1.2 Early Challenges to the Republic, 1919-23 Flashcards
When did the Weimar Republic formally start?
July 1919
Why was Weimar always linked to surrender and harsh peace treaty terms?
The politicians who set it up also surrendered at the end of WW1 and accepted ToV
When and where was the Treaty of Versailles signed?
28th June, 1919 in Versailles, France
What does ‘diktat’ mean?
Dictated terms, not agreed
The Allies didn’t allow German representatives to join discussions and refused all the concessions the Germans asked for
What did Article 231 of the ToV say?
That Germany had caused the war and therefore had to pay reparations, as well as reductions in territory and armed forces
How much were the reparations?
136,000 million marks £6.6 billion)
How many colonies did Germany have? What happened to them?
11 in Africa and the Far East. Given to victorious countries to look after
What was the army limited to?
100,000 men, no heavy artillery to be used only in Germany
What was the navy limited to?
6 battleships and cruisers
12 destroyers and torpedo boats
No submarines
The rest destroyed
What happened to the air force?
Banned. Existing air force destroyed
What happened to the Rhineland?
Demilitarised - German army not allowed in. Allied troops stationed there until 1930s
What land did Germany lose to France and Belgium?
Alsace and Lorraine (France)
Eupen and Malmedy (Belgium)
Which provinces were given to Poland? What was the effect of this?
Posen and West Prussia
Put a million Germans under Polish rule and cut off East Prussia from the rest of Germany
What areas voted (plebiscites) to leave Germany
Upper Silesia (became part of Poland) Northern Schleswig (became part of Denmark)
What happened to the Saar coalfields?
Given to France to govern for 15 years
What did Germany lose altogether?
10% population, 13% European territory
All overseas property and investment
Almost 50% iron, 15% coal reserves
What does ‘dolchstoss’ mean?
‘a stab in the back’
The German people believed the army had been betrayed by the politicians for agreeing to an Armistice when they could still have won the war
Why were the leaders of the Weimar government known as the ‘November Criminals’?
They surrendered to a treaty that ruined the economy, in November