Failure of the Weimar Governments to deal with unemployment

• 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.
• 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.
• President Hindenburg would now act in an increasingly authoritarian manner, hiring and firing chancellors at his own discretion under Article 48 rather than respecting the results of elections.