Weimar Republic

Overcoming Challenges to the constitution 1918-29

• The const allowed a Reichstag with many political parties- only 60,000 to gain a seat. Democratic but didn't consider that the more parties there were, more difficult for Reichstag to work effectively.
• Members moved between parties and some split altogether which confused voters.
• Proportional Representation (Number of votes is equal to number of seats) meant that people voted for party rather than a person- their rep then chosen
• Almost impossible for party to have a majority- Chancellors had to create govs from coalitions of parties. Coalitions didn't have same aims so all govs argued over policies. When coalitions broke down -> president rule by decree

How it overcame the challenges:

• Reichstag kept meeting and no need to rule by decree
• 1924-1929, the economy recovered and Germany reached agreements with other countries- began to restore position abroad + undo some terms of TOV due to Stresemann

Effects of the Treaty of Versailles:

Treaty that officially ended the war between G and the Allies. 28 June 1919. Main Terms:

• Germany lost land and all it's colonies + Anschluss forbidden to stop G gaining territory
• Rhineland became a buffer zone for France to reassure France against G attack
• G not allowed air force, submarines, tanks to weaken their military
• G forced to agree to rep payments to rebuild Allies' countries

Threat of allies led gov to reluctantly accept. Whole nation rejected it:

• Had expecte victory + major gains- sudden collapse of hopes cause anger
• 14 Points applied selectively so millions of Germans denied national rights

Political Effects of the Treaty:

• Hatred towards politicians who signed the treaty. Their acceptance made them seem weak and reinforced stab-in-the-back theory.
• Therefore, the TOV reinforced hostility of many to the new system
• Hatred…