The failure of Weimar governments to deal with unemployment

• When did the Grand Coalition government collapse?


  March 1930
• What was the reason for the collapse of the Grand Coalition government?

  Different views on how to deal with growing unemployment
• Who led the new government after the Grand Coalition?

  Heinrich Bruning
• What measures did Heinrich Bruning introduce to address economic issues?

  Higher taxes and time limits on benefits
• Why were Bruning's proposals rejected by the Reichstag?

  Right-wing parties opposed higher taxes and left-wing parties opposed reduced benefits
• What action did Bruning take after his proposals were rejected?

  He asked Hindenburg to use Article 48 to allow decrees passed by the President
• How did Bruning's request to Hindenburg affect democracy?

  It clearly undermined democracy
• When was Bruning forced to resign?

  May 1932
• What change occurred in Hindenburg's behavior after Bruning's resignation?

  He acted in an increasingly authoritarian manner
• How did Hindenburg's use of Article 48 change the political landscape?

  He hired and fired chancellors at his own discretion
• What did Hindenburg's actions indicate about his respect for elections?

  He did not respect the results of elections
• The Grand Coalition government, in place since May 1928, collapsed in March 1930 over different views on how to deal with growing unemployment.
• A new government led by Heinrich Bruning, leader of the Centre Party, introduced higher taxes and time limits on benefits to reduce their cost.
• Right-wing parties opposed higher taxes while left-wing opposed reduced benefits so Bruning’s proposals were rejected by the Reichstag, leading to Bruning asking Hindenburg to use Article 48 to allow decrees passed by approval just of the President. This clearly undermined democracy.
• Bruning could not improve the economic situation and was forced to resign in May 1932.
• After they couldn’t deal with unemployment, President Hindenburg would acted in an increasingly authoritarian manner, hiring and firing chancellors at his own discretion under Article 48 rather than respecting the results of elections.