Years of Crisis, 1918-
23HI136, History of Germany
Lecture 6
The
Birth
of
Germ
an
Dem
ocra
cy?
Did 1918 mark a break from the 19 th century?
How revolutionary were the events of 1918?
What compromises led to birth of the parliamentary republic?
What changes in German politics and society did the birth of the Weimar Republic signal?
The
Dom
estic
Im
pact
of t
he
War
Growing unrest from 1915.
Mounting casualties, falling
living standards and food &
fuel shortages led to growing labour unrest.
Mass strikes in Jan. 1918
throughout Germany and
Austria-Hungary. The realisation of defeat a
profound shock to the German people – all their
suffering had been for nothing.
The October
Reforms
3 October: Prince Max
von Baden installed
as Chancellor.
Coalition of Centre
Party, Liberals and
SPD.
26 October: Reform of
the Constitution
announced
The 3 class franchise
in Prussia abolished.
The Kaiser’s powers
over the army and
appointments
severely curtailed.
The Chancellor and
the Government
made accountable
to the Reichstag.
A ‘Revolution from
above’?
The
Nove
mbe
r Re
volu
tion Mutinous sailors at Kiel, November 1918
The
Proclamation of
the Republic
Philipp Scheidemann (marked by the cross)
proclaims the formation of the German
Republic from the window of the Reichstag, 9
November 1918
The
Split
in th
e Le
ft
The SPD split in April 1917 over
continuing support for the war.
The MSPD represented the more
reformist wing of the party, upheld
democracy and wanted moderate
reforms rather than soviet-style
communism. The USPD wanted radical social,
economic and political reform, but
shied away from full communism. It
was deeply divided and its influence
was curtailed by factional squabbles.
The Spartacists and Revolutionary
Shop Stewards campaigned for a
socialist republic based on the
Workers’ and Soldiers’ Councils which
would follow the same path as
Bolshevik Russia.
Fata
l Co
mpr
omise
s?
Ebert-Groener Pact (10 Nov.
1918) The Army promised to support
the new government in return
for a commitment to resist
Bolshevism and free hand in
military affairs. A betrayal of the revolution or a
sensible precaution? Stinnes-Legien Agreement (15
Nov. 1918) Employers agree to recognise
unions & introduce 8 hour
working day if Unions abandon
calls for nationalisation of
industry.
The
Frei
korp
s
The Spartacist
Uprising
Street fighting in Berlin, January
1919
Revolution in
BavariaKurt Eisner (1867-1919), the leader of the
Bavarian Revolution …
… And his assassin, the 22 year old Anton Graf
von Arco auf Valley (1897-1945)
Revo
lutio
n in
Ba
varia
Above:The Revolutionary leaders Ernst Toller and Eugene Levine.
Below: Freikorps entering Munich, May 1919
The Weim
ar
Constitution Power derived from the people:
The President elected by universal suffrage every 7
years.
The Reichstag elected by universal suffrage
through proportional representation ever 4 years.
The Chancellor and Cabinet were appointed by the
President, but required parliamentary support to pass
legislation.
Extended the vote to women and lowered the
voting age.
Established fundamental civil rights:
Freedom of press, speech & assembly (Article 114)
Equality before the law (Article 109)
The right to economic justice (Article 151)
The
Wei
mar
Co
nstit
utio
n
Source: John Traynor, Europe 1890-1990 (1993)
Polit
ical P
artie
s
Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands (German Social Democratic Party, SPD).
Unabhängige Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands (Independent German Social Democratic Party, USPD).
Kommunistische Partei Deutschlands (Communist Party of Germany, KPD).
Deutsche Demokratische Partei (German Democratic Party, DDP).
Zentrumspartei (Centre Party). Deutsche Volkspartei (German People’s Party, DVP). Deutschenationale Volkspartei (German National
People’s Party, DNVP). Various smaller parties including the Bayerische
Volkspartei (Bavarian People’s Party, BVP) and the Nationalsozialistische Partei Deutschlands (NSDAP).
The Kapp
Putsch
Left: Freikorps distribute leaflets in Berlin, March
1920
Right: Wolfgang Kapp, figurehead of the Kapp Putsch
The Ruhr
Uprising
Left: Left-wing unsurgents during the
Ruhr Uprising, March 1920
Right: Soldiers killed in action during the
uprising.
Matthias Erzberger (1875-1921)
Centre Party
Leader
Proponent of
self-determination
Supported
Armistice and
signed Versailles Treaty
1919-1920: Vice
Chancellor &
Finance Minister
Killed on holiday
in Black Forest,
26 August 1921.
Walther
Rathenau
(1867-1922) Industrialist and
financier.
Responsible for
setting up the
Kreigsrohstoffabteilu
ng in WWI.
Germany’s first
Jewish foreign
minister.
Assassinated 24 June
1922.
Econ
omic
Crisi
s
Had its roots in the pre-war and wartime
economy. Lack of capital investment, large trade deficit
and difficulties in switching from a war-time to
peace-time economy were made worse by the
necessity of paying reparations to the
victorious allies. The Government refused to either raise taxes
or cut expenditure on political grounds – it was
feared that both measures would lead to
unemployment and political unrest.
Default on reparations payments led to French
and Belgian occupation of Ruhr (1923-24).
Unable to collect taxes from the Ruhr and cut
off from the supplies of coal that powered
German industry and exports, the
Government’s finances collapsed.
The Munich
‘Beer Hall’
Putsch
Defendants at the treason trial following the
Munich Beer Hall Pustsch. Ludendorff is in
The centre. Hitler is on his left.
Conc
lusio
n
German politics were radicalized by the experience of war and defeat.
But the vast majority of Germans were primarily concerned with their material well-being, not political reform.
The circumstances of its birth hampered the Weimar Republic – revolution and counter-revolution, economic crisis and the bitter legacy of defeat all helped to undermine faith in the new democracy.
The Weimar constitution achieved much (a democratic system, welfare state etc.), but did little to solve deep divisions within German society and left key institutions unreformed.
But the Republic weathered the storm – which should indicate that it had more popular support and stronger institutions than has sometimes been suggested.
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