3 - Key People Flashcards
George Grosz (1893-1959)
an artist who was influenced by the Expressionists, involved in Spartacus rising in 1919 and joined KPD soon after, left in 1922 because he opposed its dictatorial views, opposed to Nazis and left Germany for the USA shortly before they came to power
Konstantin Fehrenbach (1852-1926)
a leading member of the Centre Party and President (speaker) of the Reichstag 1919-20, became Chancellor in 1920 leading the first cabinet in the new republic that did not include the SPD
Joseph Wirth (1879-1956)
schoolteacher, entered politics as member of Centre Party, became Minister of Finance in 1920 before becoming Chancellor in 1921
Wilhelm Cuno (1876-1933)
laywer and businessman who had no party allegiance, Germany went through many changes of coalition cabinets during this period and Cuno was chosen as Chancellor because it was was thought that his business experience would help him to steer Germany through these difficult economic times
Hugo Stinnes
owner of substantial businesses before 1923, owing the German-Lixemburg Mining Company and the Rhine-Westphalian Electric Company, deputy of the DVP in the Reichstag, with his businesses providing security and using his political contacts he was able to raise large bank loans in 1923 and purchase whole forests to supply lumber to his mines, he built an empire that included 150 newspapers and magazines and interests in railways, banks, and more
