The collapse of democracy 1928-33
Political problems
Major long-term problems were one reason for the collapse of the
democracy 1928-33. First, most nationalists believed that the new
government was illegitimate. Nationalists tended to associate the Weimar
Republic with the politicians believed for the ‘stab in the back’ myth. After
communist threat faded nationalists began less willing to support the
Republic. Nationalists’ hatred for democracy was evident when they
celebrated Hindenburg’s election with Imperial flags rather than flags of
the new Republic. This was evident in the two main nationalist parties, the
DNVP and DVP.
The German National People’s Party (DNVP)- supported pre-Weimar values
such as monarchy and compulsory military service. Many members were
openly anti-Semitic. The DNVP voted against the ToV in 1919. The DNVP
supported the Freikorps and supported right-wing political violence.
The German People’s Party (DVP)- In 1918, the DVP opposed the Weimar
Republic and favoured the middle-class and employers. Under
Stresemann’s influence they were willing to enter government and act
democratically. However, after Stresemann’s death in 1929 the party
became opposed to the Republic.
The army and democracy
The army never supported German democracy. Groener’s pact with Ebert
was extremely unpopular at the highest levels of the army. The army
supported the Freikorps and the Kapp Putsch.
Authoritarian leaders
By the late 1920’s politicians and parties that had supported democracy
had become more authoritarian. Under the influence of Pope Pius XI and
catholic ZP began to favour replacing democracy with dictatorship to
safeguard catholic values from socialism, communism and atheism.
President Hindenburg also favoured relacing democracy during economic
crisis. Therefore, he appointed even more authoritarian chancellors after
the collapse of Muller’s government in 1930. Indeed, from 1930-32
governments increasingly relied on Article 48. In this sense democracy
truly died in the 1930’s, before Hitler’s rise.
Generally, conservatives, civil servants and military leaders saw the crisis
as an opportunity to introduce to introduce more authoritarian rule.
Political problems
Major long-term problems were one reason for the collapse of the
democracy 1928-33. First, most nationalists believed that the new
government was illegitimate. Nationalists tended to associate the Weimar
Republic with the politicians believed for the ‘stab in the back’ myth. After
communist threat faded nationalists began less willing to support the
Republic. Nationalists’ hatred for democracy was evident when they
celebrated Hindenburg’s election with Imperial flags rather than flags of
the new Republic. This was evident in the two main nationalist parties, the
DNVP and DVP.
The German National People’s Party (DNVP)- supported pre-Weimar values
such as monarchy and compulsory military service. Many members were
openly anti-Semitic. The DNVP voted against the ToV in 1919. The DNVP
supported the Freikorps and supported right-wing political violence.
The German People’s Party (DVP)- In 1918, the DVP opposed the Weimar
Republic and favoured the middle-class and employers. Under
Stresemann’s influence they were willing to enter government and act
democratically. However, after Stresemann’s death in 1929 the party
became opposed to the Republic.
The army and democracy
The army never supported German democracy. Groener’s pact with Ebert
was extremely unpopular at the highest levels of the army. The army
supported the Freikorps and the Kapp Putsch.
Authoritarian leaders
By the late 1920’s politicians and parties that had supported democracy
had become more authoritarian. Under the influence of Pope Pius XI and
catholic ZP began to favour replacing democracy with dictatorship to
safeguard catholic values from socialism, communism and atheism.
President Hindenburg also favoured relacing democracy during economic
crisis. Therefore, he appointed even more authoritarian chancellors after
the collapse of Muller’s government in 1930. Indeed, from 1930-32
governments increasingly relied on Article 48. In this sense democracy
truly died in the 1930’s, before Hitler’s rise.
Generally, conservatives, civil servants and military leaders saw the crisis
as an opportunity to introduce to introduce more authoritarian rule.
