The Weimar Republic

Germanys Government before WWI

Long tradition of authoritarian rule and no experience of democracy or equal rights and freedom After The German states united in 1871, authority was held by the Kaiser and his Chancellor Although a parliament existed it could only amend laws The Kaiser was able to appoint and dismiss all officials, to declare war or peace and conduct foreign affairs.

Kaiser Wilhelm II

Germany during WWI

Difficulty obtaining raw materials for manufacturing Food shortages Labour regulated by government Kaiser Wilhelm and the Chancellor quickly lost power they were replaced by military team (Hindenburg and Ludendorff)

How Germany became a Democracy

When it was realised that the war was lost, it was also realised that the allies would not negotiate peace with an undemocratic country. Power handed over to Reichstag (Parliament) The new democratic government was then blamed for the defeat within Germany by prominent Germans Discipline had begun to break down within the army because of food shortages and feelings of defeat the people demanded the overthrow of the Kaiser.
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Reichstag: German Parliament

Strengths of the New Democracy

First time German people were given democratic rights:

Equality

before law Personal liberty Freedom of speech Assembly Association Religion

Weaknesses of the Weimar Republic and Constitution

Voting based on proportional representation any party that gained 60 000 votes won a seat even small parties could gain a seat. This made it difficult to establish a stable government 30 different parties came to power in a short time Larger parties forced to form coalitions with small parties Article 48 of constitution allowed the President extraordinary powers in times of emergency (overruling democracy)

Key People and Groups

Friedrich Ebert

Friedrich Ebert was a German politician from the Social Democratic Party (SDP), who served as Chancellor of Germany and its first president during the Weimar period.

The Spartacists

The Spartacist League was a left-wing Marxist revolutionary movement organized in Germany during and just after the politically volatile years of WWI. The League subsequently renamed itself the Communist Party of Germany (KPD), joining the Comintern in 1919. The League and the subsequent KPD were famous for street battles with police and other direct action militant activities.

Communists of the Spartacist League fighting in the streets of Berlin during the German Revolution 1918-1919

Freikorps

The term was used for the right-wing paramilitary organizations that sprang up around Germany as soldiers returned in defeat from WWI. They were the key Weimar paramilitary groups active during that time. Many German veterans felt disconnected from civilian life, and joined a Freikorps in search of stability within a military structure. Others, angry at their sudden, apparently inexplicable defeat, joined up in an effort to put down Communist uprisings or exact some form of revenge.

They were officially 'disbanded' in 1920; but some, instead of disbanding, attempted to overthrow the government in the Kapp Putsch in March 1920