Popular support, 1918-32

Question 1

What was the range of turnout of voters % from 1919-32? What does this show?

Answer 1

Ranged from 75.6% - 83.0%. Showed that there was a trust in democracy throughout the whole era, despite the amount of discontent from extremist parties such as the NSDAP and KPD.

Question 2

Pro-constitution party votes % in 1919 (SPD, DDP, DVP Zentrum). What does this show?

Answer 2

80.5%, shows a strong willingness of the people to support democracy

Question 3

Anti-constitution party votes % in 1919 (KPD, Nazis, USPD). What does this show?

Answer 3

17.9%. There was very little support for extremism in the electoral sense in 1919.

Question 4

Pro-constitution party votes % in 1932 (SPD, DDP, DVP Zentrum). What does this show?

Answer 4

35.2%. The support for the constitution had taken a great hit, possibly due to the Depression and the lack of decisiveness to deal with it. People were turning towards extremism.

Question 5

Anti-constitution party votes % in 1932 (KPD, Nazis, USPD). What does this show?

Answer 5

58.3%. People were now turning towards extremism, and for the first time extremist parties had the majority of votes in the Reichstag. This shows that the Depression had a massive effect on the popular support of the constitution.

Question 6

How many seats did the SPD get in 1924?

Answer 6

131

Question 7

How many seats did the SPD get in 1928? What does this suggest?

Answer 7

158

An increase from 131 in 1924 could suggest that the stabilisation of the economy during the mid 20s contributed to the popular support of the SPD, the main party in the constitution.