Considering the Weimar Constitution, did you know its birthplace wasn’t Berlin? The Nationalversammlung 1919 Plaque marks a pivotal moment. It commemorates where the German people created the Weimar Constitution. This constitution shaped Germany from August 1919. The National Assembly convened not in Berlin but in Weimar. This was due to political unrest. Weimar offered a haven from Berlin’s turmoil.
Friedrich Ebert favored Weimar. He hoped to remind the Allies of Weimar Classicism. Think Goethe and Schiller. Ebert wanted them to be reminded while deciding peace terms. The assembly met at the German National Theater in Weimar. This is where they laid the foundation for a new republic.
Elections for the National Assembly marked a turning point. They were the first in Germany with women’s suffrage. The voting age lowered from 25 to 20. This expanded the electorate by about 20 million. Turnout reached 83 percent. Among women, it was 90 percent.
The Nationalversammlung 1919 faced immense challenges. The Treaty of Versailles was a major issue. Minister President Philipp Scheidemann called it a “dictated peace”. He believed it would strangle Germany. The assembly met in Berlin to debate the treaty. Scheidemann resigned because he was unwilling to assent to the treaty. Gustav Bauer became Minister President. He promoted signing the treaty.
On June 22, 1919, 237 deputies voted for the treaty. 138 voted against it. The Reich government informed the Entente it would sign. Reservations were made about war guilt. Georges Clemenceau replied the treaty had to be accepted or rejected entirely.
The Nationalversammlung 1919 also focused on the constitution. Hugo Preuß drafted the Weimar Constitution. He based it on the Frankfurt Constitution of 1849. The assembly moved quickly. On July 31, they passed the revised proposal. 262 voted for it and 75 against.
Key debates included national name and structure. They debated the Reich president’s power and justice. Fundamental rights were also discussed. Equality for sexes was another important topic. The assembly adopted what became Article 109. This stated all Germans are equal before the law.
The Nationalversammlung 1919 wasn’t without conflict. A demonstration against the Works Councils Act turned deadly. Prussian security police fired into the crowd. 42 people died. It became known as the Reichstag Bloodbath.
The Nationalversammlung 1919 dissolved on May 21, 1920. The Reichstag replaced it. But its legacy lives on through this plaque. It serves as a reminder of the difficult birth of German democracy. It also reminds of the challenges the Nationalversammlung 1919 overcame. The Nationalversammlung 1919 Plaque marks a beginning. It shows where Germany tried to build a free nation.