Germany in the 1920s

Lesson 1

Topic : conditions in Germany in the 1920s

Content :

http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~wausie/Weimar.html

The Early Weimar Republic

By Ben John

The Weimar Republic was set-up in January 1919.

It seemed like a new start for Germany after the revolution, this new republic was a democracy, chosen by the people. However, the Weimar Republic, like many new parliaments, was having teething troubles.

The main trouble came from the communists. In March they organised strikes, demonstrations, riots, etc. in Berlin. Their one aim, to win power. They wanted to model Germany on Bolshevik Russia.

The Weimar Republic's solution to this problem was to send in the Freikorps. They were ordered to shoot anyone carrying a gun. During just a few days over a thousand people were shot dead. The Free Corps were ruthless, on one occasion thirty sailors were slaughtered as they collected their wages.

The other party who’d sought to win power in Germany had been the Independent Socialists. They had much support in Bavaria but were not so strong nationally. They had set up a republic of their own in November 1918 and it was not particularly in a position where by the republic could change hands to another political party. This all changed, however, in February 1919 when Eisner, their leader was shot dead by a right wing, nationalist student. Such was the man’s popularity in Bavaria that his funeral was attended by over 100,000 people. With Eisner dead the question was, who should take control now?

The Communists argued with the democratic socialists and came out victorious. In March 1919, Bavaria was made into a Soviet Republic. Under the new communist regime, houses, food, cars and clothing were taken from the rich and in many cases given to the working class. The Bavarian Red Army was formed. The Weimar Republic did not like this system and thus Munich was put under siege. Food was not allowed in and at one time giving milk to a person who wasn’t dying was a criminal offence with death being the punishment. On 1 May, the democratic socialists invaded, not sparing a single communist. 600 men, women and children were killed. Of course again the main brunt of the attack had been supplied by the Freikorps.

The Weimar Republic had crushed both communist uprisings but the next threat came from outside Germany, in Paris, the scene of the peace treaty, the Treaty of Versailles. They were not expecting to be treated badly as they expected the treaty to follow the same lines as Woodrow Wilson and had done what had been required of them, they had replaced the monarchy with a democracy.

The terms of the peace treaty were announced on 7 May and a reply was required by 12 May. Some of the clauses in the treaty included, the infamous War Guilt clause, the Reparations clause and the cutting down of Germany’s army to such a small number that it could hardly police itself. They had not expected this unfair a treaty and of course had had no say at Versailles. The German Navy scuttled their ships at Scapa Flow in protest. The whole of Germany felt betrayed, betrayed by the allies and by their own politicians. Those who had signed the armistice were now dubbed the November Criminals who had stabbed Germany in the back.

Germany had no choice but to sign, not to sign the treaty would restart the war and having consulted his Generals, most notably Hindenburg, Ebert realise although being an honourable thing to do it would have been committing suicide and would mean many Germans being massacred. However, much of his government had resigned over the issue and Ebert had to form a new one. He did so and made the deadline set by the allies just in time. Troubles for the Weimar Republic were far from over. Just ahead of them was the Kapp Putsch and of course the invasion of the Rhur.

http://www.barnsdle.demon.co.uk/hist/tyra.html

Fall of the Weimar Republic

1929 Germany is ruled by a grand coalition stretching from the Social Democrats to the Peoples Party and the Social Democrat Muller is Chancelor. Unemployment is rising and the unemployment insurance is in heavy deficit. The Social Democrats want to increase employer's contributions while the People's Party want to cut benefits. A compromise is patched together.

1930 Rising unemployment puts the unemployment insurance into greater crisis. Meyer of the Democrats and Bruning of the Centre Party propose a new compromise. Three of the four Social Democrat Ministers accept the compromise but the Social Democrat group in the Reichstag rejects it. On 27th March Muller resigns as Chancellor.

30th March Bruning forms a minority government. By including a program of agricultural support he gets the National Party to vote for the government - against the wishes of the National Party leader, Hugenberg.

July Bruning's government proposes a finance package in response to the growing economic crisis. The Nationalists are divided but mainly against. Bruning needs Social Democrat support and the Social Democrat offers this on condition of changes. Bruning rejects the compromise and the measure is defeated. Bruning then goes to the President, the conservative Hindenburg, and imposes the finance reforms by emergency decree under Article 48. Article 48, intended to be used only in times when security and public order were seriously disrupted or imperilled (but this was never defined) gave the President far reaching powers. The Social Democrats move suspension of the decree which passes. Bruning asks the President to dissolve the Reichstag.

14th September. Elections are held while unemployment is around 3 million. The Nazis make sweeping gains and smaller gains are made by the Communists. To form a new coalition now would need everyone from the Social Democrats to the right wing 'splinter' parties. Bruning knowing he can rely on Article 48 dosn't even try. From now on Germany ceases to be a parliamentary regime but Presidential regime ruling through the Chancellor appointed by the President. Bruning now imposes a policy of deflation which the Social Democrats reluctantly 'tolerate' by voting against motions suspending the decrees. Unemployment continues to rise.

March/April 1932: Hindenburg's term expires. Bruning persuades him to stand again. The Social Democrats and the Democrats support him as the lesser evil and he is elected on the second ballot - but Hitler gains 37%.

13th April: In response to growing NAZI violence Bruning's government persuades Hindenburg (very reluctantly) to ban the SA.

June 1932: Hindenburg fed up with issuing unpopular decrees on Bruning's behalf replaces him by von Papen. Papen, reactionary, stupid and arrogant, was however an officer and fine horseman and so the ideal Chancellor in the eyes of the ageing President.

Papen meets Hitler and Hitler hints that the Nazis might support the new government in exchange for lifting of the ban on the SA and new elections. Papen falls for it and the Reichstag is dissolved (4th June).

20th July Presidential rule is imposed on the Prussian Land - using SA-communist clashes as a pretext. This gives the Chancellor direct control of the police force of 2/3rds of Germany.

31st July Elections to the Reichstag. Hitler makes sweeping gains. The Nazis, along with the communists have a blocking majority in the Reichstag and as Hitler breaks his promise to support Papen once again Germany is ruled by emergency decree.

12th September The new Reichstag meets. The communists move to repeal one of the emergency decrees and to no-confidence the government. Papen, to forestall this, attempts to immediately dissolve the Reichstag but not before the vote is counted - 512-42 against the government. The new elections show some losses for Hitler but gains by the communists keep the Reichstag deadlocked.

By now Germany is already a Presidential dictatorship in which any attempt to oppose the emergency decrees by the Reichstag will be met by dissolution. However Papen loses the support of his cabinet and Hindenburg reluctantly agrees to Papen's resignation.

2 Dec 1932: Schleicher, former friend of Papen and former minister heads the new government. Papen then , driven by a desire for revenge, seeks out Hitler. Hitler demands the Chancelorship, the Ministry of Interior, and Commissioner for Prussia. Papen wants to be Prussian Commissioner himself but offers the Interior Ministry of Prussia. As this is what Hitler really wanted he agrees and all that is required now is to get the consent of the virtually senile Hindenburg.

Jan 30 1933: Hindenburg appoints Hitler as Chancellor.

March 1933: During the election campaign massive intimidation by the SA means that only, apart from the Nazis, only the Nationalists are able to campaign. The Prussian police, now under Nazi control, employs 50,000 'auxiliaries' who are mainly SA to be used against the opposition. Many Nazi opponents are beaten up , some 50 killed. Despite this the Nazis only get 43.9% of the vote but with the Nationalists they have a majority. With the election over the communists are banned and their Riechstag deputies arrested.

23rd March: An enabling act giving dictatorial powers to Hitler's government is put to the Reichstag. A 2/3rds majority is required and 2/3rds of the Riechstag must be present. However along with the Nationalists, the Peoples Party and the Catholics vote for. The Democrats (all five of them ) are split but decide to vote for, on the grounds that as Hitler is going to establish a dictatorship anyway it is better to let him do it legally. Only those Social Democrats who attended (many are already under arrest) have the courage to vote against.

http://www.btinternet.com/~7ejames.fanning/rowley/Rowley1.rtf

A Visit to Hamburg in May 1919

... I was given rather a nice job on Friday as I had to take a hundred cases of German bullion from Parkestone away to London. It was worth 980,000 pounds and of course I had to take an armed guard of 12 men with me and as the boat was late I had to sleep the night on board with my men and go up to London by the early train the next morning. I am glad to say I did not lose any and after handing it over spent a very enjoyable weekend at Bushey.

I met a very interesting Naval Captain who had just returned from Hamburg where he had been on commission. He said the Germans were in a most frightful state for food and would give you simply anything in exchange for soap or fat. The following are what they were offering the men on his boat for the various things per pound weight :

Bacon 55 marks

Fat 50 marks

Soap 50 m

Chocolate 25 m

Cigarettes 10 30 m

Tea 30 m

You can get 55 marks for an English pound note. He said it was quite pitiful to see well dressed people of good social position coming down to the Quay and bartering with our sailors. All tea they boil 3 times and the sailors dry their own tea leaves and sell them again for 15 or 20 marks a pound, it seems the general opinion in Germany is that if we make the peace terms too hard and ask for too big an indemnity, that they will all emigrate and they are quite candid about their coming over to England and making another start.

They have no rubber and the only cars which he saw (which only numbered 3) all had wooden tyres with springs underneath. You see no dogs in the town and milk can only be got for the children and that requires a certificate from the Doctor and that has to be renewed weekly. They seem to hate the French more than we, and say French no good. The Americans they talk of as their friends and they think if it was not for them that the French and ourselves would quite cripple them.