political problems in the Weimar Republic
Germany`s new government, the Weimar Republic, faced several challenges from the beginning because of its unstable government. Transitioning from the old monarchy system was not smooth and the government was still stuck in the system of the Kaiser. Failure to change the old institutions from the prior government lead to the collapse of the government in 14 short years. For example:
-The civil service, which implemented the government policy, retained a large number of its members and obstructed policies they did not agree with.
-The judiciary that remained had a nationalistic outlook and were subjective when giving sentences. Hitler, for instance, had the same nationalistic outlook and was faced with lenient charges when he attempted to seize power.
-Weimar leaders were forced to introduce policies the army agreed upon because the army was outside political control, but it had an influence in politics
-The civil service, which implemented the government policy, retained a large number of its members and obstructed policies they did not agree with.
-The judiciary that remained had a nationalistic outlook and were subjective when giving sentences. Hitler, for instance, had the same nationalistic outlook and was faced with lenient charges when he attempted to seize power.
-Weimar leaders were forced to introduce policies the army agreed upon because the army was outside political control, but it had an influence in politics
Weimar Republic`s Constitution
Adopted in 1919, the weaknesses in their constitution played a major role in the failure of its republic. It allowed the president to dissolve the Reichstag, the legislative body and have a general election if there was a need. Article 48 of the constitution stated that the president could issue emergency decrees (an official order issued by a legal authority) without the agreement of the Reichstag. This allowed the government to be ruled in a dictatorial manner and therefore set up Hitler`s seize to power.
Many political parties also caused unrest in Germany because of proportional representation. All Germans were allowed to vote for a party in the Reichstag and then seats in the Reichstag would proportionally represent the votes from the people. As long as the party got the necessary number of votes, then they would have members in the Reichstag. In result, many tiny political parties were created and caused instability in the government. For example, the Nazi Party was able to gain a foothold in the government and got a few members into the Reichstag. They attacked the government to prove that it was incompetent of controlling the Reichstag.
Adopted in 1919, the weaknesses in their constitution played a major role in the failure of its republic. It allowed the president to dissolve the Reichstag, the legislative body and have a general election if there was a need. Article 48 of the constitution stated that the president could issue emergency decrees (an official order issued by a legal authority) without the agreement of the Reichstag. This allowed the government to be ruled in a dictatorial manner and therefore set up Hitler`s seize to power.
Many political parties also caused unrest in Germany because of proportional representation. All Germans were allowed to vote for a party in the Reichstag and then seats in the Reichstag would proportionally represent the votes from the people. As long as the party got the necessary number of votes, then they would have members in the Reichstag. In result, many tiny political parties were created and caused instability in the government. For example, the Nazi Party was able to gain a foothold in the government and got a few members into the Reichstag. They attacked the government to prove that it was incompetent of controlling the Reichstag.
Political Parties
Uprisings and attacks came from the different
political extremists from the left and right. The large number of political parties made coalitions or temporary alliances, necessary and made it
difficult to maintain legislative majorities. In addition, it divided the people`s trust in the government. Within the left, right, and center political positions they were divided into more political parties because they had narrow bases of support based on certain
ideologies, class, occupation, and religion.
Uprisings and attacks came from the different
political extremists from the left and right. The large number of political parties made coalitions or temporary alliances, necessary and made it
difficult to maintain legislative majorities. In addition, it divided the people`s trust in the government. Within the left, right, and center political positions they were divided into more political parties because they had narrow bases of support based on certain
ideologies, class, occupation, and religion.
Left
The left wing, comparative to the right, was less nationalistic, militaristic and anti-Semitic. Left group parties supported social welfare programs, labor unions, and equality. |
Center
Supporters of the Republic and democracy were in the center. Most moderate of the parties, the center was also the least ideological one. |
Right
Parties of the right wing were the ultra-nationalists and glorified everything German. They supported a large military. |
Kapp Putsch
In March 1920, there was the Kapp Putsch, a right wing revolt to attempt for a military coup. Lead by Wolfgang Kapp and General Luttwitz, they lead the Freikorps to attempt to overthrow the government. In response, the government called for a general strike to paralyze the movement of those who supported Kapp and Luttwitz. It lasted five days, but it was a direct threat to the government. Although it failed, these five days showed that the government could not enforce its authority.
In March 1920, there was the Kapp Putsch, a right wing revolt to attempt for a military coup. Lead by Wolfgang Kapp and General Luttwitz, they lead the Freikorps to attempt to overthrow the government. In response, the government called for a general strike to paralyze the movement of those who supported Kapp and Luttwitz. It lasted five days, but it was a direct threat to the government. Although it failed, these five days showed that the government could not enforce its authority.
Freikorps-Free Corps
The Freikorps was among the violent chaos happening in the Weimar republic. A paramilitary armed organization of the right, the Freikorps consisted of ex-soldiers, unemployed youth, and others who were discontent. They broke up left wing revolts, uprisings, and fought miniature wars. In other instances, they had political assassinations. Eventually, they were viewed as a threat to peaceful political development but the failure of democratic governments to take firm action permitted the people to be intimidated and contributed to the
destruction of democracy.
The Freikorps was among the violent chaos happening in the Weimar republic. A paramilitary armed organization of the right, the Freikorps consisted of ex-soldiers, unemployed youth, and others who were discontent. They broke up left wing revolts, uprisings, and fought miniature wars. In other instances, they had political assassinations. Eventually, they were viewed as a threat to peaceful political development but the failure of democratic governments to take firm action permitted the people to be intimidated and contributed to the
destruction of democracy.
©Jineava To