Why parliamentary government collapsed in the wake of Wall Street crash?

GRAND COALITION 1928-30.

• Led by Hermann Muller- contained SPD, DDP, Centre and DVP.
• They had 301 out of 491 seats (Nazis less than 3% of vote-1928).
• Parties driven by self-interest and inter party divisions e.g. SPD divided between moderates & left wing
• Muller- well-intentioned but lacked assertiveness and dynamism of a great charismatic leader.

NATIONAL OPPOSITION

• Various political forces that came together to campaign against Weimar.
• Made up of the DNVP, the Nazis, the Pan-German League and the ex soldiers.
• Membership: 130,000 by 1929.
• Dec 1929: Only won 5.8 million votes (21 million needed for success).

WHY DID IT COLLAPSE?
• Dec 1929- vote of no confidence in government- however Muller survived.
• Big problem- Social Security Payments
• Mar 1930- Muller asked Hindenberg to use Article 48 to pass financial bill- Hindenburg refused.
• Increase in unemployment caused a large deficit in the national insurance scheme.
• SPD wanted to increase insurance contributions from 3% to 3.5%- DVP opposed as this would have hit the employers.
• Muller resigned 27th mar 1930 - SPD were never in government again.

THE APPOINTMENT OF HEINRICH BRUNING.

• This was critical in marking the end of parliamentary government.
• Bruning failed to inspire masses of people and his politics was seen as harsh.
• Proposal of reduced welfare spending, wage cuts, increased taxes and tariffs on imports
• It was rejected by Reichstag (256 votes to 193 votes)- passed by Article 48.
• The Reichstag challenged the decrees legality, voting for its withdrawal.

The dissolution of the Reichstag.
• Deadlock was met over Bruning's budget. Bruning urged Hindenburg to dissolve the government and call for an election in September 1930.

Historian Views.
- Evans and Jenkins- “The introduction of rule by presidential decree certainly made Bruning entirely dependent on Hindenburg and reduced the role of the Chancellor to that of merely being the Presidents yes-man in the Reichstag.”
- Layton argues Bruning was arch conservative and monarchist prepared to use Article 48 and look for backing from traditional elites.