Overcoming the challenges 1919-29
Political leadership
President Ebert
Ebert was not the archetypal ‘strong man’ the German right wingers
wanted. He was not charismatic nor a good speaker. However, he was a
gifted negotiator, capable administrator and pragmatist. His goal was to
work within the Weimar system to improve pay and rights of Germany’s
workers. Therefore, he stressed compromise and reform. Compromises
with army, judiciary and civil service undermined German democracy in
the long term, but in the short term it bought the regime time and kept
the Republic going through crisis. The right-wing media viewed Ebert as a
traitor. He started more than 173 lawsuits to clear his name. He died I
February 1925 due to neglecting his health to defend his reputation.
Hindenburg played a role in the survival in the survival of the Weimar
Republic in the years 1925-28. Hindenburg was elected as chancellor after
Ebert died. Hindenburg had the support of the right-wing as he was a
respected military general. Hindenburg was never fully convinced that
democracy was a good system. Nonetheless he did use his power
constitutionally. In 1928 he appointed Muller as chancellor. This
arrangement of a conservative nationalist and a socialist indicated
political divisions within German politics could be overcome. This gave
people reason to support his regime so in the short term the Republic
became more stable during his presidency.
Stresemann was a leading figure in the people’s party. Significantly the
people’s party did not whole heartedly support democracy, however
Stresemann new leadership persuaded many in the party to support the
new constitution. Stresemann oversaw major economic reforms in 1923-
24 which saved the German economy. He was German minister between
1923-29. He tried to restore global German influence but saw Germany
was not strong enough to combat the TOV by force. He adopted a policy of
co-operation with Britain and France to use German influence to gain
concessions from other countries. Stresemann hoped his policy would
ease reparations and revise the German borders.
As a result of his careful negotiations the following concessions where
achieved:
1924: The Dawes Plan- the US gave Germany loans to further
stimulate economic recovery
1924-25: the French withdrew from the Ruhr
Political leadership
President Ebert
Ebert was not the archetypal ‘strong man’ the German right wingers
wanted. He was not charismatic nor a good speaker. However, he was a
gifted negotiator, capable administrator and pragmatist. His goal was to
work within the Weimar system to improve pay and rights of Germany’s
workers. Therefore, he stressed compromise and reform. Compromises
with army, judiciary and civil service undermined German democracy in
the long term, but in the short term it bought the regime time and kept
the Republic going through crisis. The right-wing media viewed Ebert as a
traitor. He started more than 173 lawsuits to clear his name. He died I
February 1925 due to neglecting his health to defend his reputation.
Hindenburg played a role in the survival in the survival of the Weimar
Republic in the years 1925-28. Hindenburg was elected as chancellor after
Ebert died. Hindenburg had the support of the right-wing as he was a
respected military general. Hindenburg was never fully convinced that
democracy was a good system. Nonetheless he did use his power
constitutionally. In 1928 he appointed Muller as chancellor. This
arrangement of a conservative nationalist and a socialist indicated
political divisions within German politics could be overcome. This gave
people reason to support his regime so in the short term the Republic
became more stable during his presidency.
Stresemann was a leading figure in the people’s party. Significantly the
people’s party did not whole heartedly support democracy, however
Stresemann new leadership persuaded many in the party to support the
new constitution. Stresemann oversaw major economic reforms in 1923-
24 which saved the German economy. He was German minister between
1923-29. He tried to restore global German influence but saw Germany
was not strong enough to combat the TOV by force. He adopted a policy of
co-operation with Britain and France to use German influence to gain
concessions from other countries. Stresemann hoped his policy would
ease reparations and revise the German borders.
As a result of his careful negotiations the following concessions where
achieved:
1924: The Dawes Plan- the US gave Germany loans to further
stimulate economic recovery
1924-25: the French withdrew from the Ruhr
