Weimar germany, 1918191933 the constitution of the german empire of august 11, 1919 weimar constitution preamble. At the end of the first world war, the kaiser was kicked out of germany, and in 1919 the weimar republic was set up. Germany lost % of its land in europe and all of its colonies left with very restricted armed forces. Constitution of the german empire wikisource, the free. The german constitution 18711919 flashcards in a level.
Excerpts from the weimar constitution facing history and. Within a sevenyear period denmark, the habsburg monarchy, and france were vanquished in short, decisive conflicts. Many parts of the constitution are very different from the constitution of the weimar republic. The constitution of the german reich usually known as the weimar constitution weimarer verfassung, was the constitution that governed germany during the weimar republic era 19191933.
German historians often refer to it as bismarcks imperial constitution, in german the bismarcksche reichsverfassung brv. The constitution of the german reich august 11, 1919. Article 73 adds the concept of a referendum to the constitution. How did the nazis lead germany to war in europe and, with their collaborators, kill millions. Weimar republic definition, the german republic 191933, founded at weimar. German transcription plus english, french and spanish translations. The constitution of the german reich august 11, 1919 translation of document 2050ps office of u. Articles 119123 make marriage, motherhood and child welfare into keystones of the new republic. The reich constitution of august 11th 1919 weimar constitution with modifications 1 the german people, united in its tribes and inspirited with the will to renew and strengthen its reich in liberty and justice, to serve peace inward and outward and to promote social progress, has adapted this constitution. Basic law for the federal republic of germany wikipedia. Civic education and manual training shall be part of the curricula of the.
The german constitutions synopsis of selected provisions from the. By virtue of this fact the parliamentary council, represented by its presidents, has signed and promulgated the basic law. The constitution technically remained in effect during the third reich from 1933 to 1945. Individual rights being put in first place, human dignity being the most basic value of the constitutional order. The constitution of the german reich of april 16, 1871, and the law relating to the provisional powers of the reich of february 10, 1919, are hereby annulled. Weimar constitution wikisource, the free online library.
The condition of the paper varies from slightly browning and stable to very brown and brittle. On august 11, 1919, friedrich ebert, a member of the social democratic party and the provisional president of the german reichstag government, signs a new constitution, known as the weimar constitution, into law, officially creating the first parliamentary democracy in germany. During the first two years of national socialist rule there was an enor. Extracts from the german constitution of august 11, 1919 weimar constitution. The weimar constitution provided for a popularly elected president who was given considerable power over foreign policy and the armed forces. The constitution of the german empire of august 11, 1919 weimar constitution. It was written in 1949 when germany was split into the countries of east germany and west germany. The basic law was approved on 8 may 1949 in bonn, and, with the signature of the occupying western allies of world war ii on 12 may, came into effect on 23 may. German historians often refer to it as bismarcks imperial constitution, in german the bismarcksche reichsverfassung. Weimar constitution simple english wikipedia, the free.
This basic law thus applies to the entire german people. How similar is the current german constitution to that of the. The constitution was primarily written by a committee led hugo preuss, a legal and political theorist, with influential ideas being contributed by robert redslob and max weber see mommsen, 1984. Synopsis of selected provisions from the constitutions of 1849, 1871, 1919 and 1949. German transcriptions reichsgesetzblatt deutschland reich law gazette with federal law gazette of the north german confederation 18671945. Its original constitution was promulgated on 7 october 1949. View test prep german history exam 2 from history 323 at university of massachusetts, amherst. Basic law for the federal republic of germany full text in format. The german empire was founded on january 18, 1871, in the aftermath of three successful wars by the north german state of prussia. The weimar constitution 1919 extracts from the weimar constitution, passed in august 1919. The government started in 1918, two days before germany surrendered in wwi. Constitution of germany, including disability rights provisions. Current constitution for the state of bavaria 2 december 1946.
The following are excerpts from the weimar constitution. The kaiser was in charge of the government and the army. Basic law for the federal republic of germany deutscher. On august 11, 1919, friedrich ebert, a member of the social democratic party and the provisional president of the german reichstag government, signs a new. Usa constitution and german constitution comparison in 1949, after world war ii, west germany wrote a constitution known as the grundgesetz, or basic law. How did the german government under nazi rule build support among the german people. German weimarer reichsverfassung weimar republic constitution of 11 august, 1919.
It was intended to be the constitution of a united germany, and was thus a compromise between liberaldemocratic and marxistleninist ideologies. How did nazi germany gradually isolate, segregate, impoverish, and incarcerate jews and persecute other perceived enemies of the state between 19331939. The government decisions were made by the chancellor but the kaiser chose who the chancellor was, so he could always pick chancellors that would do what he wanted. The german people, united in all their racial elements and inspired by the will to renew and strengthen their reich in liberty and justice, to preserve peace at home and abroad, and to promote social progress, have established the following constitution. The 1949 constitution of the german democratic republic contained many passages that were directly copied from the 1919 constitution. Basic law of the federal republic of germany simple english. Aug 18, 2019 the constitution of the german reich of april 16, 1871, and the law relating to the provisional powers of the reich of february 10, 1919, are hereby annulled.
This document is an english translation of the constitution of the german reich, which established the weimar republic. The constitution was adopted on july 31, 1919, and became effective on aug explanation of weimar constitution of 1919. This power was understood to include the promulgation of emergency decrees notverordnungen. The other laws and ordinances of the reich shall remain in force in so far as they are not in conflict with this constitution. The weimar republics constitution the new german government was called the weimar republic, named after the town outside berlin where it was started. The reich constitution of august 11th 1919 weimar constitution with modifications 1. Usa constitution and germany constitution comparison by. Before 1914, the government of germany had been a military autocracy. Tension between east and the west increased in the 1950s and 60s, leading to the construction of the berlin wall, dividing the two states.
Verfassung des deutschen reiches was the basic law of the german empire of 1871 1919, enacted 16 april 1871. The weimar constitution a national assembly met in the town of weimar in 1919, to establish a constitution for the new german republic. The first gdr constitution, passed in 1949, sought to be an all german constitution and contained many passages similar to the 1919 weimar constitution. Find out information about weimar constitution of 1919. During the first world war of 19141918, germany was run by the kaiser king. The german constitution and its court konradadenauerstiftung. The german people, united in its tribes and inspirited with the will to. Aug 18, 2019 the german reich existed from 1871 to 1945, although during the prerepublican 18711919 period, the translated name german empire was used. Article 48 also gave the president emergency decree powers to protect the republic from crises initiated by its opponents on either the left or the right. Home a level and ib study tools history the german constitution 18711919 the german constitution 18711919 quiz about the german constitution during the kaiserreich. Extracts from the german constitution of 11 august 1919. The first president of the republic was friedrich ebert, and he helped decide what the constitution should be like. This constitution was extended when east germany joined with west germany in 1990. Synopsis of selected provisions from the constitutions of.
The german democratic republic east germany was founded in 1949 and was absorbed into the federal republic of germany on 3 october 1990. Focusing on widespread barriers to care, these three, short video excerpts from our acclaimed healthcare stories series feature stories about inaccessible examination tables and weight scales and healthcare provider misperceptions and stereotypes. The weimar republic, 191833 the origins and early problems of the weimar republic the german people had gone to war in august 1914 expecting a quick and easy victory, but the failure of the schlieffen plan followed by four years of trench warfare had devastated germany. Verfassung des deutschen reiches was the basic law of the german empire of 18711918, from 16 april 1871, coming into effect on 4 may 1871. The empire can by way of legislation set up fundamental principles concerning the. Federal government chancellor basic law bundesregierung. Articles 1097 of the weimar constitution provided germans with their basic rights.