1.2 Early challenges to the Republic 1919-23

Question 1

Unpopularity of the Republic

Answer 1

The Weimar Republic didn’t formally start until July 1919. However, the politicians who set up and ran the Weimar Republic were the same ones who surrendered at the end of the first World War and accepted an unpopular peace treaty. The Weimar Republic was therefore always linked to surrender and harsh peace treaty terms.

Question 2

The Armistice

Answer 2

Erzberger signed it on 11th Nov 1918 representing the new republic - an agreement to stop fighting.

There was little alternative, Germany was torn apart by social and political unrest and its money and troops were running out. From August 1918, the German army was in retreat and its defensive fortification, the Hindenburg Line, had been breached. Beginning the new republic with a surrender was not a strong start.

Question 3

The treaty of Versailles

Answer 3

Once the armistice was signed, the Allied leaders decided the terms of peace. The peace treat was eventually signed in Versailles, on 28 June 1919.

Peace was popular with the German people, as they had suffered during the war. Even so, the terms of the Treaty of Versailles were very unpopular with the German people, and this also made the Weimar Republic unpopular.

Question 4

The diktat

Answer 4

Most Germans assumed that Germany would be able to negotiate the terms of the peace treaty, but the Allies refused to allow any German representatives to join in the treaty discussions. The treaty was a ‘diktat’ - meaning the terms were imposed.

Question 5

What did Article 231 say?

Answer 5

It stated that Germany had caused the war. War guilt meant that, since they were blamed for the war, they had to reparations to the victorious nations. The Allies also insisted on reductions in Germany’s armed forces and territory, to prevent Germany from starting another war.

Question 6

The terms of the Treaty of Versailles

Answer 6

Blame - Germany was forced to accept the blame for starting the war under article 231 of the treaty, known as the War Guilt Clause.

Reparations - This was the name given to the money Germany had to pay for the damage suffered by Britain and France during the war. In 1922 the amount to be paid was set at £6.6 billion.

Armed Forces - Germany’s army and navy were significantly reduced in size and its air force abolished. This meant that a maximum of 100,000 troops were allowed in the army and conscription (compulsory service) and tanks were banned. Germany’s navy was reduced to 15,000 personnel, allowed only 6 battleships and no submarines.

Territory - Germany lost land on all sides of its borders as well as its overseas colonies (other countries under Germany’s control). In Europe:
- The Rhineland was demilitarised – this would provide France with an extra ‘buffer zone’ of protection.

Question 7

Dolchtoss - the stab in the back

Answer 7

Another reason why the TOV was unpopular was because the German people didn’t believe they had been defeated in war.

Question 8

What did some critics of the treaty say?

Answer 8

That the army was betrayed by politicians.

Question 9

The Impact of the TOV

Answer 9

It damaged Germany’s economy and imposed heavy reparations.

It also made the Weimar Republic politically weak. The treaty was so harsh that people resented the leaders of the new German republic who signed it.

Question 10

What did extreme right-wing groups want?

Answer 10

A return to a strong government. They supported capitalism.

Question 11

What was the main right-wing party?

Answer 11

The National Party

Question 12

What did extreme left-wing groups want?

Answer 12

For Germany to be controlled by the people. They opposed capitalism.

Question 13

What was the main left-wing party?

Answer 13

The German Communist Party.

Question 14

The Spartacist Revolt

Answer 14

• During 5 – 12 January 1919, 50,000 members of the post-World War One Communist Party, known as the Spartacists, rebelled in Berlin, led by Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht.
• The government was saved when, through the army, it armed bands of ex-soldiers, known as the Freikorps, who defeated the Spartacist rebels.
• In the aftermath, communist workers’ councils seized power all over Germany, and a Communist People’s Government took power in Bavaria.
• Liebknecht and Luxemburg were killed by the Freikorps after being arrested on the 15th. Luxemburg’s body was dumped in a canal.
• By May 1919 the Freikorps had crushed all of these uprisings.

Question 15

How many Freikorps were there by March 1919?

Answer 15

250,000 men.

Question 16

The Kapp Putsch - a right wing uprising

Answer 16

In crushing the communists the Freikorps had saved the government, but the terms of the Treaty of Versailles meant Germany’s army had to be significantly reduced and the Freikorps had to be disbanded.

During 13 - 17 March 1920, as a reaction to this, the right-wing nationalist, Dr Wolfgang Kapp led a Freikorps takeover in Berlin.

The regular army refused to attack the Freikorps; Kapp was only defeated when the workers of Berlin went on strike and refused to cooperate with him.

Question 17

Why did the workers go on strike?

Answer 17

They had socialist leanings and had no desire to see the Kaiser return.

Question 18

Other violence

Answer 18

Nationalist terrorists assassinated 356 government politicians, including Walter Rathenau (June 1922), the foreign minister, and Matthias Erzberger who had been finance minister. Judges in their trials, many of whom preferred the Kaiser’s government, consistently gave these terrorists light sentences, or let them go free.

Question 19

By what year could Germany no longer pay reparations?

Answer 19

1923

Question 20

French occupation of the Ruhr

Answer 20

In November 1922 Germany defaulted on its reparations payment as scheduled. The first reparations payment had taken all she could afford to pay. The French believed Germany could make the repayment but were choosing not to, however the German government argued they could not afford to pay.

In retaliation, the French sent troops into the German industrial area of the Ruhr. They confiscated raw materials, manufactured goods and industrial machinery. All which were significant to Germany’s economy.

The German government ordered workers to follow a policy of ‘passive resistance’ – refusing to work or co-operate with the foreign troops and in return the government continued to pay their wages. The French responded by arresting those who obstructed them and bring in their own workers.

Question 21

How did the occupation of the Ruhr contribute to hyperinflation?

Answer 21

The immediate consequences of the occupation were not good for the Weimar government – they decided to print more money to pay the workers in the region, contributing to hyperinflation. A general strike (when all the workers in the country stopped work) was called, and political instability was rife.

Question 22

Why did the government receive less money from taxes?

Answer 22

Unemployment and failing factories so people had less money.

Question 23

The effects of hyperinflation

Answer 23

Normal living became impossible - People on fixed incomes, like students, pensioners or the sick, found their incomes did not keep up with prices.

Everyone suffered form shortages - German marks became worthless for importing goods. Foreign suppliers refused to accept German marks for goods, so imports dried up and shortages of food and other goods got worse.

People with savings were hit the hardest. Their saved money became worthless.

Question 24

How did people benefit from hyperinflation?

Answer 24

Borrowers, such as businessmen, landowners and those with mortgages, found they were able to pay back their loans easily with worthless money.

Other people hoarded goods and then sold them for a large profit as prices went up.

Foreign visitors benefitted, as the value of their own currency rose against the German mark, so they could buy much more with their money.