1 | weimar germany (1919-29) Flashcards
why was there a high lack of support for democracy 1918-29?
- army openly disliked the republic
- army had lots of respect from the german republic
- dolchtoss
how did the republic creation mark change?
it marked change of organisation and the structure of power
what was the republic unfamiliar with and why?
- unfamiliar with democracy
- previously had limited power to pass or reject laws
when did ebert announce the creation of the weimar republic?
november 9th 1918
why was the creation of the weimar republic difficult?
- external pressure
- unrest in country - due to defeat, treaty of versailles and the abdication of the kaiser
what happened to germany’s military under the treaty of versailles?
- only allowed 100,000 men
- conscription was banned
- only allowed 6 battleships
- not allowed submarines, air force or soldiers
what was article 231 of the treaty of versailles?
war guilt clause
what happened to germany’s land under the treaty of versailles?
- lost 10% of land
- lost empire
- lost coalfields
how many assassination were there from 1919-21?
376
when was the spartacist uprising?
january 1919
what caused the spartacist uprising?
- january 4th: eichorn (police chief in berlin, popular with workers) sacked by ebert
- january 6th: 100,000 workers went on strike
what happened in the spartacist uprising and what was the goal?
- took over government
- aim: to take over germany as a communist country
who were the leaders of the spartacist uprising?
- karl liebknecht
- rosa luxembourg
how did the spartacist uprising end?
- ebert ordered the friekorps to put the rebellion down
- 13th january: rebellion put down
- 16th january: leaders killed
who are the friekorp?
- group of right-wing nationalist ex-soldiers
- hated the treaty of versailles
- hated communists
- feel that they never lost ww1
when was the kapp putsch?
march 1920
how did the kapp putsch happen?
- march 1920: friekorps, lead by wolfgang kapp, due to being disbanded and a fear of unemployment
- 5000 of them marched in berlin and put forward kapp as politician and declared a new government
why did the kapp putsch happen?
friekorps hated the weimar republic
how did the kapp putsch end?
- old government fled
- strikes and essential services ended
- after 4 days, kapp couldn’t govern
when was the ruhr crisis?
january 1923
how did the ruhr crisis start and why?
- germany couldn’t pay reparations in december 1922
- they failed to send ruhr coal to france
what happened in the ruhr crisis?
- french sent troops to the ruhr to take payment in raw materials
- 11th january 1923: 60,000 french took over
how did germany react to the ruhr crisis?
what did france do?
- workers went on strike and the ruhr production stopped
- french brought in their own workers (causing violence) and arrested them
how many soldiers die the french army have?
750,000
what did the ruhr crisis cause for germany other than hyperinflation?
- increase debts
- unemployment
- worsened shortages
how does the ruhr crisis and hyperinflation link?
the weimar republic printed more money to pay strikers and make up for the loss of coal/iron
who benefitted from the impact of hyperinflation?
- foreign visitors: their currencies could be exchanged for millions of marks - they could buy things that ordinary germans couldn’t afford
- people who owed money: easier for them to repay
- farmers: could charge higher prices for their crops
- rich people: buy businesses for a cheap price
who struggled from the impact of hyperinflation?
- ordinary workers: couldn’t afford things due to the constant rising prices
- people with savings: savings become worthless overnight
how did the price of bread change during hyperinflation
1919: 1 mark
1923: 200,000 billion marks
what are the positives of hyperinflation?
- owed money value decreases
- workers do well
- wages increase
what are the negatives of hyperinflation?
- normal living impossible
- mass poverty
- starvation
- bankruptcy
when did stresemann become chancellor?
august 1923
how did the dawes plan help fix economic problems?
- 1924
- charles dawes (us banker)
- reduced reparations to £50m per year
- us would give germany £25bn of loans to help with economic recovery between 1924-30
- industry grew by 40%
how did introducing the rentenmark help fix economic problems?
- new currency: rentemark to end hyperinflation
- tied to the price of gold and issued in limited amounts
- once reset prices, it was replaced by the reichsmark
- it was a trusted currency - restored german faith in money
what did stresemann do in regards to the ruhr crisis?
he ended it
how did the young plan help fix economic problems?
- 1929
- owen young (us banker)
- total reparations cost reduced from £6.6bn to £2bn
- given an extra 59 years to pay off reparations
- this allowed the government to reduce tax prices
what is the locarno treaty?
- 1925
- uk, france and belgium accepted the new border
- france promised peace
what was signed by 1928 by stresemann?
kellogg-briand pact - peace talks
what was the significance of germany joining the league of nations?
- they had a voice and place in the world
- trusted
- on the council - make decisions
what are the results to stresemann’s actions?
- germans happier with the government
- restored national pride
- europe saw germany as respectable
how did the work of stresemann bring stability to german politics?
- coalitions worked together - decisions could be made
- 1925: hindenburg president - people were happier
how many cinemas were there in the golden age?
3800 in 1932
how much did the nazis get of the vote in 1928 - during the golden age?
12 seats
2%
what were the negatives of the golden age?
- germany became very reliant on the us money/loans
- “we are dancing on a volcano”
what changes were made for women during the golden age?
- equal rights
- fashion
- smoking
- drinking
how did wages and housing change during the golden age?
- wages increased by 10% and hours drop
- new housing built
- 60% less homeless
when and how did the wall street crash happen?
- 1929: us asked for dawes loans back
- caused serious economic problems - great depression
how much did the depression affect industrial production?
fell by 40% in 1932
what else changed or was affected by the great depression?
- businesses collapse
- trade stopped
- unemployment rose
- banks collapsed
how much did unemployment rise during the great depression?
from 1.3 million to 6 million
