How politically stable was Weimar Germany?
Weimar Governments 1924 to 1930
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Weimar Germany was politically stable between 1924 and 1930. How far do you agree? (10 marks)
Between 1924 and 1930, the Weimar Republic appeared more politically stable than during its earlier crisis years. No attempted coups occurred during this time, and moderate parties such as the Centre Party and the SPD played leading roles in government. Stresemann’s leadership as Foreign Minister helped restore Germany’s international reputation through agreements like the Locarno Pact (1925) and Germany’s entry into the League of Nations (1926). The “Grand Coalition” of 1928–1930, led by Hermann Müller, was the longest-lasting government of the period and included a wide range of pro-democracy parties. These developments suggest that the Republic was functioning more smoothly and had gained a level of domestic and international stability.
However, this stability was fragile and limited. No coalition held a clear majority in the Reichstag, and governments often collapsed over small disagreements. Between 1924 and 1929, there were six different coalition governments, many lasting less than a year. Extremist parties such as the Nazis and Communists were still active, though not yet popular, and remained hostile to democracy. Furthermore, much of the apparent stability depended on American loans from the Dawes Plan (1924), which made Germany vulnerable to economic shocks like the Wall Street Crash in 1929. Therefore, while Weimar appeared more stable in this period, its political system remained deeply divided and vulnerable to collapse.
Between 1924 and 1930, the Weimar Republic appeared more politically stable than during its earlier crisis years. No attempted coups occurred during this time, and moderate parties such as the Centre Party and the SPD played leading roles in government. Stresemann’s leadership as Foreign Minister helped restore Germany’s international reputation through agreements like the Locarno Pact (1925) and Germany’s entry into the League of Nations (1926). The “Grand Coalition” of 1928–1930, led by Hermann Müller, was the longest-lasting government of the period and included a wide range of pro-democracy parties. These developments suggest that the Republic was functioning more smoothly and had gained a level of domestic and international stability.
However, this stability was fragile and limited. No coalition held a clear majority in the Reichstag, and governments often collapsed over small disagreements. Between 1924 and 1929, there were six different coalition governments, many lasting less than a year. Extremist parties such as the Nazis and Communists were still active, though not yet popular, and remained hostile to democracy. Furthermore, much of the apparent stability depended on American loans from the Dawes Plan (1924), which made Germany vulnerable to economic shocks like the Wall Street Crash in 1929. Therefore, while Weimar appeared more stable in this period, its political system remained deeply divided and vulnerable to collapse.
