9A: Weimar Republic Doomed? - YK Flashcards
What were some social, political, and economic impacts of WW1 on Germany?
Social: Many workers angry that their wages had been restricted during war while factory owners made fortunes, serious inequality of living conditions
Political: Stresses of war led to revolution Oct-Nov ‘18 which removed Kaiser, many ex-soldiers and civilians thought new leaders betrayed Field Marshall Hindenburg
Economic: National income 1/3 of 1913, 300,000 people died from starvation and hypothermia in 1918
What were some features of the Weimar Constitution?
Republic ruled by elected government not Kaiser, all Germans over 20 could vote, proportional representation in Reichstag, Chancellor who appointed government ministers (who sent laws to Reichstag for approval) needed support of 1/2 Reichstag and controlled day-to-day government, people elected Reichstag and 17 local governments and President who appointed judges and Chancellor and controlled army and could take emergency control of country through Article 48
What opposition to Ebert’s government was there from the right and left?
Left: communists believed Germany needed revolution like Russia’s (1917); Spartacists led by Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg wanted Germany to be ruled by workers’ council, 1919 they set up soviets in some towns, stopped by Friekorps and army (with Ebert’s agreement), leaders were murdered, Friekorps used against two other communist uprisings which left bitterness between communists and Ebert’s Socialist Party
Right: Kaiser’s former advisors still had power in courts and army; Mar ‘20 Dr Wolfgang Kapp led Kapp putsch where 5000 Friekorps stormed Berlin, army wouldn’t fire so it only stopped after a general strike
When were the Treaty of Versailles terms announced and what impact did this have?
Announced May ‘19, Germany lost 10% of land + 12.5% of population + 16% coal industry + 48% iron industry, Germans furious at terms but Ebert had no choice, left lasting anger at Weimar Republic for ‘betraying army’
What was hyperinflation and what effects did it have?
After Ruhr occupation government needed money so it just printed money, paying off £2.2 billion of war loans with worthless currency, caused prices and wages to skyrocket, bread loaf in ‘23 costed as much as a house ‘21; Wealthy businesses bought small businesses cheaply while most people struggled to pay for basics, debt disappeared but savings destroyed (bad for middle-class and veterans), right wing blamed Weimar Republic and Treaty of Versailles for crisis
What were two achievements under Stresemann?
Culture: Kaiser’s censorship lifted, allowed art like George Grosz’ ‘Pillars of Society’ which criticised politicians
Foreign Policy: 1925 Locarno Treaties guaranteed Germany’s Western border, 1926 Germany joined LON, 1929 Young Plan reduced reparations
What was the Ruhr occupation?
Germany managed to pay part of the £6.6 billion reparations in 1921 but not 1922, Jan ‘23 French and Belgian troops invaded the Ruhr industrial area seizing raw materials and goods (legal under Versailles), government ordered workers to strike so production drastically stopped, French killed >100 workers, slashed exports meant slashed supply of hard currency
How was hyperinflation stopped?
Stresemann became Chancellor of new government Aug ‘23 and stopped passive resistance in Ruhr, burned worthless marks and replaced them with limited Rentenmarks,
What were two problems under Stresemann?
Economy: Dawes Plan 1924 provided 800 million marks of loans which helped but made economy precarious, inequality increased (Berlin land value increased by 700%)
Politics: No large attempted revolutions but about 30% of vote went to anti-democratic parties, 1925 Hindenburg elected as president despite opposing democracy (he sent a letter to Kaiser for permission to take office)
