Political and governmental change, 1918-33 Flashcards
(114 cards)
1
Q
What was the Second Reich?
A
The name given to the unified German state that was established following Prussiaโs victory in the Franco-Prussian War 1870-1871.
2
Q
Following the Franco-Prussian War, what happened to all German speaking states (with the exception of the Austrian Empire)?
A
They were all unified under Prussian dominance - Prussian King was Kaiser of Germany.
3
Q
Briefly describe the constitution of the Second Reich
A
- Gave substantial powers of patronage to the Kaiser, although the agreement of the Reichstag was needed to pass legislation.
- Kaiser was in charge of foreign policy and commander-in-chief of the armed forces.
- Kaiser Wilhelm II wanted to develop a German empire and build up German military strength.
4
Q
In the years prior to WWI, what happened to Germany?
A
It industrialised rapidly and the urban working class grew substantially. A large trade union movement developed and German politics came under increasing strain as a permanently upper class conservative government struggled to work with an increasingly working class, socialist Reichstag.
5
Q
What was the economic impact of WW1 for Germany?
A
- Fighting the war was an enormous economic challenge.
- Taxation contributed only 16% of the cost of the war.
- War bonds were used and money printed.
- Printing money led to inflation - the mark declined in value by 75% between 1913 and 1918.
- German agriculture was not mobilised effectively, causing food shortages.
6
Q
How much did taxation contribute to the First World War?
A
Only 16%
7
Q
What was used to help finance the First World War?
A
War bonds and printing money
8
Q
What did printing money to finance WW1 lead to?
A
Inflation
9
Q
What did the mark decline in value by between 1913 and 1918?
A
75%
10
Q
During the First World War, what was the problem with agriculture?
A
German agriculture was not mobilised effectively, causing food shortages.
11
Q
What was the social impact of WW1 for Germany?
A
- 2 million soldiers were killed and 6.3 million were injured.
- With inflation and tight controls on wages, living standards fell by 20-30%.
- Food and fuel shortages exacerbated the impact of the Spanish flu pandemic in 1918 and caused misery, disease and starvation.
12
Q
How many soldiers were killed in the First World War?
A
2 milion
13
Q
How many soldiers were injured during the First World War?
A
6.3 million
14
Q
After WW1: With inflation and tight controls on wages, what did living standards fall by?
A
20-30%
15
Q
What did food and fuel shortages exacerbate the impact of?
A
The Spanish flu pandemic in 1918 and caused misery, disease and starvation.
16
Q
At the start of the war, how did Germany appear?
A
Politically unified behind the war effort - a political truce, Burgfrieden was announced. But this situation didnโt last.
17
Q
What was the political impact of WW1 for Germany?
A
- During the war, the government became increasingly authoritarian and militaristic. By 1916, the Supreme Commanders, Generals Hindenburg and Ludendorff were essentially in charge of the country, running what has been characterised as a โsilent dictatorshipโ. Military government exacerbated political and social tensions.
- Mounting concern about the war led, in 1917, to a Reichstag vote for the โpeace resolutionโ, which urged the government to try to negotiate a peace settlement.
- The war saw the formation in 1915 of the communist Spartacist League that agitated for social revolution and an end to the war.
- In 1917, 42 SPD deputies had broken away to form the anti-war and radical socialist USPD.
- Discontent with the political and social situation in Germany was revealed by the huge strikes that occurred in 1917 and 1918.
- By 1918, politics was more polarised than ever as the Generals continued to seek a โSiegfriedโ, victory peace.
18
Q
During WW1, what did the government become?
A
Increasingly authoritarian and militaristic. By 1916, the Supreme Commanders, Generals Hindenburg and Ludendorff were essentially in charge of the country, running what has been characterised as a โsilent dictatorshipโ.
19
Q
Political impact of the war:
Mounting concern about the war led to what in 1917?
A
A Reichstag vote for the โpeace resolutionโ, which urged the government to try to negotiate a peace settlement.
20
Q
What did the war see the formation of in 1915?
A
The communist Spartacist League that agitated for social revolution and an end to the war.
21
Q
Political impact of the war:
In 1917, what happened with SPD deputies?
A
42 SPD deputies had broken away to form the anti-war and radical socialist USPD.
22
Q
What did discontent with the political and social situation lead to?
A
Huge strikes that occurred in 1917 and 1918.
23
Q
Describe the situation in 1918 as the war was coming to a close
A
By 1918, politics was more polarised than ever as the Generals continued to seek a โSiegfriedโ, victory peace.
24
Q
In the autumn of 1918, what came as great shock to Germans?
A
Germanyโs impending defeat - which contributed to the outbreak of revolution and acceptance of the โstab in the back mythโ.
25
Define Imperial Germany/Second Reich
The title given to Germany from 1871 (unification of Germany) to 1918 and the end of the First World War.
26
What was the Weimar Republic?
The title given to the regime which governed Germany between the end of the First World War and the election of Adolf Hitler in January 1933. Refers to a period of democracy in Germany.
27
What was the 'stab in the back' myth?
The ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐-๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐บ๐๐๐ต coined by General Hindenburg in November 1919 which declared that the German army could have won the war but were 'stabbed in the back' by the government that replaced by the Kaiser. Also idea that the German army was betrayed by the communists, socialists and Jews on the home front.
28
What was the SPD?
The Social Democratic Party. They were a left-wing leaning political party and was the largest political party in the Reichstag from 1919-1929.
29
Who were the Allies in WW1?
Britain, France, Russia and their empires.
30
By 1916, what were Hindenburg and Ludendorff essentially in charge of?
In charge of the country, running what has been characterised as a 'silent dictatorship'.
31
What was the 'silent dictatorship' from 1916?
The Supreme Commanders Ludendorff and Hindenburg were essentially in charge of the country - and the country became increasingly authoritarian and militaristic.
32
What did the authoritarian leaderships of Hindenburg and Ludendorff (silent dictatorship) produce in Germany?
Opposition. Huge strikes in 1917 and 1918.
33
By 1918, what was politics?
More polarised than ever.
34
What political parties were completely anti-war
SPD and USPD
35
Why was the political impact of the First World War important?
It polarised Germany, creating a divided country that was once unified and also increased opposition.
36
Why was the political impact of the First World War important?
It polarised Germany, creating a divided country that was once unified and also increased opposition.
37
Why did Imperial Germany collapse in November 1918 (i.e why was the Weimar govt formed?)
1. A growing working class became increasingly unhappy with the conservative political system of the Second Reich and the power of the Kaiser.
2. In the final months of the war, the German army became exhausted and overstretched. Defeat was likely.
3. Generals of the General Army worked to shift the blame of Germany's impending defeat on to the new government. A new liberal and left-wing government as formed.
4. German sailors, aware of Germany's impending defeat, mutinied. This led to further riots and disturbances across Germany. The government had lost control.
5. WWI caused inflation, declining standards of living and increased political polarisation. By the end of the war, the nation had become more divided, making revolution more likely.
6. Fearing a violent revolution, and with political parties calling for the creation of a democratic republic, Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicated. Friedrich Ebert, leader of the SPD, was appointed leader of Germany. His first action was to sign the armistice agreement, bringing an end to the war.
38
What did German sailors do during the war?
German sailors, aware of Germany's impending defeat, mutinied. This led to further riots and disturbances across Germany. The government had lost control.
39
Who was made leader of Germany after Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicated?
Friedrich Ebert
40
When was Friedrich Ebert elected president?
February 1919
41
What was Friedrich Ebert's first action?
To sign the armistice agreement, bringing an end to the war.
42
What was 'rule by decree'?
Power to pass any law (decree) without having to consult any other person or body such as parliament.
43
What is a constitution?
A set of laws which outline how a country is run.
44
Reichstag
The German parliament
45
What was Burgfrieden?
A German term that refers to the political truce between Germany's political parties during World War I. It was announced at the start of WWI, when Germany appeared politically unified behind the war effort.
46
In the Weimar Republic, what powers did the Chancellor have?
* Head of government (like prime minister).
* Chooses ministers which run the country.
* With his ministers, puts laws to the Reichstag.
* Needs a majority in the Reichstag to pass these laws.
* Chosen by the President.
Not as powerful as president.
47
In the Weimar Republic, what powers did the president have?
* To select and dismiss the Chancellor.
* To lead the armed forces.
* Dissolve the Reichstag and call new elections.
* To rule via presidential decree in the event of an emergency (Article 48).
48
Describe the role of the president in the Weimar Republic
MOST POWER
* Head of state and armed forces, who runs foreign affairs. Does not take part in day to day government.
* Elected by a vote of all electors every 7 years (chosen as a person, not a party representative).
* Chooses and appoints a Chancellor (requires support of the Reichstag to do so).
* ๐จ๐ป๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ฟ๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐น๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐ด ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐๐๐ถ๐๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป, ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐ต๐ฎ๐ฑ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฝ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ผ ๐ฟ๐๐น๐ฒ ๐๐ถ๐ฎ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ฎ๐น ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฒ ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ฎ๐ป ๐ฒ๐บ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ด๐ฒ๐ป๐ฐ๐. ๐ง๐ต๐ถ๐ ๐บ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ป๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐๐น๐ฑ ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐๐ ๐น๐ฎ๐๐ ๐๐ถ๐๐ต๐ผ๐๐ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐๐๐น๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฎ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ๐น๐น๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ต๐๐๐ฎ๐ด.
* ๐๐ฎ๐ฑ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฝ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ผ ๐ฑ๐ถ๐๐บ๐ถ๐๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ต๐๐๐ฎ๐ด ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐น๐น ๐ป๐ฒ๐ ๐ฒ๐น๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐.
49
When was the President elected?
Every 7 years - by a vote of all electors.
50
In the Weimar Republic, who had the MOST power?
THE PRESIDENT - important, had lots of power.
51
Describe the cabinet (ministers)
* Gives advice and administers the laws.
* Chosen by the Chancellor.
* Formulates laws to pass to the Reichstag for a vote.
52
Describe the role of the Reichstag
* Elected by a secret ballot of all electors every 4 years.
* Votes cast for a party, not a person (proportional representation - lots of coalitions); parties get one seat for every 60,000 votes cast for them.
* Passes the laws of the country.
53
How often was the Reichstag elected?
Every 4 years - secret ballot.
54
In the Reichstag, parties get one seat for every...
60,000 votes cast for them.
55
Describe the role of the Reichsrat
* Members sent by the 18 Lรคnder.
* Can veto a law passed by the Reichstag UNLESS the Reichstag law has two-thirds majority of the more.
* Reports to the Lรคnder.
56
Describe the role of the Lรคnder (local government)
* 18 local regions each of which has a local parliament (Lรคnder). Runs own education, policy and judiciary.
* Federal laws overrule the laws of the Lรคnd if they conflict.
* Chooses Reichsrat.
Kind of like America states.
57
What does the Lรคnder run?
Its own education, policy and judiciary.
58
How many regions was the Lรคnder?
18 local regions.
59
Who chooses the cabinet?
The Chancellor.
60
Who chooses and appoints the Chancellor?
The President.
61
What was Article 48?
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐ต๐ฎ๐ฑ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฝ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ผ ๐ฟ๐๐น๐ฒ ๐๐ถ๐ฎ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ฎ๐น ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฒ ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ฎ๐ป ๐ฒ๐บ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ด๐ฒ๐ป๐ฐ๐. ๐ง๐ต๐ถ๐ ๐บ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ป๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐๐น๐ฑ ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐๐ ๐น๐ฎ๐๐ ๐๐ถ๐๐ต๐ผ๐๐ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐๐๐น๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฎ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ๐น๐น๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ต๐๐๐ฎ๐ด.
62
Who was the Reichstag elected by?
Electors, every 4 years, by secret ballot.
63
What was the President?
Head of state and armed forces, who runs foreign affairs. Doesn't take part in day to day government.
64
How is the President elected?
By a vote of all electors every 7 years. Chosen as a person and not party representative.
65
Who has the power to dismiss the Reichstag and call new elections?
The president
66
Who chooses the Lรคnder, Reichstag, and president?
The electors
67
Who has the power to veto a law passed by the Reichstag?
The Reichsrat - UNLESS the Reichstag law has two-thirds majority or more.
68
Who has most and least power in the Weimar constitution?
- MOST POWER = the president
- LEAST POWER = the Lรคnder
69
Describe the role of the electors in the Weimar constitution
* All men and women over the age of 20.
* Individual rights for all granted under a new Bill of Rights. This allows personal liberty, the right to free speech, forbidden censorship, equality before the law and religious freedom. Also provides a range of social rights (e.g welfare provision for housing, the disabled and orphans).
70
Who can vote in the Weimar Republic?
All men and women over the age of 20.
71
What were individual rights granted under?
A new ๐๐ถ๐น๐น ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ฅ๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐๐.
72
What did the Bill of Rights protect?
Basic civil rights: personal liberty, the right to free speech, forbidden censorship, equality before the law and religious freedom. Also provides a range of social rights (e.g welfare provision for housing, the disabled and orphans).
73
Who was given universal suffrage?
Men and women over 20.
74
What did the Weimar constitution introduce to conduct elections?
Proportional representation
75
Describe the federal system of Weimar Germany
Germany was divided into 18 states (Lรคnder) which had their own parliament and local powers.
76
February 7th 1919
Friedrich Ebert gave a victorious speech to the new assembly proclaiming victory for democracy.
77
February 10th 1919
Ebert was elected the first President of the Republic.
78
July 31st 1919
The Weimar Constitution was finally passed by the Reichstag in Weimar, Germany (262 votes for, 75 votes against).
79
What were the number of votes for and against the new Weimar Constitution in the Reichstag?
262 votes for
75 votes against
80
What clauses of the Weimar Constitution posed challenges for the government and Weimar Germany as a whole?
- Proportional representation
- The relationship between the President and the Reichstag
- The continuity of traditional institutions
81
What was proportional representation?
A system that allocates parliamentary seats in proportion to the total number of votes e.g if a party receives 10% of the votes, they will receive 10% of seats in the Reichstag.
This system contrasts to 'first-past-the-post', a system that Britain uses in general elections (voters elect a representative to represent their constituency)
82
Why was proportional representation a challenge to the Weimar Constitution?
- Makes it difficult for one party to form a stable and lasting majority government.
- Parties have to form coalitions which are often unstable and slow to respond to national crises due to disagreements over how to run Germany e.g 1919-1923 there were 9 coalition governments.
- Allows extremist parties (i.e anti-democratic extremists) to receive seats in parliament therefore LOWERING THE BARRIERS TO POLITICAL ENTRY.
- Party proliferation
Ultimately, it was condemned for creating a fragmented party system and making it difficult to form durable coalition governments.
83
How many coalition governments were there from 1919-23?
9
Shows how proportional representation was a failure.
84
The relationship between the President and the Reichstag being a problem - summary
- Article 48 provided the President with the authority to suspend civl rights (e.g freedom of expression, speech, movement, religion, etc.) and in emergency, to rule by decree (without consulting the Reichstag).
- The president had the right to dissolve/dismiss the Reichstag.
85
Why was the relationship between the President and the Reichstag a challenge to the Weimar Constitution?
- The president was given a lot of power under Article 48 to pass laws without consulting the Reichstag.
- In times of emergency, he could behave like an autocrat, which as undemocratic.
- The president could overrule the decisions of the electorate.
86
The continuity of traditional institutions being a problem - summary
The Weimar government made no attempt to reform traditional, right-wing institutions of the Second Reich:
- The judiciary (judges) continued to enjoy traditional independence and favoured the extreme right over the left.
- The army enjoyed great status and generally did not favour the Republic.
- Universities were more sympathetic to old political ideas and rules.
87
Why was the continuity of traditional institutions a challenge to the Weimar Constitution?
Conservative forces influenced the running of the government and sometimes worked to undermine democracy e.g the army did not support the government during the Kapp Putsch 1920 and the judiciary's response to right-wing rebellions e.g Muchich Putsch 1923 was weak.
88
Which rights did the Weimar constitution protect?
- Freedom of association, speech and religion.
- The right to work: the government had to ensure everyone had a job or, failing that, provide financial support.
- Right to own property.
89
Which traditional institutions in Weimar Germany remained unreformed, powerful, conservative forces?
- ๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐ถ๐๐ถ๐น ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ
- The ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐บ๐, not sympathetic to democratic Germany and enjoyed great status.
- ๐จ๐ป๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐, sympathetic to old political ideas
- The ๐ท๐๐ฑ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐, tended to favour extreme right and condemn extreme left in the courts.
90
Name 3 positive features of the Weimar Republic's constitution
1. It was very democratic with an elected head of state (President) and a parliament elected by proportional representation every 4 years.
2. It contained checks and balances to try and make sure no one part of the political system could become too powerful.
3. It protected many basic civil rights e.g freedom of speech/religion.
91
Name 3 criticisms of the Weimar Republic's constitution
1. It gave away too much power to the president under Article 48, allowing him to suspend civil rights in an emergency.
2. Proportional representation led to a fragmented party system with lots of small parties e.g Nazis, and making it difficult to form stable coalition governments.
3. Traditional institution remained unreformed, powerful and conservative e.g the army, judiciary and universities.
92
What was the German Revolution?
A civil conflict in the German Empire at the end of the First World War that resulted in the replacement of the German federal constitutional monarchy with a democratic parliamentary republic that later became known as the Weimar Republic.
93
What were the problems of the Second Reich that helped create the WR?
The political system the Second Reich had ceased to work effectively in the years before 1914. The tension between a permanently conservative government headed by an autocratic Kaiser and a growing working class with socialist inclinations made revolution in Germany more likely.
94
When did the Second Reich begin to collapse?
In the final weeks of WWI.
95
Summarise the impact of WWI on Germany?
Had places enormous strains on Germany as it caused escalating inflation, declining standards of living and increased political polarisation.
The country had started the war reasonably united, but by the end of the war social and political tensions had pushed the system to breaking point.
96
Describe the situation for the German army in WW1 in 1918?
They had defeated Russian in 1917, but in reality they were exhausted and overstretched by 1918. Foreseeing defeat, the generals tried to rid themselves of responsibility by engineering the 'revolution from above'.
97
9th November 1918: Fearing a violent revolution and with the SPD calling for a republic, what did Hindenburg do?
Advised the Kaiser to abdicate. Kaiser fled to Holland and the Second Reich came to an end.
98
What did Friedrich Ebert do when he became leader of Germany in 1919?
Formed a government of SPD and USPD members (he was leader of SPD).
99
What was Ebert?
Anti-communist and determined to prevent the German revolution becoming a civil war.
100
What were the main political parties of Weimar Germany?
- German National Peoples' Party (DNVP) - most extreme right
- National Socialist German Workers' Party (The Nazis) - extreme right
- Centre Party (ZP) - right
- German Peoples' Party (DVP) - right
- Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) - left
- German Democratic Party (DDP) - left
- German Communists (KPD) - most extreme left
- Independent Social Democratic Party of Germany (USDP) - left
101
When were the first federal elections of the Weimar Republic held?
19th January 1919
102
What were the results of the 19th January elections?
Election was a success in that 82.7% of electors voted. However, SPD did not get the majority they wanted and could only govern by forming an election with the Centre Party and the German Democratic Party (DDP).
Other parties had seats in the Reichstag, but were not part of the government.
103
Who was the most right wing of the major parties in the Weimar Republic?
The German National People's Party (DNVP)
104
The German National Peoples' Party (DNVP)
- Most extreme right wing of the major parties.
- Created from older conservative parties and was conservative, nationalist and monarchist.
- DIdn't want social reform and disliked the idea of a republic, only grudgingly accepting it.
- Supported the army.
- Large number of its members were wealthy landowners and many members were anti-Semitic and racist.
- Generally it was closely tied to the interests of heavy industry and agriculture, including landowners and small farmers.
105
National Socialist German Workers' Party (The Nazis)
- Leader was Adolf Hitler.
- Extreme right-wing party formed in 1919.
- Anti-semitic, anti-republican, and strongly nationalist.
- Until 1930, it remained a fringe party with support from the lower middle classes.
106
German Democratic Party (DDP)
- Left
- One of its leaders was Walter Rathenau
- Newly formed party of liberal, educated, professional who supported the idea of a republic as well as a more representative constitution.
- Often part of government coalitions.
- Members believed in social reform, including regulating industry to give workers a better deal, and reforming the army.
- Attracted support from the professional middle classes.
- Committed to constitutional reform.
107
The Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD)
Leader was Friedrich Ebert
- Left
- Largest party in the Reichstag from 1919-1929.
- Long established party.
- Split in 1917 led them shifting to a republic stance to keep its members who increasingly favoured a republic.
- The party at the head of the new post-war government.
- Believed in moderate social reform e.g unemployment and health insurance, but not revolution.
- Attracted many workers' groups after the war, but also had a liberal, middle-class following of people who wanted moderate reform.
- It was hampered in its desire for some social reforms but the high number of union members it needed to please.
108
Summarise the SPD in 1919
It was the moderate wing of the socialist movement and was very much the party of the working class and trade unions. It strongly supported parliamentary democracy and was opposed to the revolutionary demands of the more left-wing socialists.
109
The Independent Social Democratic Party of Germany (USDP)
- More extreme left, included many of the more radical elements of German socialism.
- Split from the SPD in 1917
- Wanted a more radical system than the republic.
- Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht were members of the USPD before the Spartacists.
- Wanted social reform that included creating a more equal society.
- About half of its members joined the KPD and most of the others joined the SPD by 1922.
110
The German Communist Party (KPD)
- Set up in 1919
- Wanted a workers' revolution and the establishment of a communist state with the abolition of private ownership.
- Opposed Weimar-style democracy.
- It mainly attracted young, poor and unemployed - holding out to them the promise of a future that was better than any other parties had to offer.
111
The German Peoples' Party (DVP)
- Another significant right-wing group.
- Moderately conservative group and at first were suspicious of the Weimar Republic.
- New party restructured from the older National Liberals in 1919.
- Leader was Gustav Stresemann.
- Accepted, didn't support, the republic.
- Members were mostly protestant middle-class who wanted the economy to be fixed so that business could go on.
- Nationalist.
- Supported the army.
- Became a strong supporter of parliamentary democracy under Stresemann's influence.
112
What were the two main right-wing groups?
- The German National Peoples' Party (DNVP)
- The National Socialist German Workers' Party (The Nazi Party)
113
What were the four main left-wing groups?
- The German Communist Party (KPD)
- The Independent Social Democratic Party of Germany (USPD)
- The Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD)
- The German Democratic Party (DDP)
114
The Centre Party (ZP)
- Between the two main right wing and four main left-wing parties.
- Major political voice of Catholicism.
- A long established party.
- Largely Catholic.
- Defended the Church in its polices.
- Had conservative values but did advocate social reform.
- Firmly opposed left-wing policies and fanatically opposed to communism.
- Elections posters showed the horrors communism would bring.
- Broad range of support, from aristocratic landowners to Christian trade unionists.
- Sympathised more with right wing in the 1920s.
