The extent of political recovery

• What period is traditionally regarded as the Golden Years of Weimar Germany?

  1924-29
• What happened to the threats from right and left wing putsches during the Golden Years?

  They receded and political violence subsided
• What provided economic stability in Weimar Germany during this period?

  The Rentenmark and the Dawes Plan of 1924
• What treaty welcomed Germany back into the international community?

  The Treaty of Locarno
• What role did Gustav Stresemann play during the Golden Years?

  He provided stability as foreign minister for most of the period
• How did the economic situation affect the Weimar democracy during the Golden Years?

  The democracy was a victim of significant economic crashes
• What is the alternative view regarding the progress in Weimar Germany during the Golden Years?

  Much of the progress was superficial, hiding underlying issues
• Who became Chancellor in August 1923?

  Gustav Stresemann
• What was the political situation from 1924 onwards?

  There were no more attempted revolutions or major political assassinations
• What percentage of voters supported pro-Weimar parties in the May 1924 Reichstag elections?

  61%
• How did the support for pro-Weimar parties change by December 1924?

  Support increased to 67% of the vote
• How many seats did the Nazis gain in the May 1924 elections?

  32 seats
• What was the trend in support for anti-Weimar parties between 1924 and 1928?

  Support for anti-Weimar parties declined
• What was the number of seats held by the KPD in 1924?

  62 seats
• What significant political development occurred in January 1925?

  The DNVP joined its first coalition government
• What does the existence of six Weimar Governments between 1924-29 indicate?

  It shows instability in the Weimar political system
• What was the challenge of Proportional Representation in the Weimar Republic?

  It made it difficult for any government to achieve a majority
• What caused the collapse of Chancellor Luther's government in 1926?

  A dispute over the imperial flag
• How did the presence of multiple political parties affect the Weimar government?

  It made it harder for any single party to achieve a majority
• What was the largest party from 1924-1928?

  The Socialist SPD
• Why did the SPD struggle to participate in coalition governments?

  They were reluctant to compromise on their ideals
• What was the effect of voting for party lists rather than individuals in electoral districts?

  It led to public disenchantment with the political system
• What symbol did the new democracy struggle to produce?

  Symbols that would unite the German people
• What was the significance of the election of Paul von Hindenburg as President in 1925?

  It marked a bad sign for future democracy
• How did Hindenburg's presidency affect the Weimar Republic?

  He became a rallying point for conservatives seeking authoritarianism
• What was the impact of the NSDAP's rebuilding during the Golden Years?

  They prepared to mount another assault on Weimar
• What did Gregor Strasser do for the NSDAP?

  He reorganized the party on a gau system
• What did the historian Layton claim about the parliamentary and party system during the middle period?

  It had failed to make any real progress
• What was Ebert's strategy regarding the conservative elite?

  He left them in charge of the army, civil service, and judiciary
• Why did many industrialists resent the new democracy?

  They resented the new rights of workers and high taxes
• How did teachers and opinion formers affect respect for democracy?

  They did little to encourage respect for the new democracy
• What are the reasons for optimism about Weimar's future?

  • Gustav Stresemann was foreign minister for most of the Golden Age from 1924-29
  • Political extremism significantly reduced from the left and the right
  • Support for pro-Weimar parties increased from 61% in May 1924 to 72.8% in May 1928
  • Extremist parties like the Nazis dropped to only 3% of the vote by December 1924
  • The DNVP joined a coalition government in 1925
  • Stresemann's signing of the Locarno treaties secured Germany's western borders
• What are the reasons for pessimism about Weimar's future?

  • Six Weimar Governments existed between 1924-29, each a short-term coalition
  • Hindenburg was a conservative General who supported the previous Kaiser
  • The power of Article 48 would become significant in Hitler's rise to power
  • The Weimar government resembled an endless cabinet crisis