alternatehistory.com
fjihr - Germania
Presidents of the First German Republic
1919-1925: Friedrich Ebert (SPD) †
def. Arthur von Posadowsky-Wehner (DNVP)
1925-1932: Paul von Hindenburg (Independent) [1]
def. Wilhelm Marx (Centre), Ernst Thälmann (KPD)
1932-1934: Karl Jarres (DVP) † [2]
def. Theodor Duesterberg (DVNP), Ernst Thälmann (KPD)
1934-1936: Alfred Hugenberg (DNVP) [3]
def. Otto Wels (SPD), Ernst Thälmann (KPD)
[1] An old man, Hindenburg came out of retirement to "save" Germany from its post-war troubles. Indeed, for a time, it looked like he had done so, what with the Golden Age of the First German Republic. Indeed, to many, the strife of the path was beginning to become a mere memory. However, this was not to be. With the collapse of the New York Stock Exchange in 1929, Germany could no longer get loans from the US, leading to its collapse, and economic strife matched by few nations in this time. By the time Hindenburg's term was up, Germany was in deep, deep, trouble, and political extremism was making a comeback.
[2] Supported by the Weimar coalition, who believed that they could keep the radicals from achieving power by supporting a somewhat-right-wing candidate, Jarres was able to win the election, beating the far-right and the far-left. However, the economy continued to worsen, and the extremes grew increasingly more popular, resulting in chaos and disarray throughout Germany. In 1934, Jarres died of suspicious circumstances.
[3] In the subsequent election, with the Weimar Coalition unsuccessful, the German people voted for the far-right DNVP. With a majority in the Reichstag and the presidency in his hands, it became possible for them to reform Germany to their image. In this period, they engaged in a series of purges, forcing many pro-democratic Germans to flee Germany, while others were killed. This, as well as a number of anti-Semitic laws, marks the end of the First German Republic.
Presidents of the German Reich
1936-1954: Alfred Hugenberg (DNVP) † [1]
1941: unopposed
1948: unopposed
1954-1962: Dietrich Klagges (DNVP) [2]
1954: unopposed
1961: unopposed
[1] Hugenberg's term saw a buildup of the military, in what was a direct violation of the Treaty of Versailles. Yet, to the surprise of many, neither France nor Britain desired to combat with Germany over it, nor reduce trade with them. Instead, they just silently accepted it. Not wishing to try his luck any further, Hugenberg simply took this gift horse in the mouth. His presidency saw a massive reduction in German freedom, as well as the weakening of the Reichstag. It also saw a full economic recovery as the military buildup led to many Germans getting jobs. Various protests and resent against the government was forcibly shot down, while many Germans, Jews especially, lost many of their rights. Hugenberg died of bad heath in 1954, with a full state funeral being given to him.
[2] Klagges, however, was a worse dictator. His presidency was marred by increasing resentment by an increasingly rebellious generation, believing in the same rights exercised by Germany's neighbours. In an attempt to regain support, in 1956, he remilitarized the Rhineland. However, Britain and France, having recovered from the effects of the Great War, were determined to stop the Germans, applying sanctions. As the fifties turned into the sixties, resentment turned into rebellion, and while the 1959 Rebellion failed, three years later, as the economy saw a recession, he was overthrown. Fleeing to Chile, he was captured in 1969 and was imprisoned for "crimes against the German people" until his death two years later.
Presidents of the Second German Republic
1962-1968: Willy Brandt (SPD) [1]
def. Ludwig Erhard (Centre), Erich Mende (DDP)
1968-xxxx: Ludwig Erhard (Centre) [2]
def. Günter Guillaume (SPD) , Walter Scheel (DDP)
[1] The first democratic leader of Germany since Hindenburg, Brandt came to power in a popular revolt, and an election confirmed his power. He is one of the people responsible for the new German constitution, retaining a powerful president while still weakening him down significantly. He did indeed cause much reform for the German people, creating various social programs that remain alive to this day. However, due to an extended period of far-right rule, economic troubles were the case throughout his presidency, and he ended his presidency moderately unpopular
[2] Coming to power in a nation reeling from economic troubles, Erhard pushed an image of a "market social economy", which created a well-regulated economy in the vein of that of the US. He pushed much of the Keynesianism of Brandt, but put his own pro-business spin on it. He is popular, and Germany has seen a massive economic recovery during his presidency. It remains to be seen whether he will ultimately be considered a success by history, but at the end of the day, it does look like he will ultimately be more than just powerful.
1919-1925: Friedrich Ebert (SPD) †
def. Arthur von Posadowsky-Wehner (DNVP)
1925-1932: Paul von Hindenburg (Independent) [1]
def. Wilhelm Marx (Centre), Ernst Thälmann (KPD)
1932-1934: Karl Jarres (DVP) † [2]
def. Theodor Duesterberg (DVNP), Ernst Thälmann (KPD)
1934-1936: Alfred Hugenberg (DNVP) [3]
def. Otto Wels (SPD), Ernst Thälmann (KPD)
[1] An old man, Hindenburg came out of retirement to "save" Germany from its post-war troubles. Indeed, for a time, it looked like he had done so, what with the Golden Age of the First German Republic. Indeed, to many, the strife of the path was beginning to become a mere memory. However, this was not to be. With the collapse of the New York Stock Exchange in 1929, Germany could no longer get loans from the US, leading to its collapse, and economic strife matched by few nations in this time. By the time Hindenburg's term was up, Germany was in deep, deep, trouble, and political extremism was making a comeback.
[2] Supported by the Weimar coalition, who believed that they could keep the radicals from achieving power by supporting a somewhat-right-wing candidate, Jarres was able to win the election, beating the far-right and the far-left. However, the economy continued to worsen, and the extremes grew increasingly more popular, resulting in chaos and disarray throughout Germany. In 1934, Jarres died of suspicious circumstances.
[3] In the subsequent election, with the Weimar Coalition unsuccessful, the German people voted for the far-right DNVP. With a majority in the Reichstag and the presidency in his hands, it became possible for them to reform Germany to their image. In this period, they engaged in a series of purges, forcing many pro-democratic Germans to flee Germany, while others were killed. This, as well as a number of anti-Semitic laws, marks the end of the First German Republic.
Presidents of the German Reich
1936-1954: Alfred Hugenberg (DNVP) † [1]
1941: unopposed
1948: unopposed
1954-1962: Dietrich Klagges (DNVP) [2]
1954: unopposed
1961: unopposed
[1] Hugenberg's term saw a buildup of the military, in what was a direct violation of the Treaty of Versailles. Yet, to the surprise of many, neither France nor Britain desired to combat with Germany over it, nor reduce trade with them. Instead, they just silently accepted it. Not wishing to try his luck any further, Hugenberg simply took this gift horse in the mouth. His presidency saw a massive reduction in German freedom, as well as the weakening of the Reichstag. It also saw a full economic recovery as the military buildup led to many Germans getting jobs. Various protests and resent against the government was forcibly shot down, while many Germans, Jews especially, lost many of their rights. Hugenberg died of bad heath in 1954, with a full state funeral being given to him.
[2] Klagges, however, was a worse dictator. His presidency was marred by increasing resentment by an increasingly rebellious generation, believing in the same rights exercised by Germany's neighbours. In an attempt to regain support, in 1956, he remilitarized the Rhineland. However, Britain and France, having recovered from the effects of the Great War, were determined to stop the Germans, applying sanctions. As the fifties turned into the sixties, resentment turned into rebellion, and while the 1959 Rebellion failed, three years later, as the economy saw a recession, he was overthrown. Fleeing to Chile, he was captured in 1969 and was imprisoned for "crimes against the German people" until his death two years later.
Presidents of the Second German Republic
1962-1968: Willy Brandt (SPD) [1]
def. Ludwig Erhard (Centre), Erich Mende (DDP)
1968-xxxx: Ludwig Erhard (Centre) [2]
def. Günter Guillaume (SPD) , Walter Scheel (DDP)
[1] The first democratic leader of Germany since Hindenburg, Brandt came to power in a popular revolt, and an election confirmed his power. He is one of the people responsible for the new German constitution, retaining a powerful president while still weakening him down significantly. He did indeed cause much reform for the German people, creating various social programs that remain alive to this day. However, due to an extended period of far-right rule, economic troubles were the case throughout his presidency, and he ended his presidency moderately unpopular
[2] Coming to power in a nation reeling from economic troubles, Erhard pushed an image of a "market social economy", which created a well-regulated economy in the vein of that of the US. He pushed much of the Keynesianism of Brandt, but put his own pro-business spin on it. He is popular, and Germany has seen a massive economic recovery during his presidency. It remains to be seen whether he will ultimately be considered a success by history, but at the end of the day, it does look like he will ultimately be more than just powerful.
- Indicus
- Word Count: 810