What was the government of the Weimar Republic?
The Weimar Constitution included these highlights: The German Reich is a Republic. The government is made of a president, a chancellor and a parliament (Reichstag).
Who was the first Chancellor of the Weimar Republic?
After serving the interim republican government between November 1918 and February 1919, Scheidemann became the first chancellor of the Weimar Republic. He resigned in June 1919 rather than agree to the Versailles Treaty.
What was the role of the German chancellor before 1871?
With the unification of Germany and establishment of the German Empire in 1871, the Confederation evolved into a German nation-state and its leader became known as the chancellor of Germany. [4] Originally, the chancellor was only responsible to the emperor.
What were the economic challenges of the Weimar Republic?
Despite its new constitution, the Weimar Republic faced one of Germany’s greatest economic challenges: hyperinflation. Thanks to the Treaty of Versailles, Germany’s ability to produce revenue-generating coal and iron ore decreased.
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What was the role of the chancellor in Weimar Germany?
The Chancellor was the head of government and did much of the day to day politics of governing. The Chancellor was a similar position to the UK Prime Minister. To carry out policies, the Chancellor needed the support of the Reichstag. The Chancellor also chaired the Cabinet made up of senior ministers.
What is a chancellor in the Weimar Republic?
Under the 1919 Weimar Constitution the chancellors were appointed by the directly elected president, but were responsible to Parliament. The constitution was set aside during the 1933–1945 Nazi dictatorship.
Who chose the Chancellor in the Weimar Republic?
the presidentThe office of chancellor was continued in the Weimar Republic. The chancellor (Reichskanzler) was appointed by the president and was responsible to the parliament.
Who was the first chancellor of Weimar Republic?
Konrad Adenauer, (born January 5, 1876, Cologne, Germany—died April 19, 1967, Rhöndorf, West Germany), first chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany; 1949–63), presiding over its reconstruction after World War II.
What does a chancellor of a country do?
The head of the government. A person in charge of foreign affairs. A person with duties related to justice. A person in charge of financial and economic issues.
Who were the leaders of the Weimar Republic?
The Weimar Republic PersonalitiesAdolf Hitler (1889-1945) Adolf Hitler emerged from WWI in 1918 as a man with none of the normal prerequisites for success in Germany. ... Bernard Lichtenberg (1875-1943) ... Bertha Pappenheim (1859-1936) ... Friedrich Ebert (1871-1925) ... Fritz Lang (1890-1976)
Who were the chancellors of Germany?
Olaf ScholzGermany / ChancellorOlaf Scholz is a German politician who has served as the chancellor of Germany since 8 December 2021. A member of the Social Democratic Party, he previously served as Vice Chancellor under Angela Merkel and as Federal Minister of Finance from 2018 to 2021. Wikipedia
What was the Weimar Republic and why did it fail?
Some historians believe the Weimar Republic failed mainly because of post-war conditions in Germany. Others suggest longer-term factors, such as Germany's inexperience with democratic forms of government, were significant.
What happened in the Weimar Republic?
"Weimar Republic" is the name given to the German government between the end of the Imperial period (1918) and the beginning of Nazi Germany (1933). Political turmoil and violence, economic hardship, and also new social freedoms and vibrant artistic movements characterized the complex Weimar period.
Who was the main leader of the Weimar Republic?
leader Friedrich EbertOn February 6, 1919, the National Assembly met in the town of Weimar and formed the Weimar Coalition. They also elected SDP leader Friedrich Ebert as President of the Weimar Republic.
What is a chancellor of Germany?
Olaf ScholzGermany / ChancellorOlaf Scholz is a German politician who has served as the chancellor of Germany since 8 December 2021. A member of the Social Democratic Party, he previously served as Vice Chancellor under Angela Merkel and as Federal Minister of Finance from 2018 to 2021. Wikipedia
Who is chancellor of Austria?
Karl NehammerAustria / ChancellorKarl Nehammer is an Austrian politician serving as the 32nd Chancellor of Austria since 6 December 2021. He is a member of the Austrian People's Party who served as minister of the interior from 2020 to 2021, general secretary of the ÖVP from 2018 to 2020, and a member of the National Council from 2017 to 2020. Wikipedia
Is chancellor higher than president in Germany?
The president enjoys a higher ranking at official functions than the chancellor. The president's role is integrative and includes the control function of upholding the law and the constitution.
What was the most powerful role in the Weimar Republic?
The Social Democratic Party of Germany ( SPD ), with its roots in the labouring classes, was the strongest political force from 1919 to 1932. It provided several Chancellors as well as the first President of the Reich, Friedrich Ebert, who served in that office from 1919 to 1925.
Who was the German chancellor in 1918?
On 9 November 1918, Chancellor Max von Baden handed over his office of chancellor to Friedrich Ebert. Ebert continued to serve as head of government during the three months between the end of the German Empire in November 1918 and the first gathering of the National Assembly in February 1919, but did not use the title of chancellor.
Who is the current chancellor of Germany?
The current officeholder is Angela Merkel, who was elected in 2005 and re-elected in 2009, 2013 and 2017. She is the first woman to be elected chancellor.
What is the role of the chancellor?
The chancellor's authority emanates from the provisions of the Basic Law and in practice from their status as leader of the party (or coalition of parties) holding a majority of seats in the Bundestag (federal parliament). With the exception of Helmut Schmidt, the chancellor has also been chairman of their own party.
What is the German government called?
The 1949 German constitution, the Basic Law ( Grundgesetz ), invests the chancellor (German, Bundeskanzler) with broad powers to initiate government policy. For that reason, some observers refer to the German political system as a "chancellor democracy". Whichever major party ( CDU /CSU or SPD) does not hold the chancellorship usually calls its leading candidate for the federal election "chancellor-candidate" ( Kanzlerkandidat ). The federal government ( Bundesregierung) consists of the chancellor and cabinet ministers .
What was the Weimar Constitution?
According to the Weimar Constitution of 1919, the chancellor was head of a collegial government. The chancellor was appointed and dismissed by the president, as were the ministers, upon proposal by the chancellor. The chancellor or any minister had to be dismissed if demanded by parliament.
What is the German title of Bundeskanzler?
With the enlargement of this federal state to the German Empire in 1871, the title was renamed to Reichskanzler (meaning " Chancellor of the Realm "). With Germany's constitution of 1949, the title of Bundeskanzler was revived. During the various eras, the role of the chancellor has varied.
Where did the office of chancellor come from?
The office of Chancellor has a long history, stemming back to the Holy Roman Empire, when the office of German archchancellor was usually held by Archbishops of Mainz. The title was, at times, used in several states of German-speaking Europe. The modern office of chancellor was established with the North German Confederation, ...
What was the Weimar Republic?
The Weimar Republic was the German government from 1919 to 1933. It is so called because the assembly that adopted its constitution met at Weimar from February 6 to August 11, 1919. On February 11, the assembly elected Friedrich Ebert president of the Reich.
Why was the Weimar Republic called the Weimar Republic?
Weimar Republic, the government of Germany from 1919 to 1933, so called because the assembly that adopted its constitution met at Weimar from February 6 to August 11, 1919. Top Questions.
Why was the Weimar Constitution so controversial?
The Weimar constitution has been subjected to considerable criticism, notably for the system of proportional representation that it introduced and the large powers that it conferred on the president. For the first time in German history, however, it provided a firm foundation for democratic development. The fact that within 14 years this ended in a dictatorship was due far more to the course of events and to the character of social forces in Germany than to constitutionaldefects.
What did Heinrich Brüning do to pass the budget?
Chancellor Heinrich Brüning wanted to pass a budget, but after facing parliamentary deadlock, he resorted to the use of the president’s emergency powers under Article 48 to put his program into effect by decree (July 16, 1930).
How long did the Reichstag hold office?
He was to be elected independently of the Reichstag by the nation itself, was to hold office for seven years, and was to be eligible for reelection. He was to make alliances and treaties, and he was the supreme commander of the armed forces, with the right to appoint and remove all officers.
When did Gustav Stresemann introduce the Rentenmark?
Gustav Stresemann introduced a new currency, the Rentenmark, in 1923 but in limited quantities. It was backed by a mortgage on the entire industrial and agricultural resources of the country. The drastic action taken by Stresemann proved successful, but his critics on the left and right combined to defeat a vote of confidence on November 23, and Stresemann promptly resigned.
Who was the leader of the Council of People's Representatives?
On November 10 Ebert (with Hugo Haase) became cochairman of the Council of People’s Representatives, the new cabinet formed by the Social Democrats and the Independent Social Democrats (USPD). The following day, German officials met with Allied generals at Rethondes, France, and concluded the armistice agreement that ended World War I.
Who was the first chancellor of the Weimar Republic?
After serving the interim republican government between November 1918 and February 1919, Scheidemann became the first chancellor of the Weimar Republic. He resigned in June 1919 rather than agree to the Versailles Treaty.
What was the Weimar Republic?
The Weimar Republic was a democratic revolution born of Germany’s desire for peace above anything else in 1918, and the country’s belief that Kaiser Wilhelm would not be the one to deliver it.
What was the plan devised by the British and Americans to help the Germans?
The answer came in a new plan devised by the British and Americans – the Dawes Plan. This plan loaned the Germans 800 million marks and allowed them to pay reparations several billion marks at a time.
What was the task of Bauer?
Another Social Democrat, as the second German chancellor of the Weimar Republic, Bauer had the thankless task of negotiating the Treaty of Versailles or “peace of injustice” as it came to be known in Germany. Accepting the treaty, generally seen in Germany as humiliating, substantially weakened the new republic.
What happened to the German Empire in 1918?
The abdication of Kaiser Wilhelm II on 9 November 1918 marked the end of the German Empire. On the same day, chancellor Prince Maximilian of Baden resigned and appointed the new chancellor, Friedrich Ebert, leader of the Social Democratic Party (SPD).
When did Stresemann resign?
Although his drastic measures prevented the collapse of the republic, Stresemann resigned after a vote of no confidence on 23 November 1923.
Who lifted the ban on paying reparations and ordered everyone back to work?
Stresemann lifted the ban on paying reparations and ordered everyone back to work. Declaring a state of emergency, he used the army to put down Communist unrest in Saxony and Thuringia while the Bavarian National Socialists led by Adolf Hitler staged the unsuccessful Munich Putsch on 9 November 1923.
What was the Weimar Republic?
The Weimar Republic ( German: Weimarer Republik [ˈvaɪmaʁɐ ʁepuˈbliːk] ( listen)) was the German state from 1918 to 1933, as it existed as a federal constitutional republic. The state was officially the German Reich ( Deutsches Reich ), and was also referred to as the German Republic ( Deutsche Republik ). The term "Weimar Republic" refers ...
Why is the Weimar Republic called the Weimar Republic?
The Weimar Republic is so called because the assembly that adopted its constitution met at Weimar from 6 February 1919 to 11 August 1919 , but this name only became mainstream after 1933.
What was the Enabling Act of 1933?
The passage of the Enabling Act of 1933 is widely considered to mark the end of the Weimar Republic and the beginning of the Nazi era. It empowered the cabinet to legislate without the approval of the Reichstag or the President, and to enact laws that were contrary to the constitution. Before the March 1933 elections, Hitler had persuaded Hindenburg to promulgate the Reichstag Fire Decree using Article 48, which empowered the government to restrict "the rights of habeas corpus [...] freedom of the press, the freedom to organise and assemble, the privacy of postal, telegraphic and telephonic communications" and legalised search warrants and confiscation "beyond legal limits otherwise prescribed". This was intended to forestall any action against the government by the Communists. Hitler used the provisions of the Enabling Act to pre-empt possible opposition to his dictatorship from other sources, in which he was mostly successful.
What happened in 1923?
By 1923, the Republic claimed it could no longer afford the reparations payments required by the Versailles Treaty, and the government defaulted on some payments. In response, French and Belgian troops occupied the Ruhr region, Germany's most productive industrial region at the time, taking control of most mining and manufacturing companies in January 1923. Strikes were called, and passive resistance was encouraged. These strikes lasted eight months, further damaging both the economy and society.
How did the Great Depression affect the Weimar Republic?
The Weimar Republic was severely affected by the Great Depression. The economic stagnation led to increased demands on Germany to repay the debts owed to the United States. As the Weimar Republic was very fragile in all its existence, the depression was devastating, and played a major role in the Nazi takeover.
What was the result of the fall of the Munich Soviet Republic?
The fall of the Munich Soviet Republic to these units, many of which were situated on the extreme right, resulted in the growth of far-right movements and organisations in Bavaria, including Organization Consul, the Nazi Party, and societies of exiled Russian Monarchists.
How many votes did the NSDAP get in 1933?
At the Reichstag elections, which took place on 5 March 1933, the NSDAP obtained 17 million votes. The Communist, Social Democrat and Catholic Centre votes stood firm. This was the last multi-party election of the Weimar Republic and the last multi-party all-German election for 57 years.
What was the Weimar Republic?
Article 48. Sources. The Weimar Republic was Germany’s government from 1919 to 1933, the period after World War I until the rise of Nazi Germany. It was named after the town of Weimar where Germany’s new government was formed by a national assembly after Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicated. From its uncertain beginnings to a brief season ...
What did the Weimar government do to the German economy?
The Weimar government ordered German workers to passively resist the occupation and go on strike, shutting down the coal mines and iron factories. As a result, Germany’s economy quickly tanked. In response, the Weimar government simply printed more money.
How did the Dawes Plan help the Weimar Republic?
The Dawes Plan and Stresemann’s leadership helped stabilize the Weimar Republic and energize its economy. In addition, Germany repaired relations with France and Belgium and was finally allowed into the League of Nations, which opened the door for international trade. In general, life improved in the Weimar Republic.
What were the challenges of the Weimar Republic?
Despite its new constitution, the Weimar Republic faced one of Germany’s greatest economic challenges: hyperinflation. Thanks to the Treaty of Versailles, Germany’s ability to produce revenue-generating coal and iron ore decreased. As war debts and reparations drained its coffers, the German government was unable to pay its debts.
What was the Weimar Republic's recovery?
Much of the Weimar Republic’s recovery was due to a steady flow of American dollars into its economy. But unbeknownst to Germany, America had positioned itself for an economic disaster of its own as it struggled with increased unemployment, low wages, declining stock values and massive, unliquidated bank loans.
What university was the Weimar Republic?
The Weimar Republic and the Third Reich. Wesleyan University.
What was the Nazi Party?
In 1932, the Nazi Party became the largest political party in Parliament. After a brief struggle for power, Hitler was named Chancellor in January 1933. Within weeks, he invoked Article 48 of the Weimar Constitution to quash many civil rights and suppress members of the Communist party.
What was the role of the conservative elite in the Weimar Republic?
Finally, many of the old conservative elite who had held key positions of power under the monarchy had continued in similar roles in the Weimar Republic. Whilst this was an attempt to maintain stability in government as the new republic settled, it in fact meant that these civil servants and military leaders still had enormous influence and power. The power and influence of the conservative elite would later be crucial in appointing Hitler as chancellor.
What was the Weimar Republic?
The Weimar Republic was the new system of democratic government established in Germany following the collapse of the Second Reich . The first elections for the new Republic were held on the 19 January 1919.
What was the Reichstag?
The Reichstag was the lower house of the new Weimar Republic’s parliament. The Reichstag met in the building pictured here, also named the Reichstag, in Berlin. Courtesy of The Wiener Holocaust Library Collections. The Weimar Republic adopted a new constitution , different to that of the previous monarchy .
How did the Weimar Republic change?
1 / 1. The Weimar Republic adopted a new constitution , different to that of the previous monarchy . Under the new republic, all adults over the age of twenty could vote. Instead of a monarch, there was a president elected every seven years. The president’s power was limited by the Reichstag .
What made it difficult for the Reichstag to govern?
In these coalitions, each party had different aims which often led to disagreements on policy. These disagreements made it difficult for the Reichstag to govern. In the early 1920s there were many changes of government, which made managing Germany’s political and economic problems very difficult.
How did the Dawes Plan help the German economy?
The Dawes Plan, alongside a sudden injection of foreign loans, helped the German economy to stabilise and prosper. This situation allowed the German government to invest in new public facilities, such as hospitals and schools. Those in work saw real improvements in working conditions as wages increased and working hours decreased.
What caused political instability in the Weimar Republic?
Political instability in the Weimar Republic. The new Proportional Representation system of voting in the Weimar Republic caused political instability. Whilst the new system intended to reduce political conflicts, it in fact resulted in many different parties gaining a small amount of seats in the Reichstag.
North German Confederation (1867–1871)
The North German Confederation came into existence after the falling apart of the German Confederation, itself caused by Prussian victory in the Austro-Prussian War of 1866. The chancellor was appointed by the Prussian king.
German Empire (1871–1918)
The German Empire was born out of the North German Confederation as result of the Franco-Prussian War (1870). The newly created emperor named the chancellor to serve at his pleasure.
Weimar Republic (1918–1933)
On 9 November 1918, Chancellor Max von Baden handed over his office to Friedrich Ebert.
Nazi Germany (1933–1945)
Adolf Hitler's Machtergreifung (seizure of power) marked the end of the Weimar Republic and the beginning of Nazi Germany. Hitler reigned as dictator and consolidated all power to himself.
Federal Republic of Germany (1949–present)
In 1949, two separate German states were established: the Federal Republic of Germany (known as West Germany) and the German Democratic Republic (known as East Germany). The list below gives the chancellors of West Germany; the government of East Germany was headed by the chairman of the Council of Ministers.
Overview
History of the office
The office of Chancellor has a long history, stemming back to the Holy Roman Empire, when the office of German archchancellor was usually held by archbishops of Mainz. The title was, at times, used in several states of German-speaking Europe. The modern office of chancellor was established with the North German Confederation, of which Otto von Bismarck became Bundeskanz…
Federal Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany (1949–present)
The 1949 German constitution, the Basic Law (Grundgesetz), invests the chancellor (German, Bundeskanzler) with broad powers to initiate government policy. For that reason, some observers refer to the German political system as a "chancellor democracy". Even though the office of chancellor is practically the most powerful in the German political system and is seen as such within the G…
See also
• List of chancellors of Germany
• List of chancellors of Germany by time in office
• Religious affiliations of chancellors of Germany
• Leadership of East Germany
Further reading
• Klein, Herbert, ed. 1993. The German Chancellors. Berlin: Edition.
• Padgett, Stephen, ed. 1994. The Development of the German Chancellorship: Adenauer to Kohl. London: Hurst.
• Harlen, Christine M. 2002. "The Leadership Styles of the German Chancellors: From Schmidt to Schröder". Politics and Policy 30 (2 (June)): 347–371.
External links
• Media related to Federal Chancellors of Germany at Wikimedia Commons
• Official website