1925 German Presidential Election

In 1925 Germany held its second Presidential election. The incumbent President, Friedrich Ebert, was expected to win the election by a landslide. However his untimely death shortly before the first round of voting left the issue of Presidency quite open.

1925 German Presidential Election

The election of a President had initially been scheduled to take place some time earlier, in 1922. However the constitution was amended to extend the term of office as a result of the troubles that the Weimar Republic was facing at that time. In 1925 Friedrich Ebert was not particularly loved by the German population, but was respected for the way in which he had handled the turmoil of the Republics early years. His death meant that a new President would be elected and provided opponents of the regime with an opportunity to exploit the situation.

The Presidential Elections were conducted over two rounds, with less popular candidates dropping out after the first round.

First round results

Candidate	Party	Votes	%
Karl Jarres	German People’s Party, German National People’s Party	10,416,658	38.8
Otto Braun	Social Democratic Party	7,802,497	29.0
Wilhelm Marx	Centre Party	3,887,734	14.5
Ernst Thälmann	Communist Party	1,871,815	7.0
Willy Hellpach	German Democratic Party	1,568,398	5.8
Heinrich Held	Bavarian People’s Party	1,007,450	3.7
Erich Ludendorff	German Völkisch Freedom Party	285,793	1.1
Other candidates		25,761	0.1
Invalid/blank votes			–
Total		26,866,106	100
Registered voters/turnout		39,226,138	68.5
Source: Nohlen & Stöver (Quoted on Wikipedia)

Following the first round of votes the most popular of the candidates, Karl Jarres, withdrew. It may seem odd that the leading candidate would withdraw. He did so to provide a platform for the popular former General, Paul von Hindenburg. Hindenburg was not only a popular figure throughout Germany but he was also a committed monarchist. Jarres decision to withdraw in his favour was done quite probably in the hope that not only would Hindenburg win but that as President he would ensure a more conservative and traditional form of Government.

The Second round of voting saw three candidates. Hindenburg represented the conservative, monarchist and right wing parties. Voters wanting a more left wing President had two options: Wilhelm Marx, of the Centre Party was one, and Ernst Thalmann of the KDP (Communist Party) was the other. The participation of Thalmann was a decisive factor in the result. Had he not stood it is quite possible that people who voted for him would have cast their vote for Marx – which would have resulted in a different outcome.

Second Round results

Candidate	Party	Supported by	Votes	%
Paul von Hindenburg	Independent	DVP, DNVP, BVP	14,655,641	48.3
Wilhelm Marx	Centre Party	SPD, DDP	13,751,605	45.3
Ernst Thälmann	Communist Party		1,931,151	6.4
Other candidates			13,416	0.0
Invalid/blank votes				–
Total			30,351,813	100
Registered voters/turnout			39,414,316	77.0
Source: Nohlen & Stöver (Quoted on Wikipedia)

As a result, Paul von Hindenburg was elected as the second President of the Weimar Republic.

Germany 1919 – 1945 Links

The Second Reich

Unification of Germany – Political systems within the Second Reich – German Society during the Second Reich – Collapse of the Second Reich

Weimar Republic

Interim Government – Founding of the Weimar Republic – Impact of the First World War on Germany – The Treaty of Versailles and its impact on Germany – Weimar Constitution – 1919-1923: Years of Crisis? – Spartacist Uprising – Kapp Putsch – Reichsbanner Schwarz-Rot-Gold – Reparations – Hyperinflation in Germany, 1923 – 1924-1928: A Golden Era? – 1925 Presidential Election – Gustav Stresemann – German Foreign Relations 1919-1932 – Germany in the Great Depression  – Failings of the Weimar Republic – Dada Movement

Rise of the Nazi Party

The Munich Putsch – Did the Economic Crisis of 1923 help the Nazi’s? – Origins of the Nazi Party – Rise of the Nazi Party

Nazi Germany

Totalitarian Regime in Nazi Germany – How did Hitler consolidate power? – Mein Kampf – Nazi methods of control – Opposition to the Nazi Regime – Organisation of the Nazi Party – Fuhrerprinzip – Kristallnacht – Youth and Education – Goering and the 2nd 4 Year Plan – Anti-Jewish Boycott, 1933 – Nazi Anti-Semitism – DAF (The German Labour Front) – Propaganda in Germany 1919-39 – Economic Policy of the Nazi Party – Kreisau Circle – The Confessing Church – Catholic Church – Edelweiss Pirates

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