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Germany 1890-1945 > 2.2A&B What Was The Weimar Republic? > Flashcards

2.2A&B What Was The Weimar Republic? Flashcards

1
Q

How did Kaiser Wilhelm II respond to calls for democracy before 1918?

A

Reluctantly made a few minor changes; still held power.

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2
Q

What happened in Germany on 9 November 1918?

A

Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicated and fled to the Netherlands.

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3
Q

Who took over as the leader of Germany after the Kaiser abdicated?

A

Friedrich Ebert, leader of the Social Democratic Party (SPD).

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4
Q

What type of government did Ebert aim to establish in Germany?

A

A democratic republic, valuing equality and freedom.

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5
Q

Who were the Spartacists?

A

A left-wing group, mainly communists, led by Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht.

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6
Q

What did the Spartacists want for Germany?

A

Wanted Germany to be governed by workers’ councils; opposed Ebert’s democratic ideas.

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7
Q

What methods did the Spartacists use to promote their views?

A

Organised strikes, demonstrations, and uprisings against Ebert’s government.

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8
Q

Who were the Free Corps?

A

Ex-soldiers who opposed communism; formed private armies to suppress uprisings.

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9
Q

How did the Free Corps react to the Spartacist uprising in January 1919?

A

Brutally crushed the uprising in Berlin; killed Spartacist leaders.

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10
Q

What was the result of the Spartacist uprising for the German government?

A

Ebert’s government gained more control but relied on violence to maintain stability.

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11
Q

What key event happened on 19 January 1919?

A

Germany held elections for the National Assembly to establish a new government.

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12
Q

Where did the National Assembly meet, and what did they establish?

A

Met in Weimar; established the Weimar Republic.

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13
Q

Define ‘Weimar Republic.’

A

Democratic government set up in 1919 after the Kaiser’s abdication; aimed for political equality and freedom.

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14
Q

Why was the Weimar Republic’s establishment significant?

A

Marked Germany’s transition from monarchy to democracy after WWI.

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15
Q

What did the Weimar Republic symbolize for Germany?

A

Fresh start; a hope for peace, democracy, and equality.

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16
Q

Define ‘armistice.’

A

An agreement to stop fighting; the armistice ended WWI for Germany in 1918.

17
Q

Define ‘communism.’

A

Political ideology advocating for state ownership of property and equal distribution of resources.

18
Q

What role did the Free Corps play in early Weimar Germany?

A

Protected the government from left-wing uprisings but acted with extreme violence.

19
Q

What was the primary goal of Ebert’s new government in early 1919?

A

To stabilize Germany and prevent further revolutions.

20
Q

Why did rich people fear communism?

A
  • Russia became first communist country in 1917
  • communists took away land from landlords and gave it to peasants
  • put banks and factories under government control
  • murdered Russian royal family
  • this scared richer Germans
21
Q

What was the Weimar constitution?

A

• Formal set of rules for Germany’s government post-Kaiser.
• Aimed to be more democratic than previous rule
• Considered one of the most democratic constitutions worldwide.

22
Q

What did the Weimar constitution grant?

A
  • Equal rights for all, including women.
  • All men and women over 20 could vote.
23
Q

What are the key elements of the Weimar constitution structure?

A
  • proportional representation
  • The President (Head of State)
  • The Chancellor (Prime Minister)
  • The Reichstag (Parliament)
  • The German people (the electorate)
24
Q

What was proportional representation and why was it a problem?

A
  • Seats in Reichstag given based on percentage of votes
  • Led to up to 20 parties debating on a single issue
  • No party ever achieved majority (over half the votes) so parties had to form coalitions
  • Caused slow decision-making and instability
  • upper class people wished for the ‘good old days’ with the Kaiser
  • new system of government was linked to the surrender of WW1
25
Q

The President (Head of State)

A
  • Elected every 7 yrs
  • Controlled army, navy and air force
  • In a crisis, could rule on his own without using the support of the Reichstag using article 48
26
Q

What is article 48?

A

Part of the Weimar Constitution that gave the President the right to rule in a time of crisis without the support of the Reichstag

27
Q

The Chancellor (prime minister)

A
  • chosen by the President (usually from the party with the most votes)
  • responsible for day-to-day running of the country (eg law and order, taxation, healthcare)
  • must have support from at least half of the MPs/Reichstag to introduce new laws
28
Q

The Reichstag

A
  • discussed and introduced new laws
  • MPs elected every four years
  • voting system: proportional representation. This meant that number of MPs each political party had depended on the number of votes (eg 10% of votes, 10% of seats)
29
Q

The German people (the electorate)

A
  • all men and women over 20 could vote
  • elected the President and the politicians in the Reichstag
  • constitution guaranteed basic freedoms eg free speech
30
Q

Put German political parties in order from left to right

A
  • Communist Party (KPD)
  • Social Democratic Party (SPD)
  • German Democratic Party (DDP)
  • Centre Party (Zentrum)
  • People’s Party (DVP)
  • National People’s Party (DNVP)
  • National Socialist German Workers’ Party (NSDAP)
31
Q

Communist Party initials

A

KPD

32
Q

Social Democratic Party initials

A

SPD

33
Q

German Democratic Party initials

A

DDP

34
Q

What is the Centre party also called?

A

Zentrum

35
Q

People’s Party initials

A

DVP

36
Q

National People’s Party initials

A

DNVP

37
Q

National Socialist German Workers’ Party initials

A

NSDAP or Nazis

Germany 1890-1945 (20 decks)

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