1. Political, economic, and social issues in the Weimer Republic to 1929

Question 1

Political: when was Kapp Putsch?

Answer 1

March 1920

Question 2

Political: why did Kapp Putsch occur?

Answer 2

Reichswehr (army) revolted when attempts were made to reduce size and strength of German military, as required by TOV

Question 3

Political: what happened with Putsch?

Answer 3

Freikorps, encouraged by army and led by General Ehrhardt, launched putsch and marched on Berlin, forming National Association and a right-wing government led by Wolfgang Kapp.

Question 4

Political: how long did Putsch last?

Answer 4

The Kapp gov survived for 4 days before order restored in Berlin

Question 5

Political: what did Kapp Putsch show?

Answer 5

showed army cant be relied upon to support democratic republic. But also suggested army was becoming a ‘state within a state’ – follow own policy regardless of elected gov exposed weakness of gov by end 1922, democratic parties lost votes and began to go to extreme parties such as KPD on left

Question 6

Political: who undertook political assassinations? who was killed e.g.?

Answer 6

extreme right wing org
Walter Rathenau (Foreign Minister).

Question 7

Political: how many assassinated all together?

Answer 7

1919-1922 there were 376 political assassinations

Question 8

Social: what did Germany become centre for?

Answer 8

artists from all over Europe

Question 9

Social: why was it centre for artists?

Answer 9

Berlin was place to come to experiment with modernity. German film industry boomed, along with new ideas in architecture, music and art. Berlin was new Paris

Question 10

Social: what changed for women?

Answer 10

became more liberated. Entered parliament and professions

Question 11

Social: what was the new women like?

Answer 11

educated, single and financially independent. However, most still followed trad roles

Question 12

Economic: 3 major issues?

Answer 12

occupation of the Ruhr
Hyperinflation
Gustav Stresemann

Question 13

Economic: why Germany already suffering economically?

Answer 13

already crippled by debt defaults in 1922 and 1923 on delivery payments of coal and telegraph poles

Question 14

Economic: what did economic suffering lead to?

Answer 14

French and Belgium troops occupied Ruhr industrial region on 11 Jan, 1923.

Question 15

Economic: what did occupation of the Ruhr cause?

Answer 15

passive resistance and strikes by German workers in area relations of French troops and German workers deteriorate

Question 16

Economic: what did Stresemann decide on September?

Answer 16

o Stresemann decided to end ‘passive resistance’, returned to policy of ‘fulfilment; - resuming reparation payments to France in return for withdrawal but by then hyperinflation taken hold

Question 17

Economic: what did loss of coal-rich Ruhr region create?

Answer 17

created more debt for the already debt-ridden gov.

Question 18

Economic: what was done to fix problem of debt?

Answer 18

more bank notes printed, causing devaluation of German mark (lead to price doubling) and hyperinflation. Unemployment soared; middle class most affected

Question 19

Economic: what do some historians argue about cause of hyperinflation?

Answer 19

deliberately allowed inflation to explode as if went bankrupt, allied have no choice but to reduce reparations

Question 20

Economic: what did financial and political turmoil of 1923 provide for Hitler/Nazi party?

Answer 20

provided opportunity for Hitler and Nazi party to attempt takeover/putsch. Though it was failure, brought Hitler to national prominence for the first time

Question 21

Economic: contribution of Stresemann with hyperinflation?

Answer 21

stabilised German economy by stabilising currency, replacing German mark with rentenmark and resuming reparation payments.

Question 22

Economic: who was Stresemann?

Answer 22

the leader of German People’s Party

Question 23

Economic: As foreign ministers what 3 major treaties did he sign off on?

Answer 23

Dawes Plan (1924)
Treaty of Lorcano (1925)
Young Plan (1929)

Question 24

Economic: what was Dawes Plan?

Answer 24

plan to solve problems of reparations by reducing repayments and spreading them over longer timeframe. America gave loans to help rebuild/pay

Question 25

Economic: what was treaty of Lorcano?

Answer 25

acceptance of Germany’s new borders and admission to League of Nations

Question 26

Economic: young plan?

Answer 26

further reduction of reparation debt owed