parties loyal to theWelmar constitution

D Parties whoseIdoubth

I PartleshostiletoWelmar democracy

Parde. Jan Jun May Dec May Sept july Nov Mar

1919 1920 1924 1924 1928 1930 1932 1932 1933

KPD — 2. I 12.6 9.0 10.6 13.1 14.5 16.9 12.3

USPD 7.6 17.9 0.8 0.3 0.1 0.0 — — —

SPD 37.9 21.7 20.5 26.0 29.8 24.5 21.6 20.4 18.3

DDP” 18.6 8.3 5.7 6.3 4.9 3.8 1.0 1.0 0.9

z 15.9 13.6 13.4 13.6 12.1 11.8 12.5 11.9 I 1.2

BVP 3.8 4.2 3.2 3.8 3.1 3.0 3.7 3.4 2.7

DVP 4.4 13.9 9.2 10.1 8.7 4.7 1.2 1.9 1.1

DNVP 10.3 15.1 19.5 20.5 14.2 7.0 6.2 8.9 8.0

NSDAP — — 6.5 3.0 2.6 18.3 37.4 33.1 43.9

Otherst 1.6 3.3 8.6 7.0 13.9 13.8 2.0 2.6 1.6

Turnout (%) 83 77

Number of 421 459 472

deputies

79

493

76 82 84 8)

491 577 608 584

89

647

Total vote 30.4 28.2 29.3 30.3 J 30.8 35.0 36.9 35.5 39.6

(millIons) j* From 1930 known as the German States Party.

Others consisted of a number of special interest parties formed to protect a narrow

segment of the population, such as die Valkischer BlOCk (Racial—Nationalist Alliance).

Such parties were encouraged by the system of proportional representation.

SOURCE 3.2 Support for democracy

/DD/Z

Proportion of vote’

SOURCE 3.3

% of vote won by each party

0

0 0

I Study Source 3.1. What does it reveal about

a) the number of governments during the Welmar Republic

b) their approximate time in office?

2 Look at the final column of Source 3.1. How many minority governments

there? How must they have survived?

How many government changes were there which were not the result of

elections? How healthy was this for democracy?

ACTIVITY

Does the evidence on pages 62—3

suggest that the Welmar Republic was

more stable and secure in 1929 than In

1924?

‘A republic without republicans.’

How far did the German people

support the Republic?

SOURCE 3.1

Governments, parties and elections

— the pattern of eventsPages 62—70 give you a range of information about the political developments

during the Weimar Republic. You can use the Activities on these pages to work

out whether the Wehnar Republic had become politically more stable by 1929

or whether major wealmesses remained.

Weimar governments 1919—33

114

Parties in government

Elections Date of appolntñiéflt ChaiclsUDrcparty) S D Z D R D N % of deputies

àf new government P D V V N S in Reichstag

‘ D P P P v D in parties supporting

: .

P A the governmentP

jan 1919 Feb 1919 Scheldemanii(SPD) • • • —— 78

june1919 .Eauer.(SPD) • • 60 -

Mar1920 -MUIler(5PD)’

June 1920 june 1920 Pehrenbar.h(Z) — • • • — 37

May1921 -Vflrth4

Nov1922 Om& —

41

Aug1923 iinbVi

Nov 1923 MarZ) . . . 37 -

May 1924 june 1924 tblarx(Z) . . . 29

Dec (924 jan 1925 Luthert • . . . . 56

Jan 1926 Luthert • • • • 35- *1

May 1926 Marx(Z) . . . . 35 -

jan 1927 Marx (Z) • • • • 49

May 1928 june 1928 MUller (SPD) • • . • . — — 61

Sept 1930Mar 1930 Bruning (Z) PresldentlaE government

including DDP, Z, BVP,DVP

35—28

june 1932 Papen (Z) Presidential government, 6— 10

july 1932includIng DNVP

Nov 1932

Dec 1932 Schleichert Presidential government, 9including DNVP

-

jan (933 Hitler (NSDAP) . • 43

Mar 193353 after March .1

* On many issues the government was dependent on the support of the SPD, even when it was officially in opposition.

Not a member of a party.

.

I

3

-i

Ii) Economic growth is not sufficient to l9nance welfare

reforms as well as maintain the profitability of our

businesses. We must follow the example of employers

in the Ruhr lockout and regain our proper control over

the workers.

I) Our traditionally dominant political and social position

has been undermined by the establishment of

democracy. What’s worse, our economic position has

been weakened by the fall In world prices. i know our

party, the INVI has recently joined the government,

butl trust this is to try to secure government subsidies,

not to bolster the regimel -

f

j) Our priority Is to maintain our beloved Reichswehr, and

not let it be contaminated by democracy. We must, of

course, defend the government against communist

subversives, and it would be unwise to assist some of

these harebrained conservative plotters. For the

moment, we should concentrate on developing

Germany’s military position, and exploit our links with

Russia. There’s something to be said for strengthening

the position of the President compared to the

Reichstag, but let’s bide oir tIme for the moment.

..—

d) Junker

k) Even though we don’t like this new democratic system,

at least we’ve kept our jobs. We will have to enforce

laws we dIslike, but we should take every opportunity

II I to let good German nationalists not be harshly

penalised for trying to save theIr country.

J c_

__________

I) We have lost the special position we had under the

Second Reich, but at least the regime allows free

religious activities. I and many of my colleagues, though,

are concerned about the decline in moral standards

and behavIour. Some people seem to want to break

with tradition Just for the sake of it; and there’s still

the danger of atheistic communIsm.

m) I, and most of my rivals, can’t develop any enthusiasm

for this new democracy. When you compare Germany

now with what it was like under the l(aiser, it’s hard to

fathom. For the moment there seems no alternative,

but I don’t see it as my job to try to explain to our

readers how the system works or to rally support for

the present drab state of affairs.

___________

- ‘-: / Ed

At least this new regime has not yet Inteered too

much, but I am concerned that the spirit of democracy

if taken too far could undermine discipline and respect

for authority amongst youth. We must uphold

traditIonal German values. We must foster pride in our

country, though not in our current weak government.

‘.‘ir.- • flr ,nr,

ACTIVITY

Below are some statements that might have been made by members of the elite and other Influential groups in 1928. Match each

one up with the person most likely to have made that statement. (This exercise Illustrates some of the attitudes amongst these

groups; these were probably the predominant attitudes, but remember that there would be a considerable variety of opinion

within each group.) -

a) General b) Teacher c) Industrialiste) judge I) Protestant g) Newspaper

pastor editor

10

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II

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