Depth Study: Germany Flashcards

1
Q

Impact of WW1 on Germany

A

2 million German troops died & 4 million wounded
Germany increase in debt from 50 billion marks to 150 billion
750,000 Germans died of food shortages

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2
Q

Revolution and declaration of the Republic

A

Ebert suspended the old Reichstag and formed the Council of People’s Representatives (temporarily)
Armed people crowed the streets hoping to take over the country
Scheidemann announced republic to crowd to try and prevent communism
August 1919, republic established

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3
Q

Signing the Armistice

A

November 1918
First major decision taken by Ebert government
Treaty of Versailles became big burden for the country

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4
Q

Head of State

A

Head of Weimar Republic
Elected by the people every 7 years
The president chose the chancellor

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5
Q

The Chancellor

A

Head of the government

Chose all government ministers

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6
Q

Cabinet

A

Main decision making body of the government

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7
Q

Electorate

A

Consisted of all men and women over 21 years old

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8
Q

The Parliament

A

Made up of two houses: the Reichstag and Reichsrat
All laws had to pass through both houses
Proportional Representation

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9
Q

Reichstag

A

The more powerful house
Controlled taxation
Directly elected by the people every for 4 years

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10
Q

Reichsrat

A

Elected every 4 years

Represented the regions of Germany

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11
Q

Strengths Weimar

A

Proportional Representation made sure small parties had fair share of seats
Women and Men able to vote
Voting age reduced from 25 to 21
No one group or person could have too much power
Election for president every 7 years
Central government was more powerful than before but local government still retained power of regions
The Reichsrat would regulate the power of the Reichstag by delaying new laws

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12
Q

Weaknesses Weimar

A

Proportional Representation lead to alliances that were unstable found it difficult to have strong policies and often fell apart
Lack of strong government lead weaknesses in a crisis which lead the president to pass laws without consent of the Reichstag. Article 48 allowed him to do this
Not the choice of the people so was not popular.

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13
Q

The Spartacists

A

Left wing
Came from independent Socialist Party
Had soviet backing
Lead by Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht

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14
Q

The Freikorps

A

Right wing
Made up of ex soldiers that kept their weapons
Organised by regular army

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15
Q

Spartacists revolt

A

January 1919
Took over the government’s newspaper and telegraph bureau and tried to organise a general strike in Berlin
Government sent Freikorps to stop revolt
Spartacists leaders shot

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16
Q

The Kapp Putsch

A

March 2020
Freikorps troops marched on Berlin because they feared unemployment
The Weimar Government fled
They ordered trade unions to go on strike
The kapp couldn’t rule and fled
The ministers returned

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17
Q

Political attacks on Weimar Germany

A
Left Wing parties in the Reichstag
Right Wing parties in the Reichstag
The Kapp Putsch 
Right Wing bias in court
Political assassinations
The Spartacists Revolt
Left & Right Wing political armies
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18
Q

Negatives Hyperinflation

A

Some people could not afford essentials like bread
Wages rose but not as quickly as prices
Some people went bankrupt (rich people)
People with fixed or monthly income suffered most
Savings became worthless (affected middle class)
People blamed the Weimar government which made it more unpopular

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19
Q

Positives Hyperinflation

A

Farmers benefitted 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

20
Q

Rentenmark

A
November 1923
Stresemann
Supply was controlled
Value tied to the price of gold (gave public confidence)
Ended hyperinflation
21
Q

The Dawes Plan

A

1924
US gave loans to Germany
Allies felt more confident that they would get their reparation payments

22
Q

The Young Plan

A

August 1929
Reduced the total reparation debt from 6,6 billion to 2 billion
Payments could be made over time
Lower taxes for German people
Some political parties opposed (Nazi’s) saying that it was a burden for future generations.

23
Q

The economy improvements

A

Industrial output doubled

Employment and trade increased

24
Q

The economy problems

A

Extreme political were against paying the reparation payments
Economic recovery depended on American loans (fragile)

25
Q

Stresemann success

A

Resigned the chancellorship in 1923 but stayed as Foreign Minister until 1929 (died)
Strengthened the confidence of the German people
Increased support for moderate parties
Reduced the economic hardships
Made sure Germany was part of 3 important pats: Kellogg-Briand, Locarno and the League of Nations

26
Q

Locarno Pact

A

1925
German, Britain, France, Italy and Belgium
The allies & Germany agreed to permanent demilitarisation of the Rhineland
German membership of the League was up for discussion
Improved relations with France
Not imposed on Germany (unlike the treaty)
Helped to boost confidence of moderate political parties

27
Q

League of Nations

A

1920-1946
Peace keeping organisation
Germany invited to join in 1926 (member of the council)
Shows Germany’s views counted
Boosted the confidence held by most Germans in government

28
Q

Reasons for the Munich Putsch

A
Stab in the back
Reparations
Loss of German colonies
Influenced by Italian Fascists (Mussolini)
Hyperinflation
French invasion of the Ruhr
Hitler thought he had support
29
Q

The Munich Putsch

A

Hitler
Marched on Berlin with 1000 SA + 2000 volunteers
Declared himself president
Forced government leaders to support him at gun point (betrayed and let go)
Hitler was found hiding at a friend’s and arrested
Sent to prison
Failed because of lack of support
Used his trail for publicity
Wrote Mein Kampf in prison
Decided to become a political party

30
Q

Increase in support for Nazi’s

A
Wall Street Crash
Hyperinflation
Hitler was a strong leader
He travelled around the country giving speeches and talking on the radio
The party adopted modern technology
He was a strong leader
His image was on most publicity material
31
Q

Hitler’s Propaganda

A

Pursuaded:
business people that he could solve the economic crisis
Working class people that he could give them work and food
Middle class people that he could protect them from communists, and return Germany to traditional values
Young people to join by providing something exciting for them to be a part of
Women that they were the best party to save their families and the nation

32
Q

Enabling Act

A

Gave Hitler the right to pass laws without the approval of the rest of the government

33
Q

Night of Long Knives

A

SS and Hitler attacked and killed many members of the SA because they were undermining his authority

34
Q

Homosexuals Persecution

A

Goes against traditional Nazi values to have many children

Sent them to concentration camps

35
Q

Disabled Persecution

A

Could not have aryan babies
Euthanised
Sterilised
Based when they were babies

36
Q

Gypsies (Roma) Persecution

A

Didn’t contribute to society (didn’t pay taxes)
Were inferior
Sent to concentration camps

37
Q

Jews Persecution

A
Blamed for loss of WW1
Seen as inferior and selfish
Thought they wanted to take over the world
More successful than them
Laws were passed to make their lives miserable
Businesses were destroyed
Killed (Kristallnacht)
Sent to concentration camps
38
Q

Aims (Women)

A
Traditional Values
Have many children
Stay home and take care of children
Church 
Children 
Cooking
39
Q

Police & Law Courts

A
Anti-Nazi joke
Sex with a Jew
Foreign Radio
Ignored Nazi Crime
Under Nazi control
40
Q

Gestapo

A
Secret Police
Hitler's spies
Opened mail
Tapped phones
Tortured
Information network
41
Q

SS

A
Protection squad
Blond
Tall
Blue-eyed
Elite
Death Camps
42
Q

Film

A

Plots censored

Pro Nazi messages only

43
Q

Mass rallies

A
choirs
band music
Fireworks
Shows Hitler's popularity
arena's could fit 500,000 people
44
Q

Newspapers

A

Controlled by Nazi’s

All others shut down

45
Q

Books, Theatre and Music

A

Burnt books by Jews
Controlled by Nazi’s
No negative Nazi messages

46
Q

Radio

A

Cheap
Many owned them
Spread Nazi propaganda