Depth Study: Germany Flashcards
Impact of WW1 on Germany
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
Revolution and declaration of the Republic
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
Signing the Armistice
November 1918
First major decision taken by Ebert government
Treaty of Versailles became big burden for the country
Head of State
Head of Weimar Republic
Elected by the people every 7 years
The president chose the chancellor
The Chancellor
Head of the government
Chose all government ministers
Cabinet
Main decision making body of the government
Electorate
Consisted of all men and women over 21 years old
The Parliament
Made up of two houses: the Reichstag and Reichsrat
All laws had to pass through both houses
Proportional Representation
Reichstag
The more powerful house
Controlled taxation
Directly elected by the people every for 4 years
Reichsrat
Elected every 4 years
Represented the regions of Germany
Strengths Weimar
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
Weaknesses Weimar
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.
The Spartacists
Left wing
Came from independent Socialist Party
Had soviet backing
Lead by Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht
The Freikorps
Right wing
Made up of ex soldiers that kept their weapons
Organised by regular army
Spartacists revolt
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
The Kapp Putsch
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
Political attacks on Weimar Germany
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
Negatives Hyperinflation
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
Positives Hyperinflation
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
Rentenmark
November 1923 Stresemann Supply was controlled Value tied to the price of gold (gave public confidence) Ended hyperinflation
The Dawes Plan
1924
US gave loans to Germany
Allies felt more confident that they would get their reparation payments
The Young Plan
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.
The economy improvements
Industrial output doubled
Employment and trade increased
The economy problems
Extreme political were against paying the reparation payments
Economic recovery depended on American loans (fragile)
Stresemann success
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
Locarno Pact
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
League of Nations
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
Reasons for the Munich Putsch
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
The Munich Putsch
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
Increase in support for Nazi’s
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
Hitler’s Propaganda
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
Enabling Act
Gave Hitler the right to pass laws without the approval of the rest of the government
Night of Long Knives
SS and Hitler attacked and killed many members of the SA because they were undermining his authority
Homosexuals Persecution
Goes against traditional Nazi values to have many children
Sent them to concentration camps
Disabled Persecution
Could not have aryan babies
Euthanised
Sterilised
Based when they were babies
Gypsies (Roma) Persecution
Didn’t contribute to society (didn’t pay taxes)
Were inferior
Sent to concentration camps
Jews Persecution
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
Aims (Women)
Traditional Values Have many children Stay home and take care of children Church Children Cooking
Police & Law Courts
Anti-Nazi joke Sex with a Jew Foreign Radio Ignored Nazi Crime Under Nazi control
Gestapo
Secret Police Hitler's spies Opened mail Tapped phones Tortured Information network
SS
Protection squad Blond Tall Blue-eyed Elite Death Camps
Film
Plots censored
Pro Nazi messages only
Mass rallies
choirs band music Fireworks Shows Hitler's popularity arena's could fit 500,000 people
Newspapers
Controlled by Nazi’s
All others shut down
Books, Theatre and Music
Burnt books by Jews
Controlled by Nazi’s
No negative Nazi messages
Radio
Cheap
Many owned them
Spread Nazi propaganda
