Cabinet Changes in Germany since Hindenburg's Election

The election of Field Marshal von Hindenburg to the presidency in succession to Ebert in 1925 was at first interpreted by Republicans in Germany, and by many foreign observers, as a distinct political blunder. He was pictured as the very embodiment of pre-war Germany with its ultra-nationalistic and militaristic ideals. It was freely prophesied that all the labors of Marx and Stresemann, MacDonald and Herriot, which had held out the promise that Germany might soon be restored to good standing in the family of nations, would come to naught because of this new manifestation of German incorrigibility. These prophecies, however, have certainly not been fulfilled. Hindenburg has thus far encouraged rather than opposed the efforts of Stresemann to reëstablish an understanding with the Allies, and has undoubtedly gained the approval of millions of Germans who fought bitterly against him during the presidential campaign.