Political developments

• Elections:

  • Nazis votes dropped from 6.5-3% which showed voting for moderate parties increased as currency stabilized
  • 1924->1928 election saw a 20% increase for pro republic parties
  • Mittlestant votes shifting more conservative during a period of stability, what will happen during instability!!
• Coalitions:

  • 7 coalition cabinets between 1923-30
  • Unstable cabinets as filled with different parties and opinions
  • Parties couldn't plan long term and often collapsed over disputes
• SPD:

  • Remained largest party but only took part in 1 of coalitions

  Centre party:

  • Leadership switch to Henrich Bruning was a big shift away from democracy

  DDP:

  • involved in all coalitions but lost all support as mittlestant votes shifted right
• DVP:

  • Committed to democracy but drifted right

  DNVP:

  • growing diversity in party split party objectives

  NSDAP:

  • Support dropped post munich putsch so changed approach to attempt and win mass support

  KPD:

  • Focused on attacking the social facists, the spd
• Election of Hindenburg as President in 1925:

  • Hindenburg won election as LW votes were split for two candidates but there was only one RW
  • Man with authoritarian veiws whos election was seen as a big step away from parlimentary democracy
  • He suprised everyone and stuck very closely to the Left of governemnt and even allowed fir DNVP to play a role in parlimentary democracy\
• Summary:

  Political voilence dropped, no attempts to overthrow by force and extremist parties lost support. Hindenburgs elections also shows traditional elites adopting democracy.

  But parties represented narrow interests and political divides remained strong