第五章“岌岌可危的平衡”探讨了魏玛共和国在第一任总统弗里德里希·艾伯特去世以及随后保罗·冯·兴登堡当选后的动荡时期。艾伯特于1925年2月因阑尾炎并发症去世，而一场诽谤案件的压力加剧了他的病情。他的去世引发了一股令人惊讶的全国哀悼浪潮。即使是保守派报纸也承认了他的稳定作用，将他描绘成一位“强大的父亲”，将共和国维系在一起。由艺术守护者埃德温·雷兹洛普精心组织的国葬旨在展现尊严和团结的形象，成功地模仿了帝国时代的宏伟，而没有其固有的庸俗。参加葬礼的大批人群表明共和国的支持基础比以前认为的更为广泛。 然而，团结感是短暂的。77岁的“坦能堡英雄”兴登堡当选为艾伯特的继任者，重新燃起了人们对可能回归专制主义的焦虑。兴登堡具有威廉敏时代的风貌和军事背景，被许多人视为替代凯撒。右翼庆祝他的胜利，而共和党人则哀叹这是民主的挫折，指出由于反民族主义选票的分裂，他只代表了少数选民。选举还因右翼暴徒对选民的暴力行为而受到破坏。 尽管最初感到担忧，但兴登堡在很大程度上证明了自己对民主制度的忠诚。他很享受担任全国总统的角色，并没有完全认同其顾问的极端反动信念。有些人甚至希望他的总统任期能够导致右翼保守派与共和国之间的和解。在他宣誓就职仪式上悬挂的共和国黑、红、金三色旗成为一个备受争议的形象：对一些人来说是融合的象征，对另一些人来说则是“黑红芥末”的嘲讽。 1928年的帝国议会选举显示，政治重心重新转向左翼，社会民主党成为最强大的政党，并组建了联合政府。忠于共和国的政党力量增强，而反犹太民族主义者遭受了损失。民主制度从选举中得到确认。尽管结果是积极的，但联合政府面临着内部纷争，特别是社会民主党与其资产阶级伙伴之间。在诸如建造装甲巡洋舰等问题上的争端暴露了联盟的脆弱性。 政治僵局为民主的反对者提供了弹药，他们认为共和国受到一个自私自利的政治阶层的困扰。政治气氛日益两极分化，波罗的海海滩上的“国旗争端”就是例证，在那里，共和国的支持者和德国民族主义者竖立相互竞争的标志，营造了一种怀疑和敌对的气氛。斯帕政府收到了关于海滩上插满帝国战争旗的投诉。 除了政治之外，冲突还转移到文化、时尚和生活方式，人们利用这些途径来表达他们的政治倾向。虽然德国在1920年代经历了文化大爆炸，但这种多样性也伴随着日益严重的隔阂和分裂。尽管通信技术取得了进步，但不同的政治阵营仍然相互孤立和敌对。许多人感到与共和国的理想格格不入，当时的文学作品反映出一种无助和缺乏归属感。 本章最后强调了在相互冲突的态度和对城市生活快速现代化带来的焦虑中寻找共同点。协调的交通方式和人群的运动模式都是检验现代时代未来可行性的试验案例。交通成为人们对未来充满期望和焦虑的焦点。复杂的规则和不成文的安排象征着魏玛共和国时期现代化的希望和危险。

Chapter 5, "Precarious Balance," explores the tumultuous period in the Weimar Republic following the death of its first president, Friedrich Ebert, and the subsequent election of Paul von Hindenburg. Ebert's death in February 1925, due to complications from appendicitis exacerbated by the stress of a libel case, triggered a surprising wave of national mourning. Even conservative newspapers acknowledged his stabilizing influence, casting him as a "mighty father" who had held the Republic together. The state funeral, meticulously organized by art guardian Edven Rätzlop, aimed to project an image of dignity and unity, successfully mimicking imperial grandeur without its inherent tackiness. The large crowds attending the funeral suggested a broader base of support for the Republic than previously perceived. However, the sense of unity was short-lived. The election of Hindenburg, the 77-year-old "Hero of Tannenberg," as Ebert's successor rekindled anxieties about a potential return to authoritarianism. Hindenburg, with his Wilhelmine appearance and military background, was seen by many as a substitute Kaiser. While the right-wing celebrated his victory, Republicans lamented it as a setback for democracy, noting that he only represented a minority of voters due to the fractured anti-nationalist vote. The election was also marred by violence perpetrated by right-wing thugs against voters. Despite initial fears, Hindenburg proved to be largely loyal to the democratic system. He enjoyed his role as president of the entire nation and did not fully align with the reactionary convictions of his advisors. Some even hoped that his presidency could lead to a reconciliation between right-wing conservatives and the Republic. The black, red, and gold flags of the republic during his swearing-in ceremony became a contested image: a symbol of integration to some, and "black red mustard" mockery to others. The 1928 Reichstag elections saw a shift back towards the left, with the Social Democrats becoming the strongest party and forming a coalition government. Parties loyal to the republic gained strength, while the anti-Semitic Nationalists suffered losses. While Democracy emerged from the election confirmed. Despite this positive outcome, the coalition government faced internal divisions, particularly between the Social Democrats and their bourgeois partners. Disputes over issues like the construction of an armored cruiser exposed the fragility of the alliance. The political gridlock provided ammunition for opponents of democracy, who argued that the Republic was plagued by a self-serving political caste. The political mood grew increasingly polarized, exemplified by the "flag dispute" on Baltic beaches, where supporters of the Republic and German nationalists erected competing symbols, creating a climate of suspicion and hostility. The spar administration had received complaints that the beach was defined with Reich war flags. Beyond politics, conflicts shifted to culture, fashion, and lifestyle, as people used these avenues to express their political leanings. While Germany experienced a cultural explosion during the 1920s, this diversity was accompanied by increased separation and division. Despite advancements in communication technology, different political camps remained isolated and hostile towards one another. Many felt alienated from the Republics ideals, with the literature of the time reflecting a sense of helplessness and lack of belonging. The chapter concludes by highlighting the search for common ground amidst conflicting attitudes and the anxieties surrounding the rapid modernization of urban life. The coordinated modes of transport and the crowds' patterns of motion were both test cases for the future viability of the modern age. Traffic became a focus for high-flying expectations and anxiety. The complex rules and unspoken arrangements are symbollic of the promise and peril of modernization during the Weimar Republic.