2.1: The Establishment & Early Years (1918-1924)

Question 1

What was the political impact of WWI

Answer 1

Prince Max’s government’s request for an armistice signalled war loss, undermining Kaiser’s respect, leading to a naval mutiny and igniting a broader revolutionary movement among soldiers and sailors.

Question 2

What was the social impact of WWI

Answer 2

Civilian deaths increased from 121,000 in 1916 to 293,000 in 1918 due to starvation and hypothermia. Inflation led to workers working longer hours, resulting in decreased wages and doubled average prices. War casualties reached 2 million Germans and 6 million wounded. Armistice signalled loss, increasing social discontent and resentment in the middle class.

Question 3

What were the October Reforms

Answer 3

Prince Max of Baden was appointed as chancellor of the Reichstag, a significant constitutional transformation without public support. On October 3, he requested an armistice, but Ludendorff rejected the terms.

Question 4

What was the sequence of events during The 1918 November Revolution

Answer 4

On November 3rd, Navy unrest spread to Kiel, leading to workers and soldiers councils advocating for Kaiser’s abdication. A Bavarian republic was established on November 8th, and on November 9th, a press statement announced Kaiser’s abdication. Max resigned, giving Ebert the position of SPD leader. Groener, the army leader, warned Kaiser not to fight anymore.

Question 5

What were the results in The 1919 January Elections

Answer 5

High turnout (83%) in 1919 saw 83% showing faith in democracy, with women voting for the first time. 76.1% supported pro-democratic parties. A coalition government was formed with SPD, DDP, and ZP. DVP opposed the Weimar republic in 1919.

Question 6

What were the 3 main problems with Ebert’s Coalition Government

Answer 6

Socio-economic issues like inflation, food shortages, and flu epidemic there was also left-wing opposition, including strikes, German communists, workers, and soldiers councils, while right-wing opposition included Friekorps, army, and nationalists due to them being against the Kaisers abdication

Question 7

What were three strengths of the Weimar Constitution

Answer 7

The President was elected directly by the people. This was
why Article 48 was established.
The Bill of Rights ensured individual rights like freedom of speech and union membership, promoting equality for all Germans before the law.
The political opinion was encompassing all perspectives, including those aligned with nationalist right groups like the DNVP.

Question 8

What were three weaknesses of the Weimar Constitution

Answer 8

Article 48
Proportional representation led to fluctuating coalition governments, with the longest lasting 18 months up to 1923.
Institutions, including civil service, judiciary, and army, remained dedicated . 28/354 right-wing assassins were found guilty and punished, while 10/22 left-wing assassins were sentenced to death.

Question 9

What were the three main terms of The Treaty of Versailles

Answer 9

Power- Limited to 100000 men and banned from having subs or aircraft
Money- Reparations was laid out at £6.6 million
Industry- 75% iron, 68% zinc and 26% coal gone

Question 10

What was the political impact of the treaty

Answer 10

REACTION OF PRO REPUBLICAN PARTIES: Treaty turned some former supporters against the republic + alienated moderates.
REACTION OF RIGHT: They saw politicians who signed this as the ‘November criminals’ and their betrayal actions became known as ‘the stab in the back’ with the army having no responsibility.

Question 11

What were the attitudes to the treaty from abroad

Answer 11

BRITAIN: public opinion was satisfied with TOV but privately George
wanted Germany to be strong trading partner again + thought terms were too harsh and that the French were greedy.
FRANCE: felt they’d suffered the most thus some of the public thought it was too lenient.
THE US: widespread feeling it was unfair and that France + Britain used the TOV to enrich themselves at Germanys expense.

Question 12

What were the economic consequences of the treaty

Answer 12

Economic consequences: English economist Keynes realised reparations will fundamentally weaken the German economy + whole of Europe’s as a consequence

Question 13

What were the political consequences of the treaty

Answer 13

Germany was now politically weak, the treaty was so harsh it led people to resent the new republic. They became known as the November criminals, therefore from the outset, the Weimar Republic was linked to defeat, humiliation and weakness.

Question 14

What were the pre-existing economic issues after WWI

Answer 14

During the war Germany financed with increased borrowing and printing money whilst there was growing inflation and government debt (£1.4b)

Question 15

What was the political impact of reparations

Answer 15

The treaty, despite not having a fixed sum, caused political crisis, leading to the resignation of Fehrenbach’s government and the delay of payments due to Germany’s capacity.

Question 16

What was the economic impact of reparations

Answer 16

The government had no choice but to print money and make the mark value lower.

Question 17

Why was the Ruhr invaded in 1923

Answer 17

In 1922, Germany fell behind in French coal payments, leading to a Franco-Belgian invasion in 1923. The invasion took control of industry. Chancellor Cuno ordered passive resistance, leading to 150,000 Germans expelled and 132 killed in 8 months- one being a 7 month old boy.

Question 18

What was The Hyperinflation crisis 1923

Answer 18

Money was being printed = looses value (300 paper mills and 2000 printing firms printing money)= Law and Order broke down due to rising food prices = food riots + farmers reluctancy to give food. Inflation was so extreme that 1 egg cost 80 million marks.

Question 19

What were the economic effects of 1923

Answer 19

The government’s failure to pay wages without goods production led to financial strain, lost tax revenue, and increased costs for annual reparations, resulting in hyperinflation.

Question 20

What Three Groups suffered the most from Hyperinflation

Answer 20

Civil servants: suffered in 1923 due to fixed wages + many bought war bonds. Retired: suffered badly due to fixed pensions + savings
The sick: medical care cost increased and food cost increase

Question 21

What two groups in society prospered during Hyperinflation

Answer 21

Peasants in the countryside coped well as food remained in demand + were more self sufficient and Businessmen: did well as they bought
property with worthless money and paid of mortgages.

Question 22

What were The Series of Social Welfare Reforms

Answer 22

1919 – 8 hours max for working day
1919 – state health insurance was extended to wives, daughters disabled.
1919 - war veteran aid became government’s responsibility and widows aid increased.
1922 – National Youth Welfare Act required local authority to set up youth offices for child protection + right to education.
WAY TOO EXPENSIVE

Question 23

What was The Extreme Left

Answer 23

KPD aimed for Marxist revolution and a one-party state in Germany, rejecting Weimar democracy and avoiding democratic opposition or parliamentary system use for change. But they were unable to achieve this due to poor coordination, leadership divisions, government concessions, and brutal repression, particularly by the judiciary.

Question 24

What was The Extreme Right

Answer 24

They didn’t have one defined key ideology it was drawn up by anti-democracy, anti-Marxism, authoritarianism, and nationalism. They believed the democratic constitution contributed to Germany’s problems, fearing communism and restoring an authoritarian regime. They used the “stab in the back” myth and “November criminals” as scapegoats.

Question 25

What was The Spartacist Uprising

Answer 25

The goal was to overthrow the government and establish a Soviet republic. On January 5th, a revolutionary committee occupied public buildings, called for a general strike, and denounced Ebert’s government. The group faced street fighting, killing over 100 people, but was easily defeated. The government had army backing and 5,000 friekorps.

Question 26

What were the political assassinations

Answer 26

Between 1919-1923, 376 political assassinations occurred, with 22 left and 354 right. The Reichstag passed a law in July 1922 to combat this, but the right-wing judiciary failed to uphold it. Two prominent figures were Erzberger, a finance minister responsible for signing the armistice and TOV, and Rathenau, a foreign minister. Both were killed by the Consul organisation, leading to 700,000 protestors on Berlin streets after their deaths.

Question 27

What was The Kapp Putch 1920

Answer 27

12,000 troops invaded Berlin, seized the capital’s main buildings, and installed a new government. Despite requests from Ebert and the chancellor, the German army failed, forcing the government to flee to Stuttgart. After four days, the SPD called a general strike, paralyzing the new government.

Question 28

What was The Aftermath of The Kapp Putsch

Answer 28

The Collapse of The Kapp Putsch was a significant success for the Weimar republic, as it remained supported by Berlin and effectively withstood extreme right threats. However, the government failed to tackle the army’s right-wing attitudes, leading to Seeckt’s appointment as chief of army command in 1920-26. Seeckt reformed the army, imposing strict discipline and recruiting new troops, while disregarding the Versailles disarmament clause. Collective problems, such as the KP, Ebert Groener pact, and judiciary bias, created a’state within a state’.

Question 29

What was The 1923 Munich Putsch

Answer 29

Hitler, along with 600 SA soldiers, stormed a Munich meeting, declaring the national revolution had broken out. The next day, Hitler, Goering, Streicher, and Ludendorff led a march into Munich, but were barred by the police. A short street battle resulted in the death of sixteen Nazis, causing humiliation for the Nazis.

Question 30

What was The Aftermath of The Munich Putsch

Answer 30

Nazis were barred and outlawed, Hitler was sent to prison and banned from ps until 1927, Goring became a drug addict and ludendorff fled