German federal election, December 1924
- KPD: 45
- SPD: 131
- DDP: 32
- Z: 69
- BVP: 19
- WP: 12
- DVP: 51
- DNVP: 103
- NSFB: 14
- Otherwise:. 17
The Reichstag elections of December 7, 1924 was the election to the 3rd German Reichstag of the Weimar Republic. It ended in comparison with the election of May 1924, a certain de-radicalization of the results.
Background and campaign
The Reichstag had adopted in August 1924, the London Agreement on arrangements for reparations with the help of parts of the DNVP. The experiment also in gratitude for the support of right-wing parties to introduce the 1914 suspended agricultural tariffs again, failed due to the obstruction of the left-wing parties that drew from the Parliament. At the same time the pressure rose to the government of Wilhelm Marx on the part of civil rights abandon the consideration of the social democrats and expand the government according to law. In contrast, the Chancellor had significant concerns and had to expect resistance from the DDP and parts of the center. The envisaged by Marx quite large coalition including the SPD and DNVP soon proved illusory. Other possible coalitions had little chance of success. Also a continuation of the previous minority government was not an option, since a successful vote of no confidence was considered likely. Therefore, Marx broke on 11 October 1924 the Reichstag and scheduled for December 7, 1924 elections to.
During the election in May In 1924 still strongly influenced by the effects of the social consequences of inflation and the stabilization of the December election took place in a time of economic boom. This was mainly a result of the now flowing to Germany foreign loans. Unemployment, which had risen again sharply in the summer of 1924, went in the fall significantly. Were unemployed in July, yet over 12% of unionized workers, it was in November, only 7.2%. Wages rose significantly and the work fell partly from.
Although so apparent a political reassurance, held the extreme parties of the Left and the Right firmly in radical course. The Rotfrontkämpferbund founded in July 1924 preferably attacked the Reichsbanner Schwarz -Rot - Gold was founded in February.
The extreme right was represented by the National Socialist Freedom Party, founded in August 1924. Add this to nationalist forces and in particular North German National Socialists had joined forces to Erich Ludendorff and Albrecht von Graefe. In addition, other competing groups emerged. Adolf Hitler, who was still in detention in a fortress, has kept out of the disputes among his followers.
In particular, the DNVP and the SPD could hope to benefit from the expected losses of the extreme parties. However, neither had intraparty problems. In the DNVP rebelled opponents of the London Agreement against the party leadership. Also for this reason resigned the chairman Oskar Hergt and was replaced by Johann Friedrich Winckler. In its election manifesto stated inter alia: " ... our will is stronger than ever: to create a Germany free of Jews rule and French rule, free from parliamentary clique and democratic rule of capital. " Propaganda of the party aimed primarily to the voters of the Nationalists and National Socialists.
Within the SPD played the Saxons conflict over the coalition of the Saxon SPD under Max Heldt with the DDP and the DVP is still a strong role. The supporters were also in conflict with decisions on imperial level.
Result
The result of the election of December differed from that in May by the much lower importance of radical parties. The wing parties were greatly weakened. Of these, the DNVP easy and the SPD was able to benefit significantly stronger. The vote share of the DNVP increased from 19.5% to 20.5%. The SPD grew from 20.5% to 26%. The KPD decreased from 12.6% to 9% and the National Socialists and Nationalists together fell from 6.5% to 3%. In the area of DDP and DVP as well as the center and the Bavarian People's Party, the changes were small.
The DNVP won at the expense of nationalist and Nazi forces. Social democracy has benefited from the losses of the KPD. The SPD may also managed to recruit voters who had migrated in May in the right bearing.
Government formation
The election result was to be only two ways to form a government. One was a large coalition including the SPD and the other was a civil right block. Sceptical of a right cabinet was Chancellor Marx. Even from his party, the center, criticism came against it. In January 1925 Marx returned the mandate to form a government of Reich President Friedrich Ebert. This commissioned so instead Hans Luther. Originally wanted this form a cabinet of experts, instead belonged to him to Minister of the DNVP, DVP, BVP and the Centre. Otto Gessler was a member of nominally the DDP.