The Weimar Coalition is the name given to the coalition of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD), the German Democratic Party (DDP), and the Catholic Centre Party, who together had a large majority of the delegates to the Constituent Assembly which met at Weimar in 1919, and were the principal groups which designed the constitution of Germany's Weimar Republic. These three parties were seen as the most committed to Germany's new democratic system, and together governed Germany until the elections of 1920, w ...

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The German Centre Party (Deutsche Zentrumspartei or merely Zentrum), often called the Catholic Centre Party, was a Catholic political party in Germany during the Kaiserreich and the Weimar Republic. The party dissolved itself on July 6, 1933, shortly before the conclusion of a Concordat between the Holy See and Germany. After World War II, the party was refounded, but could not rise again to its former importance, as most of its members joined the new CDU party. However, the Centre party still exists to thi ...

Including:

• Centre Party Germany - Origins of Political Catholicism
• Centre Party Germany - Catholic groups in the Prussian Diet
• Centre Party Germany - The Soest programme and the founding of the Centre party
• Centre Party Germany - Kulturkampf
• Centre Party Germany - Out of the tower!
• Centre Party Germany - In War and Revolution
• Centre Party Germany - In the Weimar Republic
• Centre Party Germany - The Brüning administration
• Centre Party Germany - Between coup d'etat and authoritarian democracy
• Centre Party Germany - The Hitler government and new elections
• Centre Party Germany - The Enabling Act
• Centre Party Germany - The end of the Centre Party
• Centre Party Germany - Refounding and post-war history
• Centre Party Germany - External link

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List of Germans - Chancellors of Germany before 2nd World War. Gustav Stresemann, (1878-1929), chancellor and statesman of the Weimar Republic (DVP) Joseph Wirth, (1879-1956), Chancellor of the Weimar Period (Centre) Franz von Papen (1879-1969), chancellor and politician of the Weimar Republic Philipp Scheidemann, (1865-1939), chancellor in the Weimar period (SPD) Kurt von Schleicher - general and chancellor in the Weimar period Georg Michaelis, (1857-1936), Impe ...

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List of Germans, List of Germans - Actors, List of Germans - Artists, List of Germans - Composers, List of Germans - Filmmakers, List of Germans - Royalty, List of Germans - Musicians and singers, List of Germans - Philosophers, List of Germans - Politicians, List of Germans - Chancellors of Germany before 2nd World War, List of Germans - Chancellors of Germany after 2nd World War, List of Germans - Presidents of Germany, List of Germans - Politicians in East Germany, List of Germans - Personalities of the Nazi Party and Regime, List of Germans - Scientists and engineers, List of Germans - Sportspersons, List of Germans - Theologians, List of Germans - Writers, List of Germans - Others

Read more here: » List of Germans: Encyclopedia II - List of Germans - Politicians

Radbruch studied law in Munich, Leipzig and Berlin. He passed his first bar exam ("Staatsexamen") in Berlin in 1901, and the following year he received his doctorate with a disseration on "The lessons of adequate Causation." This was followed in 1903 by his qualification to teach criminal law in Heidelberg. In 1904, he was appointed Professor of Criminal and Trial Law and Legal Philosophy in Heidelberg. In 1914 he accepted a call to a professorship in Königsberg (today's Kaliningra ...

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Gustav Radbruch, Gustav Radbruch - Life, Gustav Radbruch - Work

Read more here: » Gustav Radbruch: Encyclopedia II - Gustav Radbruch - Life

Weimar Timeline - 1920. January 1920 The DAP grew to 190 members. February 4, 1920 Allies demand 900 Germans be handed over for war crimes. February 20, 1920 DAP changes name to National Socialist German Workers’ Party. February 1920 Inter-Allied Control Commission order 2/3 of Freikorps disbanded. February 24, 1920 First public meeting of the NSDAP. March 13, ...

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Weimar Timeline, Weimar Timeline - End of the Kaiserreich, Weimar Timeline - 1918, Weimar Timeline - 1919, Weimar Timeline - Weimar Republic, Weimar Timeline - 1920, Weimar Timeline - 1921, Weimar Timeline - 1922, Weimar Timeline - 1923, Weimar Timeline - 1924, Weimar Timeline - 1925, Weimar Timeline - 1926, Weimar Timeline - 1927, Weimar Timeline - 1928, Weimar Timeline - 1929, Weimar Timeline - 1930, Weimar Timeline - 1931, Weimar Timeline - 1932, Weimar Timeline - 1933, Weimar Timeline - Related media

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Following Brüning's resignation, the Centre Party entered the opposition. Though they also opposed the National Socialists, their energies were directed mainly against the renegade Papen, whom they – not without cause – accused of lusting for dictatorship. Also some Centre politicians were soothed by Hitler's strategy of legality into downplaying the Nazi threat. This hampered their ability of being a bulwark of the republic against the rising National Socialists. In regard to the government, the Centre Party rejected a "temporal ...

See also:

Centre Party Germany, Centre Party Germany - Origins of Political Catholicism, Centre Party Germany - Catholic groups in the Prussian Diet, Centre Party Germany - The Soest programme and the founding of the Centre party, Centre Party Germany - Kulturkampf, Centre Party Germany - Out of the tower!, Centre Party Germany - In War and Revolution, Centre Party Germany - In the Weimar Republic, Centre Party Germany - The Brüning administration, Centre Party Germany - Between coup d'etat and authoritarian democracy, Centre Party Germany - The Hitler government and new elections, Centre Party Germany - The Enabling Act, Centre Party Germany - The end of the Centre Party, Centre Party Germany - Refounding and post-war history, Centre Party Germany - External link

Read more here: » Centre Party Germany: Encyclopedia II - Centre Party Germany - Between coup d'etat and authoritarian democracy

Born in Münster in Westphalia, he lost his father when he was one year old and thus his elder brother Hermann Joseph played a major part in his upbringing. Although raised a devout Catholic, Brüning was also influenced by Lutheranism's concept of duty, since the Münster region was home to both Catholics and Protestants. After finishing school, he first tended towards the legal profession, but then studied Philosophy, History, German and Political Science at Strasbourg, the London School of Economics and Bonn, wh ...

See also:

Heinrich Brüning, Heinrich Brüning - Early career, Heinrich Brüning - Brüning's appointment as Chancellor, Heinrich Brüning - The Brüning administration and the Reichstag parties, Heinrich Brüning - Brüning's foreign policy, Heinrich Brüning - Hindenburg's re-election and Brüning's fall, Heinrich Brüning - After his resignation, Heinrich Brüning - Exile and later years, Heinrich Brüning - Brünings First Government March 1930 - October 1931, Heinrich Brüning - Brüning's Second Cabinet October 1931 - May 1932, Heinrich Brüning - Reference

Read more here: » Heinrich Brüning: Encyclopedia II - Heinrich Brüning - Early career

The party supported the government upon the outbreak of World War I, but it also used the debates about war bonds to push for a repeal of the last remnants of anti-Jesuit laws. As the war continued, many of the leaders of the Centre's left wing, particularly Matthias Erzberger, came to support a negotiated settlement, and Erzberger was key in the passage of the Reichstag Peace Resolution of 1917. The same year, the Centre's Georg Count Hertling, formerly Prime Minister of Bavaria, was appointed Chancellor, but he could not overcome the domin ...

See also:

Centre Party Germany, Centre Party Germany - Origins of Political Catholicism, Centre Party Germany - Catholic groups in the Prussian Diet, Centre Party Germany - The Soest programme and the founding of the Centre party, Centre Party Germany - Kulturkampf, Centre Party Germany - Out of the tower!, Centre Party Germany - In War and Revolution, Centre Party Germany - In the Weimar Republic, Centre Party Germany - The Brüning administration, Centre Party Germany - Between coup d'etat and authoritarian democracy, Centre Party Germany - The Hitler government and new elections, Centre Party Germany - The Enabling Act, Centre Party Germany - The end of the Centre Party, Centre Party Germany - Refounding and post-war history, Centre Party Germany - External link

Read more here: » Centre Party Germany: Encyclopedia II - Centre Party Germany - In War and Revolution

The Centre Party, whose pragmatic principles generally left it open to supporting either a monarchical or republican form of government, proved one of the mainstays of the Weimar Republic, continuing the cooperation with SPD and DDP in the Weimar Coalition. This combination however lost its majority in the 1920 elections. The Centre had a share of the odium attached to the so-called "Weimar Establishment," which was blamed, especially on the right, for the "stab in the back" of the German army at the end of the war, as well as for the ...

See also:

Centre Party Germany, Centre Party Germany - Origins of Political Catholicism, Centre Party Germany - Catholic groups in the Prussian Diet, Centre Party Germany - The Soest programme and the founding of the Centre party, Centre Party Germany - Kulturkampf, Centre Party Germany - Out of the tower!, Centre Party Germany - In War and Revolution, Centre Party Germany - In the Weimar Republic, Centre Party Germany - The Brüning administration, Centre Party Germany - Between coup d'etat and authoritarian democracy, Centre Party Germany - The Hitler government and new elections, Centre Party Germany - The Enabling Act, Centre Party Germany - The end of the Centre Party, Centre Party Germany - Refounding and post-war history, Centre Party Germany - External link

Read more here: » Centre Party Germany: Encyclopedia II - Centre Party Germany - In the Weimar Republic

Brüning fled Germany in 1934 to escape Hitler's political purges via the Netherlands and settled in the United Kingdom. In 1939 he became professor for political science at Harvard University. He warned the American public about Hitler's plans for war and later about Soviet expansionism, but in both cases his advice went unheeded. In 1952 he returned to Germany and taught at the university of Cologne. He was a critic of Adenauer's policy of Western integration and as he saw no prospect of continuing his political career, he returned to the United S ...

See also:

Heinrich Brüning, Heinrich Brüning - Early career, Heinrich Brüning - Brüning's appointment as Chancellor, Heinrich Brüning - The Brüning administration and the Reichstag parties, Heinrich Brüning - Brüning's foreign policy, Heinrich Brüning - Hindenburg's re-election and Brüning's fall, Heinrich Brüning - After his resignation, Heinrich Brüning - Exile and later years, Heinrich Brüning - Brünings First Government March 1930 - October 1931, Heinrich Brüning - Brüning's Second Cabinet October 1931 - May 1932, Heinrich Brüning - Reference

Read more here: » Heinrich Brüning: Encyclopedia II - Heinrich Brüning - Exile and later years

The Kulturkampf had re-inforced the Catholic character of the Centre Party, but even during it Ludwig Windthorst had defended the party against Bismarck's accusation of being a "denominational party" in describing the Centre as "a political party with a comprehensive political programme and open to anyone, who accepts it." However, only a few Protestants took up this offer and the Centre remained -by the composition ...

See also:

Centre Party Germany, Centre Party Germany - Origins of Political Catholicism, Centre Party Germany - Catholic groups in the Prussian Diet, Centre Party Germany - The Soest programme and the founding of the Centre party, Centre Party Germany - Kulturkampf, Centre Party Germany - Out of the tower!, Centre Party Germany - In War and Revolution, Centre Party Germany - In the Weimar Republic, Centre Party Germany - The Brüning administration, Centre Party Germany - Between coup d'etat and authoritarian democracy, Centre Party Germany - The Hitler government and new elections, Centre Party Germany - The Enabling Act, Centre Party Germany - The end of the Centre Party, Centre Party Germany - Refounding and post-war history, Centre Party Germany - External link

Read more here: » Centre Party Germany: Encyclopedia II - Centre Party Germany - Out of the tower!

Growing anti-Catholic sentiment and policies, including plans for dissolving all monasteries in Prussia, made it clear that 'group' reorganization was urgently needed in order to protect Catholic minority rights, enshrined in the 1850 constitution, and to bring them over to the emerging nation state. In June 1870 Peter Reichersberger called on Catholics to unite and, in October, priests, representatives of Catholic federations and Catholic gentry met at Soest and drew up an election programme. The main points were: Preser ...

See also:

Centre Party Germany, Centre Party Germany - Origins of Political Catholicism, Centre Party Germany - Catholic groups in the Prussian Diet, Centre Party Germany - The Soest programme and the founding of the Centre party, Centre Party Germany - Kulturkampf, Centre Party Germany - Out of the tower!, Centre Party Germany - In War and Revolution, Centre Party Germany - In the Weimar Republic, Centre Party Germany - The Brüning administration, Centre Party Germany - Between coup d'etat and authoritarian democracy, Centre Party Germany - The Hitler government and new elections, Centre Party Germany - The Enabling Act, Centre Party Germany - The end of the Centre Party, Centre Party Germany - Refounding and post-war history, Centre Party Germany - External link

Read more here: » Centre Party Germany: Encyclopedia II - Centre Party Germany - The Soest programme and the founding of the Centre party

Growing anti-Catholic sentiment and policies, including plans for dissolving all monasteries in Prussia, made it clear that 'group' reorganization was urgently needed in order to protect Catholic minority rights, enshrined in the 1850 constitution, and to bring them over to the emerging nation state. In June 1870 Peter Reichersberger called on Catholics to unite and, in October, priests, representatives of Catholic federations and Catholic gentry met at Soest and drew up a election programme. The main points were: Preserv ...

See also:

Centre Party Germany, Centre Party Germany - Origins of Political Catholicism, Centre Party Germany - Catholic groups in the Prussian Diet, Centre Party Germany - The Soest programme and the founding of the Centre party, Centre Party Germany - Kulturkampf, Centre Party Germany - Out of the tower!, Centre Party Germany - In War and Revolution, Centre Party Germany - In the Weimar Republic, Centre Party Germany - The Brüning administration, Centre Party Germany - Between coup d'etat and authoritarian democracy, Centre Party Germany - The Hitler government and new elections, Centre Party Germany - The Enabling Act, Centre Party Germany - The end of the Centre Party, Centre Party Germany - Refounding and post-war history, Centre Party Germany - External link

Read more here: » Centre Party Germany: Encyclopedia II - Centre Party Germany - The Soest programme and the founding of the Centre party

Weimar Timeline - 1918. October 4, 1918 Prince Maximilian of Baden replaces Count Georg von Hertling as Chancellor of Germany October 7 – November 3, 1918 Naval mutinies November 4, 1918 Sailors and worker's councils declare general strikes. November 5, 1918 3rd Squadron revolts. November 7, 1918 100,000 workers march on the Royal House of Wittelsbach. The Kaiser flees. November 8, 1918 All 22 of Germany’s lesser kings, princes, grand dukes, and ruling dukes ...

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Weimar Timeline, Weimar Timeline - End of the Kaiserreich, Weimar Timeline - 1918, Weimar Timeline - 1919, Weimar Timeline - Weimar Republic, Weimar Timeline - 1920, Weimar Timeline - 1921, Weimar Timeline - 1922, Weimar Timeline - 1923, Weimar Timeline - 1924, Weimar Timeline - 1925, Weimar Timeline - 1926, Weimar Timeline - 1927, Weimar Timeline - 1928, Weimar Timeline - 1929, Weimar Timeline - 1930, Weimar Timeline - 1931, Weimar Timeline - 1932, Weimar Timeline - 1933, Weimar Timeline - Related media

Read more here: » Weimar Timeline: Encyclopedia II - Weimar Timeline - End of the Kaiserreich

In the age of nationalism, Protestant Germans, whether Conservative like Otto von Bismarck) or Liberal, accused the Centre of Ultramontanism or having a greater loyality towards the Pope than to their own nation. After the First Vatican Council, Bismarck launched the Kulturkampf, or "cultural struggle" against the Catholic Church, but this neither crippled the Church permanently nor did it hurt the Centre party, which gained greater support from the Catholic population. Following Bismarck's 1878 turn from free trade to protectionism a ...

See also:

Centre Party Germany, Centre Party Germany - Origins of Political Catholicism, Centre Party Germany - Catholic groups in the Prussian Diet, Centre Party Germany - The Soest programme and the founding of the Centre party, Centre Party Germany - Kulturkampf, Centre Party Germany - Out of the tower!, Centre Party Germany - In War and Revolution, Centre Party Germany - In the Weimar Republic, Centre Party Germany - The Brüning administration, Centre Party Germany - Between coup d'etat and authoritarian democracy, Centre Party Germany - The Hitler government and new elections, Centre Party Germany - The Enabling Act, Centre Party Germany - The end of the Centre Party, Centre Party Germany - Refounding and post-war history, Centre Party Germany - External link

Read more here: » Centre Party Germany: Encyclopedia II - Centre Party Germany - Kulturkampf

After his resignation, Brüning supported his party's determined opposition to his successor, the renegate Franz von Papen, and also of re-establishing a working parliament by cooperation with the National Socialists, negotiating with Gregor Strasser. After Adolf Hitler had become Chancellor on January 30, 1933, Brüning vigorously campaigned against the new government in the March elections. Later that month, he was the main advocate for rejecting the Hitler administrations's Enabling Act, calling it the "most monstrous resolution ev ...

See also:

Heinrich Brüning, Heinrich Brüning - Early career, Heinrich Brüning - Brüning's appointment as Chancellor, Heinrich Brüning - The Brüning administration and the Reichstag parties, Heinrich Brüning - Brüning's foreign policy, Heinrich Brüning - Hindenburg's re-election and Brüning's fall, Heinrich Brüning - After his resignation, Heinrich Brüning - Exile and later years, Heinrich Brüning - Brünings First Government March 1930 - October 1931, Heinrich Brüning - Brüning's Second Cabinet October 1931 - May 1932, Heinrich Brüning - Reference

Read more here: » Heinrich Brüning: Encyclopedia II - Heinrich Brüning - After his resignation

In 1932 the Centre Party vigorously campaigned for the re-election of Hindenburg, calling him a "venerate historical personality" and "the keeper of the constitution". Hindenburg was re-elected against Hitler, but he considered it shameful to be elected by the votes of "Reds" and "Catholes", as he called Social Democrats and the Centre Party and compensated this "shame" by moving further to the right. A ...

See also:

Heinrich Brüning, Heinrich Brüning - Early career, Heinrich Brüning - Brüning's appointment as Chancellor, Heinrich Brüning - The Brüning administration and the Reichstag parties, Heinrich Brüning - Brüning's foreign policy, Heinrich Brüning - Hindenburg's re-election and Brüning's fall, Heinrich Brüning - After his resignation, Heinrich Brüning - Exile and later years, Heinrich Brüning - Brünings First Government March 1930 - October 1931, Heinrich Brüning - Brüning's Second Cabinet October 1931 - May 1932, Heinrich Brüning - Reference

Read more here: » Heinrich Brüning: Encyclopedia II - Heinrich Brüning - Hindenburg's re-election and Brüning's fall

With the passing of the Enabling Act the Centre Party had in fact acquiesced in its own demise, as it had played the part Hitler had assigned to it and was no longer needed. As promised during the negotiations, a working committee chaired by Hitler and Kaas and supposed to inform about further legislative measures, met three times (31 March, 2 and 7 April) without any major impact. At that time, the Centre Party was weakened by massive defections by party members, often to the NSDAP. Loyal party members, in particular civil servants, ...

See also:

Centre Party Germany, Centre Party Germany - Origins of Political Catholicism, Centre Party Germany - Catholic groups in the Prussian Diet, Centre Party Germany - The Soest programme and the founding of the Centre party, Centre Party Germany - Kulturkampf, Centre Party Germany - Out of the tower!, Centre Party Germany - In War and Revolution, Centre Party Germany - In the Weimar Republic, Centre Party Germany - The Brüning administration, Centre Party Germany - Between coup d'etat and authoritarian democracy, Centre Party Germany - The Hitler government and new elections, Centre Party Germany - The Enabling Act, Centre Party Germany - The end of the Centre Party, Centre Party Germany - Refounding and post-war history, Centre Party Germany - External link

Read more here: » Centre Party Germany: Encyclopedia II - Centre Party Germany - The end of the Centre Party

The government confronted the newly elected Reichstag with the Enabling Act that would have vested the government with legislative powers for a period of four years. Though such a bill was not unprecedented, this act was different since it allowed for deviations from the constitution. As the bill required a two-thirds majority in order to pass, the government needed the support of other parties. The Centre Party, whose vote turned out to be decisive, was split on the issue of the Enabling Act. Chairman Kaas advocated supporting the bi ...

See also:

Centre Party Germany, Centre Party Germany - Origins of Political Catholicism, Centre Party Germany - Catholic groups in the Prussian Diet, Centre Party Germany - The Soest programme and the founding of the Centre party, Centre Party Germany - Kulturkampf, Centre Party Germany - Out of the tower!, Centre Party Germany - In War and Revolution, Centre Party Germany - In the Weimar Republic, Centre Party Germany - The Brüning administration, Centre Party Germany - Between coup d'etat and authoritarian democracy, Centre Party Germany - The Hitler government and new elections, Centre Party Germany - The Enabling Act, Centre Party Germany - The end of the Centre Party, Centre Party Germany - Refounding and post-war history, Centre Party Germany - External link

Read more here: » Centre Party Germany: Encyclopedia II - Centre Party Germany - The Enabling Act

Meanwhile Papen had formed an intrigue to oust his successor. He conferred with Hugenberg and industrial magnates and bankers and after a feverish night, in which the outcome was unclear to all participants, In the morning of 30 January, Hitler was appointed Chancellor with Papen as Vice-Chancellor and Hugenberg as minister for economics. Though seeing their adversaries Papen and Hugenberg join forces with Hitler, the Centre Party still did not give up building a broad coalition government. Since the new administration was still lacki ...

See also:

Centre Party Germany, Centre Party Germany - Origins of Political Catholicism, Centre Party Germany - Catholic groups in the Prussian Diet, Centre Party Germany - The Soest programme and the founding of the Centre party, Centre Party Germany - Kulturkampf, Centre Party Germany - Out of the tower!, Centre Party Germany - In War and Revolution, Centre Party Germany - In the Weimar Republic, Centre Party Germany - The Brüning administration, Centre Party Germany - Between coup d'etat and authoritarian democracy, Centre Party Germany - The Hitler government and new elections, Centre Party Germany - The Enabling Act, Centre Party Germany - The end of the Centre Party, Centre Party Germany - Refounding and post-war history, Centre Party Germany - External link

Read more here: » Centre Party Germany: Encyclopedia II - Centre Party Germany - The Hitler government and new elections