What made Germans follow Hitler? - The start

Who was the first president of the Weimar Government (1919-1925)?

Friedrich Ebert

When was Weimar government established?

1919

President was the _____

supreme commander of the army, and had power of the Article 48,

Chancellor was the _____

secretary, needed majority support from Reichstag to get elected. Helped the President in making choices and laws.

Reichstag was the _____

law maker

Reichsrat was the ______

law approver

Weimar Constitution

• Chancellor need majority support from the Reichstag

• President was the supreme commander of the army

• Votes are consisted of men and women over the ages of 20.

Weakness of the Weimar Government

• Proportional representation- There were a lot of small parties involved in the Reichstag, therefore no majority support and fragmentation. And people started to believe one leader making choices is much better.

• Coalition Government- There were a lot of people with their own opinions and idea of running the government, people often disagreed and tried overthrowing the government when they tried passing laws.

• Article 48- President had the power to dissolve both houses and rule for 6 months, in times of emergency. The emergency was not specified, therefore leading the chancellor to bypass democracy, and misuse it.

How was Article 48 make the government seem weak?

(Paul Hidenburg)
The president could suspend civil rights and make laws without the Reichstag. Article 48 was only meant to be used in emergencies, however, the emergency wasn’t specified. This meant the president could misuse it. During Hyperinflation, The president used it every day making people think that the government is weak and undemocratic. This made people lose trust in the Weimar Government.

Political and Economic crisis (1919-1923)

• Weak support- A lot of people were against the Weimar government since it made democracy look weak. Some people wanted extreme nationalists (Nazi party) or Communism. Therefore, a lot of those parties tried to overthrow the government

• Hyperinflation- Failed to make payments, so France and Belgium took over Ruhr (industrial area). —> Germany was pissed, so to help the people and pay reparations, the government thought of printing more money.

• Stresemann Era (Gustav Stresemann)- Made new currency rentemark. Stopped non-cooperation in Ruhr. new policies to boost the economy. Implemented the 1924 Daves plan and 1929 Young PLan. USA loaned money to Germany to help pay for their reparations. Locarno treaty- fixed border issues in Germany and France.

The Great Depression

• Impacts- depended on loans from USA,

  —> USA experienced Wall Street Crash (1929). Poverty, starvation, unemployment. Weimar was not trusted at all, Nazi pulled up and became an angel by promising them food and jobs

• Rise of extreme politics- People completely lost trust in the government, so people believed more in extreme nationalism and one supreme leader only.