Weimar Republic 1924-29

Question 1

What are the two views of the period 1924-9?

Answer 1

1. A remarkable period of recovery

2. A superficially promising period but in reality it had major weaknesses

Question 2

When did Stresemann become Chancellor?

Answer 2

August 1923

Question 3

When was the failure of Hitler’s Munich Putsch?

Answer 3

November 1923

Question 4

Other than the Munich Putsch, what else happened in November 1923?

Answer 4

• Rentenmark is introduced and ends the inflationary crisis.

- Stresemann’s government falls but he remains Foreign Minister

Question 5

When does President Ebert die, and when is General Hindenburg elected to take his place?

Answer 5

February 1925

April 1925

Question 6

When was the Locarno Treaty?

Answer 6

October 1925

Question 7

When was the Treaty of Berlin? (This confirms the Rapallo Pact of 1922)

Answer 7

April 1926

Question 8

When did Germany join the League of Nations?

Answer 8

September 1926

Question 9

When was the Dawes Plan?

Answer 9

April 1924

Question 10

When was the Young Plan?

Answer 10

June 1929

Question 11

When does Stresemann die?

Answer 11

3 October 1929

Question 12

When was the Wall Street Crash?

Answer 12

29 October 1929

Question 13

When did the Anti-Young Plan win 14% of voters?

Answer 13

December 1929

Question 14

What did the Weimar Republic last longer than?

Answer 14

Hitler’s Third Reich

Question 15

What evidence is there that the government wasn’t that stable 1924-28?

Answer 15

There was 6 changes of government 1924-28, because no party had got a majority meaning they were all weak and short lived coalition governments.

Question 16

Which parties were generally committed to Weimar democracy?

Answer 16

SPD
Centre Party
DDP

Question 17

Which party was the main creator of the Weimar Republic?

Answer 17

SPD

Question 18

Summarise the main details of the SPD 1924-28

Answer 18

• Large support from the working class, giving them the greatest electoral support for much of the period
• Tension between those wanting it to remain Marxist party of the proletariat (wanting general socialism) and the modernists who wanted a reformist party.
• From 1918 to 1932 it led coalition governments with the Z party in Prussia and advocate democracy

Question 19

What was the DDP?

Answer 19

The liberal middle-class party. 
Its members were important in drawing up the constitution, but it failed to attract the majority of the conservative middle class

Question 20

Which parties had fluctuating attitudes towards Weimar democracy?

Answer 20

DVP

DNVP

Question 21

What was the DVP?

Answer 21

A moderate conservative party under Stresemann’s leadership, which was for social reform whilst remaining right wing.

Question 22

Summarise the main details of the DVP 1924-28

Answer 22

• Its main support was from the Protestant middle class and industrialists who wanted free trade.
• Never became a major force in the Weimar Republic despite Stresemann’s achievements.

Question 23

What was the DNVP?

Answer 23

The main Conservative Party

Question 24

Summarise the main details of the DNVP 1924-28

Answer 24

• It was initially hostile towards the Republic, but became more pragmatic and joined the government in 1925 and 1927-8
• It was split between reactionaries and moderates
• Benefits were seen from cooperating with the government to protect the interests of the industrialists and land owners.
• It majorly lost the 1928 election when it was part of the government so it moved to the right under its new leader.

Question 25

Which parties were hostile to Weimar democracy?

Answer 25

KPD

NSDAP

Question 26

What was the KPD?

Answer 26

A revolutionary Marxist party that was committed to a soviet style system.
It was formed from the Spartacists and radicals from the USPD.
It attempted several revolts between 1919 and 1923 but failed to overthrow the Republic, leading them to concentrate on mass support instead.

Question 27

Summarise the main details of the KPD 1924-28

Answer 27

• It became a disciplined and bureaucratic party under Ernst Thaelmann.
• It gained between 9 and 17% of the vote, mainly from the working class.
• It became increasingly dominated by the USSR which through the Comintern, tried to influence tactics of Communist parties throughout Europe. Stalin urged it to be hostile to the SPD so that left wings were divided.

Question 28

How many members did the KPD have by 1932?

Answer 28

360,000

Question 29

Summarise the main details of the NSDAP 1924-28

Answer 29

• Tried to use more legal electoral methods as opposed to force in order to gain power, having failed to overthrow the regime previously.
• Some support in farming areas but little mass support before 1930.

Question 30

Between what years were there no attempted coups?

Answer 30

1924 and 1929