: Ddemocracy and Dictatorships in Germany 1919–1963 Flashcards
1
Q
describe the impacts of WW1
A
- new gov
- death + causalities
- mass starvation
- financial problems
- losing the war
2
Q
how many German causalities were there from WW1?
A
over 7 million (dead or injured)
3
Q
how many people died of mass starvation after ww1?
A
50,000
4
Q
how was the weimar republic formed?
A
- treaty of versailles stated germany had to become a democracy
- elections held in 1919
- SPD won (led by Friedrich Ebert)
5
Q
describe the weimar constitution
A
- everyone had freedom of speech, religion and meetings
- personal freedom + equality
- all men + women over 30 could vote
- Reichstag voted for by people + made laws
6
Q
what was the voting system in the weimar republic?
A
- percentage of votes = percentage of seats in Reichstag
- 421 seats in reichstag
7
Q
what was article 48?
A
in an emergency/crisis the president can use article 48 to rule themselves meaning they can pass laws freely
8
Q
describe the political system of the weimar republic
A
- head of state (president) head of weimar republic, army. Elected by the people. chose the chancellor. could use article 48
- the gov ➜ chancellor - head of gov, chose by president ➜ cabinet - main decision makers of gov
- parliament ➜ members voted through proportional representation ➜ Reichstag - most powerful part, members voted every 4 years ➜ Reichsrat - represented religions of Germany, members voted every 4 years
- the people - men + women 30+
9
Q
what are strengths of weimar constitution?
A
- proportional representation made sure small parties had a fair share of seats in the gov
- this system meant that not 1 group/person could have too much power it hoped to end dictatorship
- in 1919 germany was the most democratic in Europe, by giving equal rights + votes to women, more than Britain
- elections for both Reichstag + president
- free speech, freedom of religions
10
Q
what are limitations of weimar constitution
A
- proportional representation often led to coalition govs who found it difficult to get along + agree so often collapsed
- 1920s ➜ 29 political parties which meant less chance of 1 getting majority
- army, judges, civil servants wanted kaiser to return
- article 48 could lead to dictatorship
- weimar republic widely opposed
11
Q
describe the political spectum
A
RIGHT
- National Socialist Party (NSDAP) ➜ opposed weimar republic, supported by middle-class, wealthy, ex-soldiers
- German People’s Party (DVP) ➜ accepted weimar republic, supported by upper-middle class
CENTRE
Centre Party ➜ supported weimar republic, supported by catholics, conservatives
LEFT
Social Democrats (SPD) ➜ supported weimar republic, supported by workers, middle-class
Communists (KPD) ➜ opposed weimar republic, supported by workers
12
Q
when was the treaty of versailles signed?
A
28th June 1919
13
Q
what were notable terms of the treaty of versailles?
A
- war guilt clause ➜ germany had to accept full blame for starting the war
- germany wasn’t allowed in league of nations
- had to pay £6.6 billion to allies, germany lost its merchant army, France was given the Saar coalfields for 15 years
- army limited to 100,000 men, conscription was banned, no tanks or artillery, navy only had 6 battleships, air force banned, rhineland demilitarised
- lost 13% of its land + 6 million germans, 48% of coal production lost, colonies given to britain + france, union with Austria was forbidden, territory in west Prussia + upper silesia given to poland to create polish corridor
14
Q
what was the Diktat?
A
diktat = dictated peace
- germans given no say in the treaty
- Ebert + weimar gov called november criminals who stabbed germany in the back to take power from kaiser + army
15
Q
how did germans feel abt article 231 (guilt clause)?
A
- hated it ➜ shouldnt be blamed for kaiser + other countries actions. felt disgraced/humilated.
16
Q
why did unrest spread across germany?
A
- many hated republic for signing treaty
- high taxes (reparations)
- others fought for political reasons whilst many were unhappy at social problems
- communist revolution in Russia spread ideas of a revolution to germany
17
Q
describe the threat from the left (group + background)
A
sparticists ➜ communists. wanted everyone to be equal, people own business, profits shared out
background ➜ 1918 - revolution popular idea many workers set up council. worried army + republic because they didnt want a communist revolution
18
Q
describe the sparticist uprising
A
- led by Karl Liebknecht + Rosa Luxemberg
- January 1919 ➜ 50,000 Sparticists attempted to overthrow republic
- captured a gov newspaper (failed to take any others or get any support)
- ebert used army + freikorps to stop them
- defeat ➜ both leaders killed
19
Q
describe the threat from the right (group + background)
A
friekorps
background ➜ right wing groups (army) hated the weimar republic for signing the treaty. Wanted to set up military right wing dictatorship
20
Q
describe the kapp putsch
A
- 1920 ➜ Ebert tried to reduce the size of the army + disband Freikorps
- Leader of the Friekorp Wolfgang Kapp then seized gov buildings + declared a new gov
- weimar gov fled to Dresden + ordered army to stop the putsch but they refused
- Ebert encouraged workers of Berlin to strike which workers agreed with
- new gov collapsed in days putsch failed
21
Q
what was the background of the Ruhr crisis?
A
- 1923 ➜ germany was struggling to pay reparations
- Jan 1923 ➜ germany didnt pay france
- france needed to pay USA
- france took raw materials e.g. coal and steel by taking the Ruhr (80% of Germany’s steel was produced there)
-
22
Q
describe the ruhr crisis (including year)
A
- 11th January 1923 ➜ 60,000 French + Belgian troops march into Ruhr, seize control of all mines factories railways
- french thought germans would work for them
- people support weimar’s idea of a strike (most people stop working some burn factories)
- french brought their own workers
- resistance leaders were arrested imprisoned and deported
- huge protests over french treatment of workers
- french shoot a number of strikers (some french soldiers are killed too)
- german industrial production fell dramatically
23
Q
what were the results of the ruhr crisis?
A
- invasion united german people against french and impact of treaty
- to support workers gov prints out more money
- however gov had no money as a result value of the mark began to drop
- hyperinflation
24
Q
what is inflation?
A
when money loses its value so you need more money to pay for the same thing
25
what is hyperinflation?
when out of control inflation happens very quickly over weeks + months
26
what were the causes of hyperinflation?
- reparations ➜ £6.6 billion reparations almost bankrupted germany
- occupation of the ruhr ➜ gov didn't have enough money to pay reparations with french taking the ruhr so they printed more money. When a gov prints money (that it doesnt have) the value of money decreases but prices increase
27
what were the costs of bread between 1918 and 1923?
Nov 1918 ➜ 1 mark
Nov 1922 ➜ 163 marks
Sep 1923 ➜ 1.5 million marks
Nov 1923 ➜200 billion marks
28
what were the effects of hyperinflation?
- mark became worthless ➜ millions faced starvation + poverty
- prices increased extremely quickly ➜ workers when paid had to rush into shops as prices increased by the hour
- money used a cheap alternative for fuel
29
how did hyperinflation impact german people?
✖ pensioners ➜ their pensions + savings became worthless as prices rose. They could not work either so faced starvation or couldn't afford to heat their homes
✖ middle-class ➜ savings became worthless. Business men couldn't buy goods from abroad (german money worthless). Many became bankrupt. However debts were now easy to pay off
✔ workers ➜ they did well, had few savings, those emploed were paid higher wages
✔ farmers ➜ could grow + eat their own food, could trade food
✔ the rich ➜ had land, possessions, foreign currency. Possessions could be traded
30
how did the weimar republic recover?
- Dawes plan
- Young plan
- solving the ruhr crisis
- international respect
31
when did stresemann become chancellor?
August 1923
32
what was the Dawes plan?
- stresemann gained help from US banker Charles Dawes
- All currency to be destroyed
- introduced temp currency (rentenmark)
- more time to pay reparations ➜ 2.5 billion marks a year
- Us banks agreed to loan germany money ➜ over 6 years 53 billion was given
33
how was the Ruhr crisis solved?
- stresemann ordered the strike to end
- French + Belgium troops left as Germany was now able to pay
- German industry began again
34
how did Germany gain international respect?
- 1925 ➜ signed Locarno treaty
- this treaty agreed countries borders should stay the same
- this improved international relationships
- Germany joined Leeague of Nations in 1925
- also signed the kellog-briand pact
35
what was the Kellogg-Briand pact and what year was it signed?
64 countires agreed to keep armies but solve future issues peacefully
1928
36
how did stresemann achieve political stability?
- introduced a coalition gov that agreed and could work together
- decisions could now be made in the Reichstag
37
did germany recover thanks to stresemann in 1924-29 (yes)?
* Stresemann successful ended the Ruhr Crisis and Hyperinflation - Germany’s most serious crises in 1923 Stresemann had hugely improved Germanys
international reputation with the Locarno Treaty, entry to the League of Nations and Kellogg Briand Pact.
* The ending of hyperinflation meant that people could
buy goods again, workers could be paid and families no
longer risked starvation
* As a result of the loans and ending hyperinflation,
industry grew between 1924-29 by 40%
* Wages increased, working hours did not increase and as a
result workers were happier. There was less striking.
38
did germany recover thanks to stresemann in 1924-29 (no)?
* Germany was very reliant on the loans from America – if
they were to go, Germany would fall into crisis (This
happened in 1929 after the Wall Street Crash)
* Unemployment still remained a problem, it peaked at
10% in 1927
* The middle classes never recovered from hyperinflation
and the economic crises, they felt they were ignored by
the Weimar Republic and hated them.
* Farmers continued to struggle in the 1920s, their profits
drooped and production never
* Hatred towards the Weimar Republic never went away,
some like the Nazis thought that Stresemann had given in
to the French in the Ruhr
39
how did wages + employment change in the weimar Republic?
- wages increased every year from 1924 ➜ german workers best paid in europe
- middle-class didnt have a pay raise and unemployment was high
40
how did housing change in the weimar republic?
- 1942-1931 ➜ 2 million+ houses were built
- 1928 ➜ homelessness reduced by 60%
41
how did unemployment insurance change in the weimar republic?
- unemployment insurance law 1927 ➜ workers + employers make contributions for unemployment welfare
- benefits + assistance to war vets, wives + dependents of dead, single mothers and disabled
42
how did politics change in the weimar republic?
- 1919 ➜ women voting
- constitution introduced equality in education, work
- 1926 ➜ 26 women working in Reichstag
43
how had womens leisure changed in the weimar republic?
- more social freedom
- drank, smoke in public
- wore makeup, short skirts etc
44
how had womens employment changed in the weimar republic
- increase in employment ➜ teaching, social work, assembly line
- equal pay
- 1933 ➜ 100,000 women teachers
- still hostility to women working
45
who were the DAP?
German Workers Party set up in Munich 1919
46
describe Hitler and the birth of the Nazi party 1919-21?
- hitler invited to DAP in 1919
- hitler becomes Drexler's right hand man
- 1920 ➜ announce 25 point programme
- Membership grew because of hitler
- 1920 ➜ 3000 members
- hitler suggests Dap changes its name to NSDAP (Nazis for short)
- choose swastika as symbol
- July 1921 ➜ hitler becomes the leader
47
when did hitler become head of DAP/NSDAP/nazis?
July 1921
48
what were the key points of the 25 point programme?
- creation of strong central gov
- union of all germans in a greater germany
- increase pensions for elderly
- nationalise industries (gov control)
- everyone should have a job
- build up army
- only germans should be members of the nation (Jews etc had to leave)
- expand germany to feed people + settle surplus (Lebensraum)
- all citizens should have equal rights + duties
- every hard-working german have the chance of higher education
- state must protect mothers + infants ➜ stop children working
49
how did hitler organise his party?
- office in Munich
- brought 2 newspapers that allowed them to spread their message
- Carefully picked political leaders ➜ Rudolf Hess (Hitler's deputy), Hermann Goering (ww1 hero), Julius Streicher (publisher), Ernest Rohm (popular ex army officer)
- also made powerful allies (leader of army during ww1)
50
what was the role of the SA?
- H used to control the party
- set up in August 1921
- many were ex-soldiers
- paraded in streets as a show of force
- August 1922 ➜ 800 members
- control crowd meetings (often using violence)
- attack opposition
- SA strengthened NSDAP and made H more powerful
51
describe how hitler had control over NSDAP?
- by January 1922 ➜ H had complete control
- he persuaded members to give up their power and elect a leader
- This was the Fuhrerprinzip ➜ hitler the Furher (leader) had complete power + authority
- H's leadership made membership grow from 1,100 in June 1920 to 55,000 in November 1923
52
what was the munich putsch?
- November 1923 ➜ H launched Munich putsch to overthrow weimar republic
- failed with 14 dead Nazis + H in prison
- until 1928 Nazi party struggled to gain support.
53
describe the events of the munich putsch?
8th November 1923 ➜ H with 600 SA entered a beer hall in Munich where Bavarian gov were meeting. At gunpoint H forced leaders (Von Kahr, Lossow and Von Seisser) to support him.
- Rohm + the Sa took over local police + army headquarters.
- When H left Ludendorf then other leaders go they refused to support the putsch
9th November 1923 ➜ H gathered with 1000 SA + 2000 Volunteers supporters + marched on Munich town centre to declare himself the president of germany
- he hoped local people would support him but they didnt neither did the army. H was met by state police, there was a shoot out, Ludendorf, Rohm + Streicher were arrested.
11th November 1923 ➜ H was captured + arrested. 14 Nazis dead, H injured, allied imprisoned, putsch failed
54
what were the causes for the munich putsch?
long term causes
- stab in the back theory, reparations, loss of war, loss of colonies.
- resentment of weimar republic
medium term causes
- heavily influenced by facists in Italy led by Mussolini
short term causes
- hyperinflation
- Ruhr crisis
- weimar republic seen as weak
55
what were the consequences of the Munich Putsch?
short term
- Ludendorff was found innocent as a respected soldier of ww1
- H sentenced to 5 years in prison
- Nazis banned
Long term
- H only served 9 months ➜ national publicity for nazis, spent testimony attacking weimar republic and Jews
- H used time in prison to write mein kampf
- H realised he needed a new strategy ➜ violence didn't work so democracy
- ban on nazis lifted in 1925
56
what were the lean years of 1924-28?
- Munich Putsch ➜ political disaster for Nazis
- H wrote mein kampf and plan reorginasiation
- H released December 1924
57
what ideas did mein kampf include?
- Nationalism ➜ he wanted to make germany great again ➜ reversing treaty of versailles, building up army, invading russia
- H believed Aryan race was destined to rule the world but Jews tried to weaken them
- Socialism ➜ using wealth of germany to benefit working class
- totalitarianism ➜ removing democracy
- traditional values ➜ strong christian family values with clear gender roles
58
describe the relaunch of the nazi party
- 27th feb 1925 H re-launched the Nazi party at Munich Beer Hall. 4000 people came.
- H began to change structure of Nazi party
59
how did H reorganise the Nazi organisation?
- based in munich with departments for finance, education and industry. Raised money for businessmen who supported nazis
- germany was split into 35 regions each with a local leader. H used these to keep control over the party
- set up hitler youth + womens order to gain more members
- by 1929 ➜ 100,000 members
60
how did H reogranise leadership of the Nazis?
- 1926 ➜ Bamburg conference, H won leadership of party but Goebbels was made Gauleiter of Berlin as a reward
- Bamburg ➜ H squashed splits between nationalist and socialist parts of party
- Ernest Rohm was removed as leader of SA (seen as a threat)
- H set up SS which were H's bodyguards
61
how did H reorganise to develop support for the nazis?
- Goebbels put in charge of propaganda ➜ tried to appeal to people's feelings
- targeted businessmen, farmers, women, soldiers, haters of weimar republic treaty of versailles Jews,
- waged a propaganda campaign
62
why did the Nazis fail to secure more votes?
- golden years ➜ stresemann made germany more economically stable, people had more money + jobs. People supported Nazis less because of this. Stresemann also improved international relations pleasing citizens
- ex army general Hindenburg became president making more people support the weimar republic
- Nazis struggled to get any support from working classes (who were the majority)
63
how did a depression occur in germany?
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