Weimar Constitution

Connector
Communist
Fascist
Socialist
Centre
Left
Right
Conservative

Outcomes
All students to know the constitution of the Weimar Republic
Most to know the threats of from the left and right
Some to be able to see how this would affect Germany’s political future

Elections
Election for the new assembly were held January 1919
Around 85% of the electorate participated
75% of people voted for the SPD, Centre Party or DDP
The first Reich President was Friedrich Ebert the leader of the SPD

Situation
Hugo Preuss was appointed Secretary of State in the Ministry of the Interior with the responsibility of drawing up a constitution
They had problems
No Kaiser
Defeat of war
The revolution
There was no party with a majority

A constitution
What was the role of the Reichstag to be?
How much power should the President have?
What was the relationship between the state and the government to be?
What was the constitution going to involve?

Main Features
The Reich was a federation of 18 states known as a LANDSER. Each Landser had its own parliament
The Executive was very strong as the President had a 7 year tenure and had powers to counter balance the central parliament (Article 48)
The Reich chancellor and cabinet needed a majority in the Reichstag
There was an upper house known as the Reichrat (which could delay laws) The Reichsrat members were chosen by the Landser
The Reichstag was elected every 4 years by proprotional representatiom
There was also a bill of rights guaranteeing freedom of speech, assembly and association

Good or bad
You need to know the arguments for and against the Weimar Republic

Activity
Fill in the grid comparing the Weimar system, the Second Reich and the UK

Threats from the Left
The biggest threat came from the left- think the Revolution in Russia
This had already happened in Kiel and Bavaria
The KPD also had links with COMINTERN but this alienated many working class people

Examples of threats from the left
The uprising of sailors at Kiel and Wilshaven naval bases. They formed workers councils and challenged the power of the Landser
Ebert and General Groener made a secret deal that if the government guaranteed the authority of current officers the army would defend the new government

A zentralarbeitgemeinschaft was set up to negotiated between workers and owners (example an 8 hour day)
Many workers unions in Germany then voted in favour of supporting Ebert and rejected a government based on councils
Eberts moderate line angered the left wing and in January 1919 the mass uprising of the Spartakist League tried to take over and turn into a revolution like in Russia
The SPD government led by Defence Minister Gaustav Noske ordered the army to surpress them
They were supported by the Friekorp

Other threats from the left
Ruhr 1920 Communist
Central Germany March 1921 Communist
Hamburg October 1923 Communist

Threats from the Right
1920 March-Right Wing Kapp Putsch
1923 November- Munich Putsch led by Hitler