The Weimar Constitution and political parties Threats from the Left Threats

the Right

to know the threats of from the left and right
Some

to be able to see how this would affect Germany’s political future

of the electorate participated
75% of people voted for the SPD,

Centre Party or DDP
The first Reich President was Friedrich Ebert the leader of the SPD

of the Interior with the responsibility of drawing up a

constitution
They had problems
No Kaiser
Defeat of war
The revolution
There was no party with a majority

much power should the President have?
What was the relationship between

the state and the government to be?
What was the constitution going to involve?

as a LANDSER. Each Landser had its own parliament
The Executive

was very strong as the President had a 7 year tenure and had powers to counter balance the central parliament (Article 48)
The Reich chancellor and cabinet needed a majority in the Reichstag
There was an upper house known as the Reichrat (which could delay laws) The Reichsrat members were chosen by the Landser
The Reichstag was elected every 4 years by proprotional representatiom
There was also a bill of rights guaranteeing freedom of speech, assembly and association

and against the Weimar Republic

Reich and the UK

left- think the Revolution in Russia
This had already happened in

Kiel and Bavaria
The KPD also had links with COMINTERN but this alienated many working class people

Kiel and Wilshaven naval bases. They formed workers councils and

challenged the power of the Landser
Ebert and General Groener made a secret deal that if the government guaranteed the authority of current officers the army would defend the new government

owners (example an 8 hour day)
Many workers unions in Germany

then voted in favour of supporting Ebert and rejected a government based on councils
Eberts moderate line angered the left wing and in January 1919 the mass uprising of the Spartakist League tried to take over and turn into a revolution like in Russia
The SPD government led by Defence Minister Gaustav Noske ordered the army to surpress them
They were supported by the Friekorp

Communist
Hamburg October 1923 Communist

Putsch led by Hitler

Freikorp brigades were asked to disband (12 000 men)of which

two leaders, General von Luttwitz and Wolfgang Kapp, leader of the Father land party refused
On 12 March 12000 Freikorp marched to Berlin where the army refused to support the government, who then fled. Kapp proclaimed a new government but it failed to gain any support even from Conservatives
The Left organised a strike and Berlin was paralysed and even the banks refused to recognise the government
After 4 days they fled and Ebert returned to Berlin, whilst there were fights between workers and the army
No action was taken against the army as Ebert recognised he may need them for the fight against the Communists.