GOVERNMENT
Political and governmental change 1918-33
Weimar Nazi FRG
Revolution from above: Polycratic Regime (many centres of power) Yalta, February 1945
- September 1918, Germany was forced to admit Ministry of Economics, Ministry of Labour, Ministry - Agreed Germany would be divided into 4
military defeat was inevitable of Armed Forces etc. military zones
- To prevent complete military defeat, German gov - Nazi party deparments devoted to developing - Allied control council representing all four
negotiated with US president for a fair peace deal policy of different areas of national life department powers would be established
- To strengthen position, Kaiser instigated a of economics, labour, propaganda - Four zones would be administered by the 4
revolution from above - Supreme Reich Authorities: not part of state. Allies
→ new democratic gov was created led by prince Included 4 Year Plan org, German Labour Front
Max of Baden → attempted to persuade the 3 (DAF)
powers Germany was becoming a democracy and Relations between these org ws never clarified &
hoped it would create sympathy for them rather than their actions were left uncoordinated
a harsh peace treaty → consequences:
Shorterm: supreme reich authorities achieved
impressive terms eg OT built 1,000km of autobahn
Revolution from below: between 1935-1936
- Military defeat led to an economic collapse Longterm: approach left to conflict and chaos:
- Prices of everyday products increased rapidly Eg mid 1930s: Ministry of Economics trying to
- People were dying of hypothermia and starvation encourage trade with nations in South America &
(approx 293,000 died in 1918) same time 4 Year Plan org trying to discourage
- Rebels demanded abdication of the Kaiser who trade to build an autarky economy.
was blamed for starting the war → led to conflict between senior ministers & officials
- New gov started led by a left wing coalition that could only be resolved by decisions from H
,Combination of liberal, democratic and socialist Prerogative State Postdam, June 1945
influences. Abandoned rule of law - Denazification
Claimed his authority was not based on German - Demilitarisation - would ensure Germany
- Universal suffrage: all adult citizens had right to constitution. would never wage war again
vote (male and female) Nazi legal theroists argued H authority came from - Deindustrialisation -
- President elected every seven years by a universal the fact that H represented will of Germans. - Democratisation - would become a democracy
suffrage → had right to do whatever regardless of the law
- President appointed chancellor H passed laws that retroactively made his action
- Chancellor would have to work with the legal.
ReichstagR to pass laws Eg NOLK were illegal killings took place but H
- Elections based on proportional representation passed law that made his actions legal.
- Civil rights enshrined. Prerogative nature had consequences for nature of
- Guaranteed workers rights to work and right to govt:
welfare if work not available - Made govt more chaotic
- Article 48: emergency powers. - H power limitless
President could suspend civil rights, constitution for
a limited amount of time in state of an emergency
People concerned about democracy because: Personal rivalries Berlin blockade and airlift
- gave power to uneducated people including - Himmler & Goering fought over control of Deutshmarks was an immediate success.
women who knew little of gov Germany’s political police Price controls and rationing were abolished in western
- gave power to poor people who wanted to get rid - Mid 1933: both in charge of political police force zones, benefiting from Marshall Aid. - began to make
of wealth from rich - Himmler set up SD (subsection of SS) to deal with rapid economic progress.
- based on discussions and elections → seen as Nazi opponents
weak and indecisive compared to facist government - Goering set up Gestapo which had same role Soviet zone languished in poverty. New currency:
in Italy - 1933-1934: Himmler & Goering workers together Ostmark
effectively
- Goering appointed Himmler Head of Gestapo Berlin was part of soviets division → Stalin calls a
→ mid 1934: Himmler & Reinhard Heydrion workers Berlin blockade. Ordered electricity supplies to be cut
together to make Gestapo free of Goering’s off June 1948. All land and canal routes were blocked.
supervision → intended to make West Berlin starve or agree to join
- Himmler won a legal battle against Goering Soviet zone. But Western powers organised an airlift.
- Goering ford to relinquish control of Gestapo September: Flying 4,641 tons of supplies everyday.
→ H intervention allowed Himmler’s power base to April 1949: almost 8,000 tons, including items such as
grow & able to extend Gestapo to cover the whole coal.
of Germany. Altogether: 2,325,808 tons were flown into Berlin.
-Faction fighting like this were common in Nazi state Stalin restored electricity supplies etc.
& constant feature of Nazi rule Blockade failed and the airlift showed that Allies would
not abandon Berlin.
, Germany had been divided.
Factors that undermined democracy: Cumulative Radicalisation Political parties in the western zones
- popular militarism H only person who could settle fection disputes - CDU/CSU led by Konrad Adenauer. Centre
- stab in the back myth between lieutenants. party which embraced members of the
- popular racism All power came from H. other gov tried to develop Catholic Centre party, nationalists, democrats.
- treaty of versailles policies that would win his favour to safeguard or - SPD led by Kurt Schumacher survived from
etc advance in power. → one of the ways was the weimar republic and maintained a socilaist
developing harsher anti-Jewish policies: agenda mixed with elements of nationalism
- 1937: Goering’s policy of Aryanisation - GErman liberal parties: DEmocratic Party and
stripped Jews of wealth & property Free Democratic Party (FDP)
- 1938: Heydrion’s SD began a programme of - German Party (DP)
forced emigration
- 1938: Goebbels persuaded H to allow SA to
take control of streets, beat & kill Jewish
people & destroy Jewish property
- Latee 1938: Goering stripped Jews of all
their money & property & SS forced Hews
into Ghettos
Popular militarism Purpose of chaos The Basic Law
- Military was dominated by aristocracy, was Encouraged chaos in govt. May 1949: FRG created.
&extremely hierarchical Heightened his authority → could settle disputes Designed to ensure that Germany remained
- respect for army based on it an being extremely between senior members etc democratic and stable, avoiding weaknesses of the
effective organistaion that protected and advanced Believed constant fight would lead to better govt Weimar Republic.
interests of the nation → 1871 German military had with fit flourishing and weak going under Bundenstag - federal parliament was elected by
won war against France and captured valuable -- universal suffrage.
territory of Alsace- Lorraine, captured portion of . evolution of a better system Unlike Nazi Germany where Hitler enjoyed prerogative
Poland 1866 and 18711, expanded and defended → social Darwinism powers, FRG was based on rule of law.
German empire in Africa
- respect for the army expressed in groups such as
Navy League and Defence League. These groups
also campaigned for undemocratic goals such
prevention of the Emancipation of Women
Stab in the back myth Administrative Anarchy Federal elections, August 1949
- undermined democracy. Asserted the fact that Government in wartime CDU/CSU gained 139 seats
failure in WW1 was as a result of betrayal of Jews, Relations between Nazi party, Ministries & Supreme SPD gained 131 seats
Political and governmental change 1918-33
Weimar Nazi FRG
Revolution from above: Polycratic Regime (many centres of power) Yalta, February 1945
- September 1918, Germany was forced to admit Ministry of Economics, Ministry of Labour, Ministry - Agreed Germany would be divided into 4
military defeat was inevitable of Armed Forces etc. military zones
- To prevent complete military defeat, German gov - Nazi party deparments devoted to developing - Allied control council representing all four
negotiated with US president for a fair peace deal policy of different areas of national life department powers would be established
- To strengthen position, Kaiser instigated a of economics, labour, propaganda - Four zones would be administered by the 4
revolution from above - Supreme Reich Authorities: not part of state. Allies
→ new democratic gov was created led by prince Included 4 Year Plan org, German Labour Front
Max of Baden → attempted to persuade the 3 (DAF)
powers Germany was becoming a democracy and Relations between these org ws never clarified &
hoped it would create sympathy for them rather than their actions were left uncoordinated
a harsh peace treaty → consequences:
Shorterm: supreme reich authorities achieved
impressive terms eg OT built 1,000km of autobahn
Revolution from below: between 1935-1936
- Military defeat led to an economic collapse Longterm: approach left to conflict and chaos:
- Prices of everyday products increased rapidly Eg mid 1930s: Ministry of Economics trying to
- People were dying of hypothermia and starvation encourage trade with nations in South America &
(approx 293,000 died in 1918) same time 4 Year Plan org trying to discourage
- Rebels demanded abdication of the Kaiser who trade to build an autarky economy.
was blamed for starting the war → led to conflict between senior ministers & officials
- New gov started led by a left wing coalition that could only be resolved by decisions from H
,Combination of liberal, democratic and socialist Prerogative State Postdam, June 1945
influences. Abandoned rule of law - Denazification
Claimed his authority was not based on German - Demilitarisation - would ensure Germany
- Universal suffrage: all adult citizens had right to constitution. would never wage war again
vote (male and female) Nazi legal theroists argued H authority came from - Deindustrialisation -
- President elected every seven years by a universal the fact that H represented will of Germans. - Democratisation - would become a democracy
suffrage → had right to do whatever regardless of the law
- President appointed chancellor H passed laws that retroactively made his action
- Chancellor would have to work with the legal.
ReichstagR to pass laws Eg NOLK were illegal killings took place but H
- Elections based on proportional representation passed law that made his actions legal.
- Civil rights enshrined. Prerogative nature had consequences for nature of
- Guaranteed workers rights to work and right to govt:
welfare if work not available - Made govt more chaotic
- Article 48: emergency powers. - H power limitless
President could suspend civil rights, constitution for
a limited amount of time in state of an emergency
People concerned about democracy because: Personal rivalries Berlin blockade and airlift
- gave power to uneducated people including - Himmler & Goering fought over control of Deutshmarks was an immediate success.
women who knew little of gov Germany’s political police Price controls and rationing were abolished in western
- gave power to poor people who wanted to get rid - Mid 1933: both in charge of political police force zones, benefiting from Marshall Aid. - began to make
of wealth from rich - Himmler set up SD (subsection of SS) to deal with rapid economic progress.
- based on discussions and elections → seen as Nazi opponents
weak and indecisive compared to facist government - Goering set up Gestapo which had same role Soviet zone languished in poverty. New currency:
in Italy - 1933-1934: Himmler & Goering workers together Ostmark
effectively
- Goering appointed Himmler Head of Gestapo Berlin was part of soviets division → Stalin calls a
→ mid 1934: Himmler & Reinhard Heydrion workers Berlin blockade. Ordered electricity supplies to be cut
together to make Gestapo free of Goering’s off June 1948. All land and canal routes were blocked.
supervision → intended to make West Berlin starve or agree to join
- Himmler won a legal battle against Goering Soviet zone. But Western powers organised an airlift.
- Goering ford to relinquish control of Gestapo September: Flying 4,641 tons of supplies everyday.
→ H intervention allowed Himmler’s power base to April 1949: almost 8,000 tons, including items such as
grow & able to extend Gestapo to cover the whole coal.
of Germany. Altogether: 2,325,808 tons were flown into Berlin.
-Faction fighting like this were common in Nazi state Stalin restored electricity supplies etc.
& constant feature of Nazi rule Blockade failed and the airlift showed that Allies would
not abandon Berlin.
, Germany had been divided.
Factors that undermined democracy: Cumulative Radicalisation Political parties in the western zones
- popular militarism H only person who could settle fection disputes - CDU/CSU led by Konrad Adenauer. Centre
- stab in the back myth between lieutenants. party which embraced members of the
- popular racism All power came from H. other gov tried to develop Catholic Centre party, nationalists, democrats.
- treaty of versailles policies that would win his favour to safeguard or - SPD led by Kurt Schumacher survived from
etc advance in power. → one of the ways was the weimar republic and maintained a socilaist
developing harsher anti-Jewish policies: agenda mixed with elements of nationalism
- 1937: Goering’s policy of Aryanisation - GErman liberal parties: DEmocratic Party and
stripped Jews of wealth & property Free Democratic Party (FDP)
- 1938: Heydrion’s SD began a programme of - German Party (DP)
forced emigration
- 1938: Goebbels persuaded H to allow SA to
take control of streets, beat & kill Jewish
people & destroy Jewish property
- Latee 1938: Goering stripped Jews of all
their money & property & SS forced Hews
into Ghettos
Popular militarism Purpose of chaos The Basic Law
- Military was dominated by aristocracy, was Encouraged chaos in govt. May 1949: FRG created.
&extremely hierarchical Heightened his authority → could settle disputes Designed to ensure that Germany remained
- respect for army based on it an being extremely between senior members etc democratic and stable, avoiding weaknesses of the
effective organistaion that protected and advanced Believed constant fight would lead to better govt Weimar Republic.
interests of the nation → 1871 German military had with fit flourishing and weak going under Bundenstag - federal parliament was elected by
won war against France and captured valuable -- universal suffrage.
territory of Alsace- Lorraine, captured portion of . evolution of a better system Unlike Nazi Germany where Hitler enjoyed prerogative
Poland 1866 and 18711, expanded and defended → social Darwinism powers, FRG was based on rule of law.
German empire in Africa
- respect for the army expressed in groups such as
Navy League and Defence League. These groups
also campaigned for undemocratic goals such
prevention of the Emancipation of Women
Stab in the back myth Administrative Anarchy Federal elections, August 1949
- undermined democracy. Asserted the fact that Government in wartime CDU/CSU gained 139 seats
failure in WW1 was as a result of betrayal of Jews, Relations between Nazi party, Ministries & Supreme SPD gained 131 seats
