Ch1 - The Weimar Republic 1918 - 29

Question 1

How did German suffer as a consequence of WW1?

Answer 1

• It was an expensive and costly war - meaning Germany’s debts tabled from 50 million marks to 150 million
• 11 million Germans thought in the war, almost 2 million died and 55 % became casualties
• Over 750,000 Germans died because of food shortages

Question 2

When did the Kaiser abdicate/ give up power?

Answer 2

On 9 of November 1918

Question 3

Why did the Kaiser abdicate?

Answer 3

• Although he was told to abdicate initially to restore Germany, he refused
• He only abdicated when he realised he’d lost the support of the German army

Question 4

What happened after Kaiser abdicated?

Answer 4

• There were many rioters outside the German parliament
• The leading member of the Social democratic Party was told the rioters were ready to announce a communist government
• Scheidmann, wanting a more moderate from of government instead proclaimed that Kaiser had abdicated and that there was a new German Republic on the 9th of November

Question 5

What steps did the the SPD make to take control of Germany and prevent a takeover by extreme communism?

Answer 5

• 9th of Nov : Ebert , the leader of the SDP received the office
• 10th of Novemeber, 1918 : Ebert made an agreement with the general to work with the army in order to keep communists out of control
• 10th of November : Ebert suspended the old parliament and named six council representatives who would head the government as a temporary measure

Question 6

When was the New Republic declared ?

Answer 6

The 9th of November 1918

Question 7

When was the armistice signed?

Answer 7

On the 11th of November 1918

Question 8

What steps did Ebert take to set up the Weimar Republic ?

Answer 8

• He arranged civil servants to stay in office to keep the state running - collecting taxes, running public services, etc…
• Ebert won the support of the trade unions
• He reassured leads of industries , ensuring that businesses and the economy continued to operate
• reassured the general that the army would not be reformed and they would keep their ranks, in return the army agreed to keep the new Republic in power

Question 9

Why did the Germans think that the Treaty of Versailles ( peace terms ) was unfair?

Answer 9

• They too suffered from WW1 and didn’t consider themselves fully responsible for the war , this war guilt led to the rest of the treaty’s terms and caused them to pay reparations
• The reparations were harsh and cruel , it only worsened the state of Germany and increased Germany’s debt ( damaged Germany’s economy )
• People also believed that their army had never been defeated

Question 10

What did the Treaty of Versailles demand?

Answer 10

• Germany had to pay 6.6 million pounds of reperations to allies
• Germany lost all its colonies ( decreased Germany’s ability to earn money / weakened economy )
• Germany military straight was cut off , army was limited to 100,000 men and artillery , no air force was permitted
• German lost land and therefore population

Question 11

How did the treaty have an impact on the relationship between the government and the people?

Answer 11

Because of the harsh and unrealistic demands, many hated and criticised the Treaty. Some criticised and resented the politicians for signing it and viewed it as the government stabbing them in the bath ( the ‘stab in the back ‘ myth ).

Question 12

What was the impact of the first world war on Germany?

Answer 12

• Two million German troops died and over four million were wounded (11 million in total fought in the war).
• Government debts increased from 50 billion marks to 150 billion marks.
• More than 750 000 Germans died because of food shortages.

The devastating effects of the war left many people with no option other than to revolt by striking and rioting.

Question 13

Explain the revolution and the declaration of the new Republic?

Answer 13

Once the Kaiser had abdicated, the German Republic was declared on 9 November 1918 :

• The Berlin streets were crowded. Some people were armed, hoping to take over parts of the city.
• Philipp Scheidemann, of the Social Democratic Party (SP), the largest party in the German government (Reichstag), declared the new Republic to the crowds. He was fearful that armed rioters were preparing to declare a communist government in Berlin. To prevent this, he promoted a peaceful transition.
• On 10 November, Friedrich Ebert suspended the old Reichstag and formed the Council of People’s Representatives as a temporary measure.

Question 14

What was the armistice ( + features ) and when was it signed?

Answer 14

It was a peace agreement between Germany and the Allies ending the First World War.

• It was signed on 11 November.
• It was the first major decision of Ebert’s new Republic.
• The terms of the peace, the Treaty of Versailles, became a very big burden for the country.

Question 15

What were the strengths of the Weimar constitution?

Answer 15

• Proportional representation made sure small parties had a fair share of seats.
• Women able to vote as well as men.
• Voting age reduced from 25 to 21.
• No one group or person could have too much power.
• There was an election for president every seven years.
• Central government was more powerful than before, but local government still retained power in the regions.
• The Reichsrat could regulate the power of the Reichstag by delaying new laws.

Question 16

What are the weaknesses of the Weimar constitution?

Answer 16

• Proportional representation led to coalition governments that were unstable, or found it difficult to have strong policies and often fell apart.
• Lack of strong government led to weakness in a crisis that ended up with the president passing laws without the prior consent of the Reichstag.
  Article 48 of the constitution enabled the president to do this.
• It was not the choice of the people so was not that popular.

Question 17

When was the new democratic government established? where?

Answer 17

Democratic government was established in the drawing up of a new constitution, This was done on the 31 July 1919 in the town of Weimar, instead of Berlin where there still had been unrest

Question 18

What did the Weimar constitution consist of?

Answer 18

• Head of state
• The government
• The parliament ( Reichstag + Reichsrat )
• Electorate

Question 19

Name features of the parliament ( the Reichstag in the reichstrat )?

Answer 19

Parliament :
- Made up of 2 houses ( the reichstag and the reichsrat )
- normally laws always have to pass through both houses
- Proportional representation

Reichstag :

• The more powerful of the two houses
• Control taxation
• Directly elected by the people at least once every four years

Reichstag :

• Also elected every four years
• However, it represented the regions of Germany
• Each region sent a certain number of representatives, depending on its size

Question 20

Name features of the government ( the chancellor in the cabinet )?

Answer 20

Chancellor :

• The head of the government in the Weimar Republic
• Chose all government ministers

Cabinet ( ministers ) :

• The main decision-making body of the government

Question 21

Name features of the head of state ( president )?

Answer 21

President :

• Head of the Weimar Republic
• elected by the people every seven years
• Had some important political powers, Eg . The president chose the chancellor.
• Could spend the constitution and pass laws by decree

Question 22

When was the Treaty of Versailles signed ?

Answer 22

28th of June 1919

Question 23

What did the eloctrate consist of ?

Answer 23

• consisted of all men and woman of 21 years old and over

Question 24

What did other countries do to ensure Germany wouldn’t start another war?

Answer 24

The allies insisted the reductions in Germany’s armed forces and territory.

Question 25

What was the treaty of Versailles?

Answer 25

It was a treaty that Germany has assigned as a result of the armistice. It was a punishment for the war.

Question 26

Why did Germans universally hate the treaty of Versailles?

Answer 26

Since they didn’t believe they were to blame for starting the first world war when they participated as an act of self defence, and because they hated the harsh reparations that were demanded of them.

Question 27

What was the Dolchstoss?

Answer 27

A conspiracy theory - the stab in the back myth

Question 28

Why did the Germans hate war guilt?

Answer 28

Treaty of Versailles said that Germany was guilty of starting the war. Ordinary German people hated this blame and felt very resentful because of it since it also caused them to accept harsh reparations. As a result. They believed they fought the war in self-defence and that other countries were to blame. These people are demonstrating in Leipzig against the treaty

Question 29

Who were the November criminals?

Answer 29

Because of the treaty of Versailles and its harsh reparations, people resented. The leaders who signed the treaty and called them the ‘November criminals‘ since they surrendered in November 1918

Question 30

What article in the treaty of Versailles said that Germany was guilty for starting the war?

Answer 30

Article 231

Question 31

What were the demands of the treaty in terms of reparations?

Answer 31

As the war guilt clause made Germany accept the blame for the war, the Allies said they were entitled to reparations (compensation).
£6600 million was to be paid in yearly instalments to the Allies to repair damage in their countries.

Question 32

When was the Spartacists revolt?

Answer 32

January 1919

Question 33

When was the Kapp Putch?

Answer 33

March 1920

Question 34

What were the demands of the treaty in terms of military forces?

Answer 34

• Army limited to 100000.
• Navy limited to six battleships, six cruisers, 12 destroyers and 12 torpedo boats (and no submarines).
• All planes were destroyed and no air force was allowed.
• No military was allowed in the land bordering France (the Rhineland)

Question 35

How was the Kapp Putch overcome ?

Answer 35

• The Weimar Republic, fearing for their lives, fled.
• Unable to put the revolt down by force, they urged people/workers to go on strike.
• Many people did since they were left-leaning and didn’t want the Kaiser to return
• After a couple of days Kapp realised he could not govern, he fled and after the minister returned the rebellion collapsed

Question 36

What did Germany lose in terms of land because of the treaty of Versailles ?

Answer 36

• Germany, lost 11 of its colonies and 13% of its European territory
• It lost Northem Schleswig, Eupen, Malmedy, Alsace , Lorraine , Memel, Polish Corridor and Upper Silesia

Question 37

What was the stab in the back myth?

Answer 37

Many German people never believed their army had been defeated in the war. Those who criticised the treaty sald that the army had been betrayed by politicians - that they were ‘stabbed in the back and forced to surrender when they could have won.

Question 38

Who did the Germans blame for the treaty of Versailles ?

Answer 38

The Treaty of Versailles damaged Germany’s economy making the Weimar Republic weak from the start. People blamed the leaders of the new German republic for signing it. They were labelled the ‘November Criminals’ because they surrendered in November 1918 and were seen as traitors to their country.

Question 39

From what groups did the Weimar republic government faced opposition from?

Answer 39

• The extreme right-wing ( the spartacists )
• The extreme right-wing ( the Freikorps )

Question 40

Who were the Spartacists ?

Answer 40

• The extreme Left-wing
• Came from the Independent Socialist Party
• Had backing from the Soviet Union
• Led by Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht
• Based in Berlin

Question 41

Who were the Freikorps?

Answer 41

• The extreme Right-wing
• Made up of ex-soldiers who had kept their weapons
• Had 250,000 men in March 1919
• Organised by regular army

Question 42

What are the challenges from the left - Sparticist revolt?

Answer 42

In January 1919, the Spartacists took over the government’s newspaper and telegraph bureau, and tried to organise a general strike in Berlin. The Weimar government sent Freikorps units to put down the revolt.

Question 43

What are the challenges from the right? - The Kapp putsch?

Answer 43

In March 1920, Freikorps troops, fearing unemployment, decided to march on Berlin.
Ebert asked the head of the army to resist the Freikorps but he refused. A nationalist politician, Dr Wolfgang Kapp, was put in charge by the rebels and the Weimar government fled Berlin seeking safety. In order to put down the rebels, or Kapp Putsch as it became known, the government organised the trade unions to go on strike. This they did and the national strike caused such chaos that Kapp could not rule Germany and was forced to flee. The Weimar ministers returned.

Question 44

Explain political assassinations during this time ( 1919-1923 )?

Answer 44

• From 1919-1923 politicians in the Weimar Republic were worried about assassinations.
• In the early years of the republic, 376 political assassinations took place.
• Some right-wing extremists used the murders to weaken the new republic.
• Conservative judges were sympathetic to the conservative cause and gave them light punishments.

Question 45

What is hyperinflation?

Answer 45

When the price of goods increases it is called inflation; when it increases spectacularly, it is called hyperinflation.

Question 46

What was the price of one piece of bread in 1919, 1922 in 1923?

Answer 46

1919 - 1 mark
1922 - 100 marks
1923 - 200,000
Billion marks

Question 47

Why was there hyperinflation in Germany?

Answer 47

• 1914-18 :
  The government printed more money to pay for the First World War, but it didn’t have more gold - it was bankrupt.
• 1918-22 :
  The Weimar government printed more money for post-war shortages and asked for longer to pay the first reparations instalment.
• January 1923 :
  French troops invaded the Ruhr to take reparations payments in goods and raw materials. German workers went on strike.
  80% of German coal, iron and steel reserves were in the Ruhr and many of its factories. The occupation was a disaster for Germany’s economy.
• The Weimar government printed more money to pay strikers and make up for loss of coal, steel and iron production.
• November 1923 :
  The German mark was worthless.

Question 48

What are the negative effects of hyperinflation in Germany?

Answer 48

• Some people could not afford essentials like bread.
• Wages rose, but not as quickly as prices.
• Some businesses went bankrupt. (Those that made money took over the struggling ones.)
• People with fixed or monthly incomes, such as pensioners, suffered most.
• Savings became worthless. This affected the middle classes most.
• People blamed the Weimar government, which made it even more unpopular.

Question 49

What were the positive affects of hyper inflation in Germany?

Answer 49

• Farmers benefited, as they were paid more for food.
• Some people and businesses could pay off loans and mortgages.
• Fixed rents for rooms or shops became very cheap.
• Foreign visitors could buy more for their money.

Question 50

How did the government fix the problem of hyperinflation?

Answer 50

• In Nov 1923, the new chancellor - Stresemann - set up the Rentenbank and issued the new currency called the Rentemark
• Supply of these notes was tightlycomtrolled. Their value was tied to the price of gold and they were backed by German industrial plants and agricultural land
• In August 1924 the Reichbank was given control of this new currency.

It was renamed the Reichsmark and inflation was over

Question 51

Describe what the reichmark was?

Answer 51

• In November 1923, Stresemann set up the Rentenbank and issued the new currency called the Rentenmark.
• Supply of these notes was tightly controlled. Their value was tied to the price of gold and they were backed by German industrial plants and agricultural land.
• In August 1924 the Reichsbank was given control of this new currency.
  It was renamed the Reichsmark.
  Hyperinflation was over.

Question 52

What was the Dawes plan? What did it do?

Answer 52

In 1924, Charles Dawes, an American banker, designed a plan so Germany could pay its reparations.

• Instalments were temporarily reduced to £50 million a year.
• US banks agreed to make loans to German industry. The Allies felt more confident that they would get their reparations payments.

Question 53

When did the Dawes plan take place?

Answer 53

1924

Question 54

What was the young plan? What did it do?

Answer 54

In August 1929, a committee, set up by the Allies and led by an American banker called Owen Young, proposed a plan.

• The Young Plan reduced the total reparations debt from £6.6 billion to £2 billion.
• The payments could be made over a longer time, up until 1988,
• Lower reparations meant lower taxes for
  German people.
• There was a lot of opposition, especially from the extreme political parties, like the Nazis, who felt it was extending the burden for future generations.

Question 55

When did the young plan take place?

Answer 55

1929

Question 56

What economic problems still continued?

Answer 56

However, there were still problems.

• The extreme political parties were completely against Germany paying the reparations at all.
• The economic recovery solely depended on
  American loans and therefore America’s economy, so it remained fragile.

Question 57

What are the improvements in the economy due to the Dawes plan and the young plan?

Answer 57

The Weimar Republic’s economy improved because:

• industrial output doubled by 1928 and finally passed pre-
  First World War levels
• employment and trade increased.

Question 58

Who was Gustav Stresemann?

Answer 58

Gustav Stresemann resigned the chancellorship in November 1923, but
stayed as foreign secretary until 1929.

Question 59

What did Gustav Stresemann’s work in foreign affairs do?

Answer 59

• strengthened the confidence of the German people in the Weimar Republic
• reduced the support for extremist political parties like the Nazis and the communists
• increased support for moderate parties
• reduced the economic hardships of the German people.

Question 60

What was the Locarno pact? What did it do?

Answer 60

This was an agreement between Germany, Britain, France, Italy and Belgium. In It:

• Germany agreed to its new border with France improving relations with the French
• the Allies and Germany agreed to the permanent demilitarisation of the Rhineland
• German membership of the League of Nations was up for discussion.

Question 61

When did the Locarno pact take place?

Answer 61

1925

Question 62

Why was the Locarno pact successful for Germany?

Answer 62

• It improved relations with France with the border agreement.
• The Locarno Pact was not imposed on Germany, unlike the Treaty of Versailles.
• It increased the status and popularity of the Weimar Republic.
• It helped boost confidence in more moderate political parties.

Question 63

Why was the league of Nations successful for Germany?

Answer 63

• It showed that Germany’s views counted.
• It boosted the confidence held by most Germans in the Weimar government.

Question 64

Describe the league of Nations in relation to Germany?

Answer 64

This was a new international body that hoped to discuss world problems in order to avoid war. It was set up in 1920 but Germany was initially excluded. In 1926, they were invited to join and they became a member of the council,

Question 65

What was the Kellogg-Briand pact?

Answer 65

This was an agreement between 62 nations.
It committed countries to avoiding the use of war to achieve foreign policy objectives.

Question 66

Why was the Kellogg-Briand successful for Germany?

Answer 66

• It showed that Germany was once again a major power.
• It showed that moderate political parties could build Germany’s strength internationally.
• It increased public confidence in how
  Germany was being led.

Question 67

When did the Kellogg-Briand pact take place?

Answer 67

1928

Question 68

Why wasn’t all of Stresemann’s work a success?

Answer 68

There were still some areas of discontent in spite of Stresemann’s work.

• The hated terms of the Treaty of Versailles were still in place.
• The League of Nations was, for some, a symbol of the unpopular Treaty of Versailles.
• Some didn’t like the confirmation of the new border with France.
• There were still extremist parties around.

Question 69

How did living standards improve after 1924, brought about by government funding and policies? What were the negatives ?

Answer 69

Wages and work :

+ Working hours reduced.
+ Wages rose.
+ Working conditions improved.

• Hyperinflation made employment insecure.
• Well-off Germans resented seeing workers benefiting.

Unemployment insurance :

+ 3% of workers’ earnings were deducted to be put towards insurance that would give them a basic amount of benefits if they became unemployed or sick.

Housing :

+ 15% rent tax was introduced to fund building associations.
+ Between 1925 and 1929, 101,000 homes were built.

• There was still a housing shortage but things had improved

Question 70

Describe woman at work during this period of time?

Answer 70

• Some of the gains in equality brought about by the war were lost.
• Most women gave up work after they married.
  There was a drop in women working from 75% in 1918 to 36% in 1925.
• Few women secured high status jobs.
• There was an increase in part-time work.
• Some professions, like teaching and medicine, offered new opportunities to women.
• Women were encouraged to go to university.

Question 71

Describe woman at leisure during this period of time?

Answer 71

• Greater earning power led to more independence for younger, single women.
• Women were less interested in marriage and family and more interested in having a
  “good time.
• The behaviour of ‘new women’ was not liked by some men and women who felt traditional values were being eroded.

Question 72

Describe women in politics during this period of time?

Answer 72

• Women earned the vote in 1918 and could stand for elections.
• 90% turned out at elections.
• Article 109 of the constitution stated that women had equal rights with men and could enter professions on an equal basis.
• Marriage was an equal partnership.

Question 73

What led to a rise in cultural change and experimentation in Germany between 1924 and 1929?

Answer 73

A variety of factors apparently

Question 74

How did art change between 1924 and 1929?

Answer 74

• Weimar artists painted everyday life so that everyone could have access to their art.
• They wanted to make art that commented on problems in German society, or to make people think.
• Their style of work was called Expressionism, showing : raw emotion, the seedier side of everyday life and confronting the disaster of the First World War.
• Artists like Otto Dix and George Grosz were influential to the movement, as was Paul Klee.

Question 75

How did cinema change during 1924 in 1929?

Answer 75

-Films became popular all over the world in the 1920s.
- Expressionism flourished in film-making, particularly in Weimar Germany due to fewer restrictions.
- Some German films were very new and exciting in how they challenged traditional cinema.

Question 76

How did architecture change during 1924 and 1929?

Answer 76

New designers and architects challenged traditional ideas and practices in building and interiors :

• The Bauhaus school was set up in Weimar, in 1919, by the architect Walter Gropius.
• The school attracted
  many talented artists
  and designers.
• Gropius wanted to bring
  together all the disciplines (art, architecture, design, typography, sculpture, etc).
• Their approaches looked radical compared to what had come before.
• Their ideas challenged traditional styles that had been popular before the war.