1. Emergence of the Democratic Republic and the impact of Treaty of Versailles

Question 1

why did it emerge?

Answer 1

Emerged in Germany as imperial army was facing defeat and navy on brink of mutiny

Question 2

Many German people were at point of ?

Answer 2

starvation and revolution

Question 3

Although Germany had no tradition of democracy, why was democratic Germany set?

Answer 3

was a precondition set by the Allies for the Armistice and Peace Treaty

Question 4

where was it founded?

Answer 4

in town of Weimer, not Berlin, as sign of new direction for Germany

Question 5

why were conditions for an experiment in democracy hostile?

Answer 5

strikes, along with political and economic tension, crippling the country

Question 6

Political events after the war: how was Germany run during war?

Answer 6

During war, Field Marshall Hindenburg and General Ludendorff ran Germany as military dictatorship. Kaiser Wilhelm became national figurehead with no real power

Question 7

Political events after the war: what was German High Command desperate to do?

Answer 7

to hand over responsibility for war to civilian government and shift blame of failure

Question 8

Political events after the war:What happened July 1917?

Answer 8

Reichstag passed the Peace Resolution seeking peace without territorial gains

Question 9

Political events after the war: What did many nationalist feel about event of July 1917?

Answer 9

nationalist felt betrayed and wanted to continue war. They believed that politicians had ‘stabbed them in the back’

Question 10

Political events after the war: Why did they feel betrayed?

Answer 10

No Allied soldiers had yet set foot on German soil, and at one point, the Germany army looked like taking Paris – so how was defeat possible? known as ‘November Criminals’

Question 11

Political events after the war: who was appointed new Chancellor?

Answer 11

Prince Max Von Baden

Question 12

Political events after the war: What happened with Ludendorff dismissal from High Command?

Answer 12

Germany became a constitutional monarchy

Question 13

Political events after the war: What happened at Port of Kiel?

Answer 13

mutiny broke out among sailors and refused to engage the British Royal Navy. Workers set themselves up in ‘soviets’, based on Russian model, and this revolutionary action spread across Germany

Question 14

Political events after the war: What happened in bavaria?

Answer 14

the socialist Kurt Eisner established revolutionary gov

Question 15

Political events after the war: What was Kaiser forced to do?

Answer 15

forced to abdicate and live in exile

Question 16

Political events after the war: What was abdication of Kaiser followed by?

Answer 16

resignation of Prince Von Baden

Question 17

Political events after the war: what did Fredrick Ebert do?

Answer 17

became new Chancellor and, to stop Germany leading into chaos and revolutionary anarchy, negotiated with General Groner (Head of High Command) to form new democratic gov. The Ebert-Groner Pact was created

Question 18

Political events after the war: what happened with Ebert becoming Chancellor?

Answer 18

Germany declared republic and signed armistice

Question 19

what did new Weimer gov face?

Answer 19

faced many immediate and dangerous problems

Question 20

what happened with Left Wing Putsch? WHen?

Answer 20

Jan 1919, a putsch brought on by Spartacists – communists led by Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg

Question 21

Left Wing Putsch how was it suppressed?

Answer 21

Gov used Freikorps (ex-soldiers) who hated communists/socialists to break up uprising. Luxemburg and Liebknecht arrested/assassinated

Question 22

what was most controversial feature of Weimer period ?

Answer 22

constitution, adopted July 1919

Question 23

what did Weimer Constitution offer?

Answer 23

o It offered German people many new freedoms, e.g. equality before law, freedom of speech/assembly/religious practice, equality of sexes, and social welfare system
o Importantly, involved right to vote for all citizens over age 20.
Election of president every 7 years

Question 24

Who held true democratic powers in Weimer gv?

Answer 24

in hands of people via Reichstag (parliament), but old ruling elite, judiciary and bureaucracy unchanged and remained hostiles towards Weimer Republic

Question 25

What problems existed with constitution?

Answer 25

provided legal and constitutional loopholes that could be manipulated by politicians, such as Hitler. In end, Weimer Republican gov was constrained by the democratic scope of new constitution

Question 26

What did the constitution provide president with legal right to rule by?

Answer 26

rule by emergency decree and to dismiss the Reichstag (Article 48).

Question 27

what was the Emergency decree?

Answer 27

President could override any aspect of new constitution and use military to keep order.

Question 28

How was Emergency Decree used by Hitler?

Answer 28

Once Hitler became Chancellor in 1933, would use this loophole to destroy Weimer Republic

Question 29

Elections were conducted on basis of?

Answer 29

proportional representation (1 seat/60 000 votes) – no. of seats gained for each party determined by proportion of votes.

Question 30

what did proportional rep. lead to?

Answer 30

-> force parties to form coalition gov – can cause political instability

Question 31

Impact of TOV?

Answer 31

Under terms of TOV, Germany lost her empire (inc. overseas colonies), military power was severely restricted and Germany was forced to pay for damage caused to Allied nations during war (reparations). Most importantly, had to accept responsibility for causing war (Article 231, the ‘war guilt clause’).

Question 32

what did Germany have to accept with TOV?

Answer 32

• Pay132 million marks in reparations
• Demilitarisation of Rhineland
• Occupation pf coal-producing Saar region
• Union between Austria and Germany was forbidden
• Total disarmament of military, inc. end of conscription, and total ban on tanks and heavy artillery

Question 33

what did German delegation think of Treaty?

Answer 33

objected to Treaty by forced to sign or else further military invasion beyond demilitarised zones and possible military occupation of Germany

Question 34

where/when forced to sign TOV?

Answer 34

at Hall of Mirrors, Versailles, 28 June 1919 embarrassment

Question 35

What did First chancellor of Weimer Republic, Chancellor Scheidemannn do in protest?

Answer 35

resigned

Question 36

What were German response to TOV?

Answer 36

Germans angrily denounced terms of Treaty and considered Germany have become a “nation in chains”

Question 37

Ultimate impact of TOV?

Answer 37

was ultimately to fuel fire of right wing Nationalist to seek revenge in future Hitler described it as “this instrument of boundless repression”