Problems of Weimar Germany 1919-1924
NAZI GERMANY- PROBLEMS OF WEIMAR
1. CHAOS
2. CONSTITUTION
3. VERSAILLES
4. EXTREMISM
5. INFLATION
6. STRESSEMAN YEARS 1924-1929
CHAOS
After the war Germany was left in chaos, law and order had broken down, there were armed ex-soldiers on the streets and violence was everwhere. The government was unable to cope with this as Germany was suffering a power vacuum- this meant that no one knew who was in charge since the Kaiser was removed. People were not used to democracy and wanted a central government (dictatorship). Germany was also recovering from the effects of the war both psychological and physical effects: people were dying from starvation, had no resistance thus died from the flu. In addition to this, people were angry, bitter and looking for someone to blame.
CONSTITUTION
- framework and rules by which a country is governed.
a) Proportional Representation- extremists always get MPs, coalition always formed creates unstable government.
b) Article 48 Emergency Powers- in an emergency democracy would be stopped and president will have all power (dictator). People will lose respect for democracy and always want a central government, president can be easily influenced.
c) Lander (states)- Germany's different states all had different governments. People may begin to ignore the national government.
VERSAILLES
At the end of the war a peace treaty was signed between the 'losers' and 'winners'. The treaty of Versailles was infuriating for Germany because it was not the treaty they expected and was not considered to be fair.
Problems:
-firstly they expected USA to be in charge of the treaty but unfortunately it was France who seeked revenge.
-they had removed the kaiser on demands of the treaty
-G had not been invaded
-G expects to be treated fairly since they thought they were fighting a war of self defense
Treaty requirements:
* Accept War Guilt Clause- it was G's fault
*Reduced big, prideful army by 90% thus could not defend themselves.
1. CHAOS
2. CONSTITUTION
3. VERSAILLES
4. EXTREMISM
5. INFLATION
6. STRESSEMAN YEARS 1924-1929
CHAOS
After the war Germany was left in chaos, law and order had broken down, there were armed ex-soldiers on the streets and violence was everwhere. The government was unable to cope with this as Germany was suffering a power vacuum- this meant that no one knew who was in charge since the Kaiser was removed. People were not used to democracy and wanted a central government (dictatorship). Germany was also recovering from the effects of the war both psychological and physical effects: people were dying from starvation, had no resistance thus died from the flu. In addition to this, people were angry, bitter and looking for someone to blame.
CONSTITUTION
- framework and rules by which a country is governed.
a) Proportional Representation- extremists always get MPs, coalition always formed creates unstable government.
b) Article 48 Emergency Powers- in an emergency democracy would be stopped and president will have all power (dictator). People will lose respect for democracy and always want a central government, president can be easily influenced.
c) Lander (states)- Germany's different states all had different governments. People may begin to ignore the national government.
VERSAILLES
At the end of the war a peace treaty was signed between the 'losers' and 'winners'. The treaty of Versailles was infuriating for Germany because it was not the treaty they expected and was not considered to be fair.
Problems:
-firstly they expected USA to be in charge of the treaty but unfortunately it was France who seeked revenge.
-they had removed the kaiser on demands of the treaty
-G had not been invaded
-G expects to be treated fairly since they thought they were fighting a war of self defense
Treaty requirements:
* Accept War Guilt Clause- it was G's fault
*Reduced big, prideful army by 90% thus could not defend themselves.