Weimar Germany overview - AQAThe growth of democracy in Germany, 1890-1929

Before the war, Germany was a constitutional monarchy with a Kaiser, Wilhelm II, and a parliament elected by adult males who held the right to vote. There were two main political themes in this period:

• Wilhelm was determined to turn his nation into a world power. Germany built an empire, became active in world affairs and took part in an arms race with other European nations that would eventually lead to war.
• However, at the same time industrialisation, and the social and economic problems it brought, led to the Social Democratic Party (SPD) becoming the largest party in the Reichstag. Before normal politics were suspended during the war, there was a growing demand for greater democracy in Germany and reforms that would improve the condition of Germany’s working class.

After the war, with the Kaiser removed, Germany began a bold experiment with representative democracy. All adult Germans (women included this time) were able to vote and the system of proportional representation meant a wide range of views were given voice in Parliament. There was also an elected President.

However, the legacy of defeat in the war, in the shape of crippling reparation payments and the military restrictions of the Treaty of Versailles, led to serious problems:

• in 1923 there was a hyperinflation crisis that left Germany’s currency worthless
• in the first four years of the Weimar Republic there were three serious attempts to overthrow the government