Summary 6 - The death of Weimar democracy Flashcards
Was Weimar democracy dead before Hitler became Chancellor in January 1933?
Weimar democracy was dead well before Hitler became Chancellor in January 1933.
Give one factor which meant that Weimar democracy failed?
The German elite were ant-Weimar from the start. So many key figures in German society and business rejected the idea of a democratic republic.
When did the actions of the German elite against democracy become a decisive factor in the fall of Weimar democracy?
After 1930, particularly in 1932 when Von Papen and then Scheicher became Chancellor.
Economic issues also played a key role in the German public losing faith in democracy. Give some of the economic issues that the Weimar Republic encountered?
- The costs of WW1
- Reconstruction after WW1
- Reparations payments
- Welfare costs
- The occupation of the Ruhr and the hyperinflation crisis of 1923
- The Great Depression
Why was the Weimar Republic associated with defeat from the start?
The signing of the Treaty of Versailles and the reparations payments meant that the Weimar Republic was associated with defeat from the start.
How did the actions of political parties further damage Weimar democracy?
- The DNP and ZP moved right in their political stance
- The SPD, who were the most loyal party to democracy, refused to join coalitions for the majority of the 1920’s
The vote share of which two liberal parties declined after 1924?
The DDP and the DVP
What role did The Great Depression play in the demise of democracy?
The Great Depression exacerbated all of the pressures on Weimar democracy.
Why did the system of proportional representation hamper Weimar Democracy from the outset?
The system of proportional representation meant that anti-democratic parties were able to gain seats in the Reichstag and undermine the system from within.
