Politics in Weimar Germany

Learning Objectives: • To explain the political spectrum in

Germany

Starter: Can you remember the two main problems with the Weimar Constitution?

Weimar Republic Constitution

Politics in Weimar

Germany

LO: To explain the political spectrum in Germany

When the Weimar Republic was set up, the largest political party was the Social Democratic Party (the SDP). Their leader, Friedrich Ebert, was therefore chosen to be the first president.

What was the difference between the president and the chancellor?

The first thing he does is sign the armistice on 11th November – this brings an end to WW1.

• Allies prepared to make peace on conditions:

• Kaiser and Generals must give up powers

• Power given to the Reichstag

• Germany went from a country of autocracy and became a parliamentary democracy

Politics in Weimar

Germany

LO: To explain the political spectrum in Germany

• The Armistice was an agreement signed by representatives of France, Great Britain and Germany. It was an agreement to end fighting as a prelude to peace negotiations. The Treaty of Versailles

• The Armistice began at on 11th November 1918 at 11am (French time) - the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.

• The Armistice took place in Ferdinand Foch's railway carriage in the Forest of Compiègne, about 37 miles (60 km) north of Paris.

Politics in Weimar

Germany

LO: To explain the political spectrum in Germany

What does this source suggest about German reaction to the armistice?

DolchstossLO: To explain the political spectrum in Germany

Dolchstoss (the stab-in-the-back theory) was the idea among some in Germany (particularly the right wing and the army) that Germany was not going to lose the war and the armistice should not have been signed.

They called the Weimar Republic’s leaders the ‘November Criminals’

The Political Spectrum

LO: To explain the political spectrum in Germany

CentreFar

Left

Far Right

Centre Left

Centre Right

Democratic and appeals to everyone

Democratic and appeals to lower classes(workers)

Democratic and appeals to rich or nationalistic

Dictatorship and

appeals to lower

classes(workers)

Dictatorship and appeals to rich or nationalistic

• Equality• Social change• Distribution of wealth

• Personal liberty• Capitalism

• Private property

The Political Spectrum

LO: To explain the political spectrum in Germany

Read the descriptions of the different political parties and

try to place them in the correct place on the political

spectrum.

LEFT WING

RIGHT WINGCENTRE

Communism Socialism Liberalism Conservatism

The Political Spectrum

LO: To explain the political spectrum in Germany

Nationalism/ Fascism

Fact or Fiction?The Kaiser abdicated on 11th November 1918

Dictatorship means a state with a strong leader, one-party rule

One characteristic of fascism is often nationalism

Fascism is extreme left wing and gains support from workers

Friedrich Ebert became the first elected president of Germany

The Armistice was signed between Germany, France, Britain and Russia

The president of the Weimar republic ruled for 8 years

Under the new constitution anyone under 20yrs. can vote

The new republic was named after the town it was established

Article 54 have the president power to pass laws without voting in the Reichstag first