Word count: Date: 07/10/2011

Li Chun Ho (Alvin) IB History HL

Essay Question: Assess the strengths and weaknesses of Weimar Germany between 1919-1932. As Kaiser Wilhelm was forced to abdicate in order for Germanys WW1 armistice to be accepted, this created a power vacuum, eventually replaced by the Weimar Republic, upon Woodrow Wilsons insistence on a democratic German state. The democratic process started when Prince Max asked von Ludendorff, the army commander, be removed. Although much strength was seen under first impression, there were some weaknesses that can be attributed to post WW1 effects. Weimar Germanys constitution had legendary impact on Germanys democracy. Established in August 1919, the constitution increased civilians autonomy to choose the leading coalition government. Anyone was free to form a party, with the most popular party voted to lead the coalition. The Bill of Rights significantly raised peoples freedom to speech, religion and equality before the law that was previously disdained during WW1. This in a way meant the elected President is openly elected. Lowering the age limit equally for men and women voting helped include more people in choosing the government. This heighted women status and increased their chances in entering professional careers. By 1933, there were 100,000 women teachers and 3,000 women doctors, and 10% of Reichstag members were women. All men and women aged 20 can vote compared to Britains equal standard of placing voting eligibility for women at 30 years. Two constitutional flaws in part destined the government to collapse. A coalition government ruled by proportional representation meant the coalition government had a collection of over twenty smaller parties, whose views prevented the passing of laws since a majority of votes, 51%, must be secured before Reichstag approves. The indecisiveness in decision making delayed efforts in economic recovery. This was due to the absence of a minimum number of votes a minority required. It encouraged extremism across the political spectrum, creating left wing rebellions, the Spartacist uprisings and right wing revolts, the Kapp Putsch. The Spartacists (SPD), a Marxist group who wanted the government be based on workers councils, was driven by poor economic achievements Weimar lived up to. In a way, loyalty and ideological belief destabilized Weimar. As the Kapp Putsch was right-wing driven, sympathy by the right wing army commander was given who refused to put them down. Many politicians and officials were right wing who hated the new government for the November Criminals, who signed away Germanys rights. A further weakness is attributed by Stresemann, who upon taking power, called off passive resistance to the Ruhr Crisis. This mounted greater fury on the government who appeared to accept defeat. The powers of Article 48 that granted the President to rule by decree during an emergency were eventually used against Weimar itself by Hitler. The President may also veto against any proposed laws by the Reichstag. The failure to operationalize what emergency is contributed to Hitlers lawful rise to power by 1933. We can attribute many strengths of Weimars economy to Stresemanns achievements in negotiation. By accepting the Dawes Plan by the Allied Reparations Committee, Stresemann gave Germany the advantage of prolonging the reparations deadline along with a 200 million dollar loan from the US under that France agree to withdraw troops within a year. This strengthened the German industry, bringing back pre-war levels of production. By 1925, 95% of the production levels attained in 1913 were met. By replacing the Mark with the Rentenmark in November 1923, hyperinflation was temporarily controlled. A number of reforms brought Germany to become the 1

Word count: Date: 07/10/2011

Li Chun Ho (Alvin) IB History HL

Essay Question: Assess the strengths and weaknesses of Weimar Germany between 1919-1932. first welfare state in Western countries; the standard of living was significantly improved by the Government including unemployment pay and healthcare assistance. Incorporated with the Labor Exchanges 1927, the German infrastructure was remarkably enhanced, with the building of highways and roads and railways. In addition, three million houses were built. The relatively healthy economy Germany was enjoying in the mid 1920s was highly artificial and dependent on foreign assistance, notably American aid. The Dawes Plan had largely kept the German economy at float by injecting millions of dollars into its construction of industries that in turn created many jobs and raised production levels. So precarious was the economy that Stresemann described Germany as, dancing on a volcano. This was exposed true when the centre of Americas financial markets, the Wall Street, crashed in 1929, tumbling Germanys economic standing down respectively. Unemployment levels increased over a double between 1929 and 1930. The weakness of proportional representation attributed to slow economic efforts to be done internally, and instead the importance was given to outsiders, mainly America. Hitler exploited this structural downfall with Article 48, influencing the President, Hindenburg to use the emergency decree. The ailing economic health of Germany was another benefit for extremist parties like Nazis to point out the problems Weimar faced. In particular, accepting the Dawes Plan was most unpopular Right-wing parties as it did not lower the reparations amount; they believed no payment was necessary. Furthermore, not everyone benefited from the reforms. In short, the economic downfall and great unpopularity the Weimar Republic faced were due mainly to post war ramifications as a result of Germanys armistice. The Germany signatories of the Treaty of Versailles, known as the November Criminals were also tied with Weimars list of actions that nationalists disagreed with. These weaknesses in a way created the ladder to Hitlers rise in power. However, there was considerable benefit of the achievements of the Republic. Women saw an increase in their rights, and the population saw a higher degree of autonomy granted to them. Although constitutional defects led to an indecisive parliament that contributed to American economic dependence, it is undisputed that a standard of living higher than pre WW1 was achieved, absent the time it was enjoyed.