Weimar Germany 1919 - 23

The Kaiser abdicated

Germany became a Republic as a result of a 'revolution'

Germany became a dictatorship

German people were struggling to feed themselves due to a British Naval blockade

German society was deeply divided

Ex-soldiers and civilians welcomed democracy with open arms

It was designed to ‘safeguard’ the Republic at a time of political crisis

It allowed the President to rule by decree

It allowed the Chancellor to rule by decree

In the ‘wrong’ hands it could be used to erode democratic values

Universal suffrage

A Bill of Rights

A secret Ballot

Both ‘Houses’ elected

It was democratic and had a series of checks and balances.

The Chancellor could appoint and dismiss the President.

All Germans over 20 could vote and their liberties were protected by a Bill of Rights.

The Chancellor could request the Presidential Decree (Article 48) in times of emergency.

The system of voting was 'first past the post'

They disliked democratic government - they viewed it as weak

They felt the Republican politicians had 'stabbed the German army in the back' by signing the Treaty of Versailles.

They wanted to establish a socialist dictatorship.

There were frequent political assassinations.

In 1922 the foreign minister, Walter Rathenau was murdered.

Hitler attempted a putsch in 1923.

Ebert's Government handed out stringent punishments to those convicted of political violence.

The bill, announced in April 1921, was the equivalent of £6.6 billion to be paid in annual installments.

The Reparations bill represented 2% of the German economic output and this was considered an intolerable strain on an already weakened economy.

Germany made the first payment in 1921 - of £50 million.

The payment resulted in an increase in inflation.

The Germans defaulted in late 1922.