3) Overcoming the challenges, 1919-29

• The Weimar democracy survived a period of crisis in 1919-23 and then enjoyed a period of stability between 1924-29.
• Reasons why democracy survived:


  the success of the economy in the second half of the 1920's

  political leadership

  the use of Article 48

  the threat of the left

  pragmatism and compromise of key political parties.
• Weimar parties:

  SPD, the German Democrats and the ZP. All 3 of these parties supported the republic and democratic values for the better part of the 1920s, although the ZP became more authoritarian towards the end of the decade.