An outline of the various parties involved in the Weimar Republic

1. Politics in Weimar
Germany
Learning Objectives:
• To explain the political spectrum in Germany
Starter:
Can you remember the
two main problems with
the Weimar
Constitution?

2. Politics in Weimar
Germany
LO: To
explain the
political
spectrum in
Germany
When the Weimar
Republic was set up, the
largest political party
was the Social
Democratic Party (the
SDP). Their leader,
Friedrich Ebert, was
therefore chosen to be
the first president.
What was the difference
between the president and
the chancellor?

3. The first thing he does is sign the armistice on 11th
November – this brings an end to WW1.

4. Politics in Weimar
Germany
• Allies prepared to
make peace on
conditions:
• Kaiser and Generals
must give up powers
• Power given to the
Reichstag
• Germany went from a
country of autocracy
and became a
parliamentary
democracy
LO: To
explain the
political
spectrum in
Germany

5. Politics in Weimar
Germany
• The Armistice was an agreement signed
by representatives of France, Great
Britain and Germany. It was an
agreement to end fighting as a prelude to
peace negotiations. The Treaty of
Versailles
• The Armistice began at on 11th
November 1918 at 11am (French time) -
the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of
the eleventh month.
• The Armistice took place in Ferdinand
Foch's railway carriage in the Forest of
Compiègne, about 37 miles (60 km)
north of Paris.
LO: To
explain the
political
spectrum in
Germany

6. What does this source suggest about German reaction to the
armistice?

7. Dolchstoss
LO: To
explain the
political
spectrum in
Germany
Dolchstoss (the stab-in-the-
back theory) was the
idea among some in
Germany (particularly
the right wing and the
army) that Germany was
not going to lose the war
and the armistice should
not have been signed.
They called the Weimar
Republic’s leaders the
‘November Criminals’

8. The Political
Spectrum
LO: To
explain the
political
spectrum in
Germany
Centre
Far
Left
Far
Right
Centre
Left
Centre
Right
Democratic
and appeals
to everyone
Democratic
and appeals
to lower
classes
(workers)
Democratic
and appeals
to rich or
nationalistic
Dictatorship
and appeals
to lower
classes
(workers)
Dictatorship
and appeals
to rich or
nationalistic
• Equality
• Social change
• Distribution of wealth
• Personal liberty
• Capitalism
• Private property

9. The Political
Spectrum
LO: To
explain the
political
spectrum in
Germany
Read the descriptions of the
different political parties and try to
place them in the correct place on
the political spectrum.

10. The Political
Spectrum
Communism Socialism Liberalism Conservatism
LEFT
WING
CENTRE RIGHT WING
LO: To
explain the
political
spectrum in
Germany
Nationalism/
Fascism

11. Fact or Fiction?
The Kaiser abdicated on 11th
November 1918
Dictatorship means a state with
a strong leader, one-party rule
One characteristic of fascism is
often nationalism
Fascism is extreme left wing
and gains support from workers
Friedrich Ebert became the first
elected president of Germany
The Armistice was signed
between Germany, France,
Britain and Russia
The president of the Weimar
republic ruled for 8 years
Under the new constitution
anyone under 20yrs. can vote
The new republic was named
after the town it was established
Article 54 have the president
power to pass laws without
voting in the Reichstag first