P2 - weimar gov Flashcards
what did M Hughes say on the german revolution
M.Hughes ‘ It is more accurate to talk about a potential revolution which ran away into the sand rather than a genuine article on Weimar Repub. + revolution
what soviet republic was crushed by the friekorps
-bavaria april 1919
what is proportional representation?
-system allocates parliamentary seats in proportion to n.votes
-strengths of the president / reichstag
-A48 worked in 1923 - munich Putsch Hitler //. 7 yr cycle allows stability / 76% voted pro democracy
weaknesses of president / reichstag
-A48 abused / 7 yr cycle too long / presidential decree brought hitler to power
whats the Länder?
-regional states - germany was a federal system - each state local responsibilities
Strengths proportional representation
-no evid. alt voting system better - only fair way to reflect interest ??
proportional representation weaknesses
-coalitions - encourages new smaller parties == heavily criticised for allowing hitler to arise
Institutions strengths
-ebert gröner agrmt. - army run as it always had
institutions weaknesses
-ebert gröner agrmt. gave military too much power / judiciary bias 8% right iwng assassins guilty compare 50% left wing // meant that the democratic spirit of the WR lived in shadow of Reich II
3 reasosn why weimar republic failed
-proportional rep / A48 + relationship president + Reichstag / traditional institutions allowed
Gordon Craig referred to A48 as as
effect to be a ‘constitutional anomaly’
what did Theodor Heuss say in 1949
‘germany had never conqeured democracy herself. Democracy came to Germany in the face of defeat.’ == weimar constitution not fatally flawed - more fundamental problems within republic
when was the new national assembly formed + led by ?
-6Feb1919 - pro-republic ‘Weimar Colition led by Scheidemann - discontent in army + threat from left threatened republic
- Which DDP foreign minister was assassinated in 1922, and why?
a. Walter Rathenau - becase he made a treaty with Communist Russia
