Early Weimar Flashcards
Who was otto von Bismark?
Prussian statesman
Engineered the unification wars
Chancellor of the Second German
Reich (1871-1890)
Pushed for Austrian exclusion from
the Reich and establishment of a
Prussian institution of government
(with Prussian dominance)
Kaiser Wilhelm II
3rd King of the Second Reich (1888-
1918)
Grandson of Queen Victoria
Cousin to George V of Britain, and
Nicholas II of Russia
Prussian militarist who believed in
divine power
General Erich Ludendorff
Erich Ludendorff was a German general who gained renown during the First World War, primarily for his efforts on the eastern front. He and future German President Paul von Hindenburg built a military empire in the east that lasted until the Germany’s defeat in 1918.
Who was Field Marshal Paul von Hindenburg
president of the Weimar Republic from the 12 May 1925 until his death on the 2 August 1934.
Who was prince Max of Baden?
Member of the Grand Duchy of Baden
Former army officer
Appointed chancellor by Wilhelm in October 1918 (after being recommended by Ludendorff)
The Peace Note- Prince Max wrote to President Wilson asking for an armistice as a means of buying time to re-group and prepare for a new offensive.
Resigned on 9th November 1918 and appointed Friedrich Ebert as his successor
After the peace note to President Wilson in December 1916 what were some reforms put in place?
Prince max chancellor
chancellor responsible to reichstag
new goverment based on majority parties in Reichstag
Armed forces under civil control
What were some of Wilson’s 14 points
open diplomacies without secret treaties
economic free trade on the seas during war and peace
equal trade conditions
decrease armaments among all nations
Adjust colonial claims
Self determination for nations
league of nations
What were some points Germany was most fond of?
FREE TRADE
This is because Germany suffered a lot during due to starvation so free trade would allow them food during all times
DECREASE AMARMENTS
This would allow Germany to feel same at all times as although they themselves would have to decrease armaments it would decrease the military of the surrounding nations decreasing the likely hood of another war and/or invasion
How did the 14 points go down with the German public?
What happened after?
The showed the truth so they lost respect for their leaders.
Naval high command ordered one last attack on British ships. crew of two cruisers refused
mutiny spreads
Bavarian republic declared 1918 November
Strike in berlin SPD
Prince Max resigns and Ebert now has power
Groener declares army will no longer fight for Kaiser
Kaiser left with no option
When did the kaiser abdicate and what did it cause?
November 9th 1918 the kaiser was informed his reign was at an end
Then he was forced into abdication and flee to the Netherlands
This causes political instability
The main reason the Kaiser was forced to abdicate was because he had lost the support of the soldiers and the sailors’. Assess the validity of this view. (25 marks)
Do this exam question and give it in to mark
When did Ebert become chancellor and what was the state of Germany when he came into power?
1) November 1918
2) It was anarchy and his authority did not extend outside Berlin as unemployed ex soldiers were doing armed clashes and strikes
he needed a new constitution
Who is on the left of the political spectrum?
Spartacist KPD - communist
USPD
SPD
DDP
Who is on the right of the political spectrum?
DVP
DNVP
NSPD (NAZIs)
Who were the leaders of the Spartacists?
Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg.
who were the leaders of the USPD?
Hugo Hasse.
Who were the leaders of the Social democratic party?
Friedrich Ebert and Philipp Scheidemann.
What were the aims of the Spartacist League (later KPD) ?
Wanted republican government controlled by workers’ and soldiers’ councils, welfare benefits, nationalisation, workers’ control of major industries, disbanding of the army and creation of local workers’ militias. Opposed to First World War.
What were the aims of the social Democratic party?
Wanted moderate socialist republic with democratic elections and basic personal freedoms, welfare improvements and gradual nationalisation of industry. Wanted continuity and order. Supported Germany’s entry into First World War.
What were the aims of the USPD?
Wanted a republic with national Reichstag working with workers’ and soldiers’ councils, welfare improvements, nationalisation of industry, breaking up of large estates, reform of the army and creation of a national militia. Opposed to First World War.
When were the Spartacist league (KPD) founded?
1916, by a more revolutionary minority group from the SPD. The name was changed to German Communist Party (KPD) in January 1919.
when was the USPD founded?
1917, by a breakaway minority group from the left of the SPD.
when was Social Democratic Party (SPD) founded?
875, as a Marxist socialist party committed to revolution.
Spartacist League (later KPD)
support?
Several workers would often join them on their rallies and demonstrations in the street.
USPD support?
Grew in strength during 1918 as war-weariness grew.
Social Democratic Party (SPD)
support?
Appealed largely to working-class voters and, in 1912, became the largest party in the Reichstag.
What was the German democratic party DDP?
A left-leaning liberal party, based on the old Progressive Party
Most support came from intellectuals and middle class
Supported a democratic constitution
what was the Germans people party?
(DVP)
A right-leaning liberal party, based on the old National Liberal Party
Most support came from upper-middle class and business interests
Opposed to new republic but willing to participate in its governments
What was the centre party?
Formed in 1870 to protect Catholic interest in the mainly protestant German Reich
Had strong support in the main Catholic areas of Bavaria and the Rhineland
Supported a democratic constitution
what was the (DNVP) German national people’s party ?
A nationalist party, based on the old Conservative Party
Most support came from landowners and some small business owners
Rejected the democratic constitution
why was the left a danger to Ebert?
they wanted old aristocratic estates were broken up
the army, the civil service and the judiciary were democratised
key industries nationalised under the control of the workers
what did Ebert agree to do temporarily ?
Ebert agreed to consider these groups when making decisions
what was the Ebert Groener pact?
It was done in November 1918
The army would give support to Ebert if Ebert promised the army would not be democratised
and Ebert would defend against the communist revolution
It was not very reliable because the army didn’t want democracy but it despised Bolshevism
what happened between December 1918 and January 1919?
6th dec 1918 - Spartacist demonstration berlin by soldiers killing 16
23-24 dec 1918 - sailors revolt in berlin that was put down by army leading to 3 USPD ministers resigning
6th Jan 1919 - Spartacist launched revolt led by Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg - Jan revolt - crushed by army and Freikcorps in a week limited support
brutal street fighting but limited support
Was Ebert effective in dealing with the problems in post-Wilhelm Germany?
exam question
what is a constituent assembly?
n elected body with the specific task of drawing up a new constitution, usually in the aftermath of a revolution.
Who was the 1st president?
Ebert
What were some things that made the constitution progressive?
Great exercise of parliamentary democracy
Women could vote for the first time
SPD secured largest share of the vote and the most seats…but not enough for a majority
Why was the constituent assembly held in Weimar rather that Berlin?
Weimar rather than Berlin because the political situation in the capital was still unstable in the aftermath of the January Revolution. This is how the new political order came to receive its name- The Weimar Republic.
what are 4 features of the Weimar republic in 1918?
Ebert was elected as the first President of the German Republic
Coalition government between the SPD, the Centre Party, and the German Democratic Party
Philipp Scheidemann of the SPD became chancellor
Workers’ and soldiers’ councils handed their powers over to the Constituent Assembly
Agreement that new republic should be a break away from the autocratic constitution drawn up by OVB for German empire in 1871
What are the strengths of the Weimar constitution?
Voting - Women could vote and become deputies in the Reichstag
Proportional Representation: - enabled smaller parties to win seats and influence government.
Local Democracy: Democracy at all levels so no state could dominate politics
Individual Rights: All Germans equal before the law. Censorship is forbidden. Religious freedoms. Right of property guaranteed. Personal liberty is inviolable. Economic freedom for the individual. ‘All germans are equal before the law’ . Gave illegitimate children the same rights as legitimate children
Referendums: Could be called by the president, the Reichsrat, or if a tenth of the electorate applied for one.
What was proportional representation?
Proportional Representation: A system of elections in which parties are allocated seats in parliament according to the proportion of votes they receive
What was the new political hierarchy in the Reichstag in 1918?
the president - head of state, elected every 7 years appointed ministers , could dissolve reichstag , supreme commander of armed forces, Article 48 - could rule if emergency
Chancellor - proposed laws, had to have support of half Reichstag
Reichstag - chancellor answerable to Reichstag, elected every 4 years by germans 20 and over , laws had to have majority approval of Reichstag deputies
REICHSTRAT - made of 67 reps from 17 states not one state could have over 40 percent of house could be overridden by Reichstag
Electorate
The judiciary was independent
What were the weaknesses of the Weimar constitution?
smaller parties could gain representation in the Reichstag- something that does not usually happen in a system of elections based on first past the post principle. This enabled small parties to exploit the system to gain publicity.(anti-republican)
Coalition Governments: Due to the smaller parties, none of the larger parties could gain a majority – forcing them to form coalitions.
What aspects of the new German Republic were similar to what had previously been in place under the the Kaiser during the Second Reich? -politically
They both had a supreme head of state that could shut down the Reichstag
Both had the Reichstag
Both had a chancellor
both had the Electorate
What aspects of the new German Republic were similar to what had previously been in place under the the Kaiser during the Second Reich?
-army
Supported autocracy with disdain on the new democratic republic. They would not fit into the new democratic republic.
were not politically neutral
support right wing
crush left wing revolts
General Seeckt believed the army had a destiny bound to a “greater German Reich” believed the army owed loyality to a timeless reich that was a true expression of German nationhood.
Seeckt believed the army could intervene in politics at will
What aspects of the new German Republic were similar to what had previously been in place under the the Kaiser during the Second Reich?
-judiciary
Guarantee of ‘well-earned rights’
Political freedom as long as did not conflict with their duties of loyalty to the state
Government administration left in the hands of anti-democratic folk
Senior civil servants still recruited from the aristocracy
What aspects of the new German Republic were similar to what had previously been in place under the the Kaiser during the Second Reich?
- civil service
Article 102 of the constitution Independence of judges guaranteed
Second Reich judges were monarchist and anti-democratic, showing bias in their judgements
Left-wingers brought to court were harshly punished
Right-wingers brought to court were treated leniently
Who were the three main people in the negotiations of the Treaty of Versailles Jan 1919?
Clemenceau & France
Lloyd-George & Britain
Wilson & USA
What was the treaty of Brest-Litovsk
russia lost territories and 1/4 of citizens and resources like grains
gave up Poland and the Baltic states of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia to Germany and Austria-Hungary;
What did Germany believe the TOV would be based on?
Wilson’s 14 points
When did the allies meet to discuss the TOV?
18th Jan 1919
When were German delegates given the 1st draft of the treaty?
7th may 1919
when did Germany sign the TOV?
28th June 1919
what were the military clauses of the TOV?
- e Rhineland was to be demilitarized
-Germany was prohibited from the arms trade, limits were imposed on the type and quantity of weapons and prohibited from the manufacture or stockpile of chemical weapons, armoured cars, tanks and military aircraft. - 6 light cruisers
- 12 torpedo boats
forbidden submarines
6 pre dreadnoughts battle ships
so not exceed 1500 men
prohibited air force
what were the territorial clauses of the TOV ?
stripped Germany of 65,000 km2 (25,000 sq mi) of territory and 7 million people
Saar coalmines to France and control of the Saar to the League of Nations for 15 years;
f Alsace-Lorraine to France
historical and ethnic grounds, was transferred to Poland so that the new state could have access to the sea and became known as the Polish Corridor.
League of Nations to establish the Free City of Danzig.[n. 15]
GIVE LAND TO Czechoslovakia, Lithuania, Belgium
What were the reparations Germany had to pay as part of the TOV ?
132 billion gold marks
in foreign currency
resources
gold
War guilt clause ?
Article 231 - had to accept full responsibility of the war
Anschluss was band - union between Germany and Austria hungry
German reaction to the TOV?
disbelief and horror. - Germany had been one of the greatest military powers in Europe, humiliating and a ‘dictated’ peace treaty, few Germans would accept moral responsibility
why did the German people and government dislike the TOV?
separation of German speakers went against Wilson’s idea of national self-determination in his 14 points. They were now living in non-German states such as Czechoslovakia and Poland.
‘war guilt clause’ was seen as unjust as the idea that Germany was encircled into a war by the Allies persisted
The amount of reparations was far too high and unjust – especially given its correlation to war guilt, cripple the German economy.
Disarming Germany and excluding her from the League of Nations were seen as examples of unjust discrimination
infringed traditional German values as patriotic songs and festivals were banned in such areas
What were Wilson’s 14 points?
- all countries have self determination
- all countries decrease armaments among nations
-create league of nations - open diplomacy
- free trade on seas in war and peace
- equal trade conditions
- Return of Alsace-Lorraine region and all French territories
9. Readjust Italian borders
10. Austria-Hungary to be provided an opportunity for self-determination
What did France, Britain, USA want?
france - revenge
Britain - revenge - but germany still trade
usa - peace
What happened when the German Government received the TOV first draft?
In May 1919 - tried to negotiate since
it was incomparable with German honour.
June - allies reject request and given 7 days to sign
Scheidemann wanted to reject but most SPD and cabinet believed they had no choice
scheidemann resigned in june
handed power to Gustav Bauer to sign treaty - new coalition cabinet
Who was Gustav Bauer?
SPD deputy 1912
Minister of Labour under Prince Max, Ebert and then Scheidemann
Became Chancellor in June 1919
Resigned in March 1920 after the Kapp Putsch
What was the Armies reaction to the TOV?
Hindenburg and High ranking officers considered resistance through military action
President Ebert told Groener he would reject the treaty if military resistance was guaranteed to be successful
Groener couldn’t garentee
so treaty signed
What is Groener’s influence?
strong influence
prepares Ebert
What is Ebert’s political situation when signing the TOV ?
difficult situation
vulnerable
risk loosing army
What is Hindenburg influence?
Not very effective influence as doesn’t carry out things that he needs to do
but influence over army strong
popular and he links to previous regimes
What is the relationship between Hindenburg and Groener?
tense
Hindenburg stubborn
Groener sceptical
How could the moderate parties signing the TOV end for the moderate parties in Germany in 1919?
(what did moderate parties ask the far left to do?)
Turned supporters into enemies - Alienated moderates who had been happy to accept the new constitution and its promises of a ‘better’ Germany, but who could not stomach politicians who appeared to have betrayed an unbeaten country.
Political demoralisation, associating the Republic once again with weakness and failure
so asked opposition - far left- to not call them unpatriotic
what was the reaction from the right to the Tov
resentment intensified
signing of the peace settlement was the final straw and led many to join groups committed to overthrowing the Republic.
Betrayed father land
November criminals
Dolchstos - stab in the back - Ludendorff and Hindenburg promoted
nationalist attacks on government appealed to ex-soldiers
who were the Freikorps?
Soldiers who struggled to adapt to civilian life edged towards the Freikorps or right-wing groups
Worked like the military in order and structure
Infamous for putting down communist uprisings
“Military meets the police”
What was the perks and pitfalls of the Freikorps for the allies?
stop communism = p
not allowed give Germany strength = n
What was the perks and pitfalls of the Freikorps for the right wing?
increase support, take left wing support = p
reputation gets a hit - N
What was the perks and pitfalls of the Freikorps for the army?
share views = p
could be challenged and controlled = n
What was the perks and pitfalls of the Freikorps for the President and the Chancellor?
keep army happy, give authority, fight communists = p
lack of control, bigger than army = n
What was the perks and pitfalls of the Freikorps for the Reichstag?
right wing support
threat to left wing
threat to democracy
What was the perks and pitfalls of the Freikorps for the communists ?
none
British reaction to the TOV?
Mostly, British public opinion was satisfied
Privately, Lloyd George worried that Germany was too weak to stop the expansion of the USSR
Some saw the French as being greedy within the treaty
Economist John Maynard Keynes believed the reparations amount was too high and could lead to economic instability in Europe
French reaction to the TOV?
Felt they had suffered the most during the war and so deserved all that they gained
Some believed the treaty to be too lenient on Germany (leading to Clemenceau’s political downfall)
Marshal Foch: ‘This is not peace. It is an armistice for twenty years.’
US reaction to the TOV?
Generally negative reaction – treaty unfair on Germany
Britain and France had enriched themselves
Republicans opposed the treaty, forcing Wilson to make a separate peace with Germany in 1921 through lack of Congressional approval
Isolationism halted America’s involvement in European affairs
he impact of the Treaty of Versailles on the new Weimar Republic between 1919 and 1924 was more damaging economically than politically.’ Assess the validity of this view
Exam question get marked
How were paying reparations an issue for Germany ?
Gold - reserves inadequate for scale of reparations
coal - lost part in TOV
manufactured goods - Allied manufacturers believed it a threat to their businesses
Exports: Allies hindered export trade by confiscating the merchant fleet and imposing high tariffs on imports of German goods
Who was Konstantin Fehrenbach?
Leading member of the Centre Party
President (Speaker) of the Reichstag, 1919-1920
Became chancellor in 1920
Led the first cabinet in the new republic that did not include the SPD
How was Germany going to rebuild it’s economy if it had won the war?
what happened instead?
Idea that victory would lead to annexing industrial areas of defeated nations and be paid in reparations.
instead they had to pay as in 1.44 billion marks worth of debt
How was the war financed in Germany?
printing more money - risky
and borrowing money
What were the issues when Germany tried to fix it’s economy?
couldn’t raise taxes without alienating Weimar support for the new republic as anti-republican parties would be able to claim that taxes were being raised to pay reparations to the Allies.
need to pay civil service
instead increase welfare benefits
debt rising
MAIN ISSUE INFLATION
What were the negatives of inflation?
Prices doubled between 1918 and 1919, then quadrupled between 1919 and 1920
1920 coalition, led by Fehrenbach, was dominated by the Centre Party and supported by industrialists. They were benefiting from inflation.
what were the positives of inflation?
1921: unemployment was 1.8% (17% in Britain) this encouraged investment.
Investment was encouraged (especially from the USA)
However, left unchecked, led to serious consequences (hyperinflation crisis of 1923)
Industrialists took short-term loans from Germany’s central bank to expand (repayment amount reduced by inflation)
What were the political issues that Germany faced in the aftermath of the Treaty of Versailles?
Reparations commission concluded Germany should pay 132 billion gold marks in annual instalments
Fehrenbach’s cabinet resigned and was replaced by one led by Chancellor Joseph Wirth
First payment made not long after signing- no alternative and new government signed unwillingly.
Policy of fulfilment- cooperation
Who was Joseph Wirth?
Originally a schoolteacher
Entered politics as a member of the Centre Party
Became Minister of Finance in 1920
Became chancellor in 1921
What happened between Jan 1922 to Nov 1922
Jan = Reparations Commission granted a postponement of the Jan and Feb instalments because Germany was in financial trouble
Jul 1922 - German govt. asked for suspensions of payments for the year
NOV 1922 - German govt. asked for loan of 500 million gold marks and to be released from reparations for 3-4 years in the hopes of stabilising the economy
French refused to agree German govt. asked for loan of 500 million gold marks and to be released from reparations for 3-4 years in the hopes of stabilising the economy
Clash over reparations in 1923 during which the French and Belgian forces occupied the Ruhr in an attempt to extract them by force
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Which groups were in need of social welfare after WW1?
war veterans
Elderly
small business owners
youth in education/ apprenticeships / not in work or education
orphans
war widows and families
workers
disabled
What happened in 1919 regarding well fare reforms?
Law passed limiting the working day to a max of 8 hours.
The state health insurance system (introduced by Bismarck but limited to workers in employment) was extended to include: wives, daughters and the disabled.
Aid of veterans incapable of working due to injury became the national government’s responsibility. Aid for war widows and orphans was increased.
National Youth Welfare Act required all local authorities to set up youth offices with responsibility for child protection; decreed that all children had the right to an education.
what was the Ruhr?
A heavily industrialised area.
At the time it generated 85% of German coal
Also an important area for iron and steel works, as well as engineering factories
What happened in January 1923 regarding repreparations?
Germany fell behind in reparations payments to France in the form of coal
60000 troops from Belgium and France seize the Ruhr’s coal, steel and manufactured goods as reparations
The force grew to 100000
When French forces invaded the Ruhr what did they seize?
Took control of all mines, factories, steelworks and railways, demanded food from shops, set up machine-gun posts in the streets
What did Germany do in response to the invasion of the Ruhr?
Stopped all reparation payments
Policy of ‘Passive resistance’: no Ruhr citizen to cooperate with the occupiers (French) - voted in by Reichstag 283 to 12
German workers were promised that wages would continue if they went on strike
Freikorps units (working with the German army) secretly organised acts of sabotage: blew up railways, sank barges, destroyed bridges in order to disrupt the French
Why did Wilhelm Cuno’ s Government not respond to the invasion to the Ruhr with military action?
Versailles had reduced the size of the German army and the Rhineland, of which the Ruhr was a part, was demilitarised
What was the French’s reaction to passive resistance of the German’s?
French established military courts and punished mine owners, miners and civil servants who refused to comply
150,000 Germans expelled/imprisoned from the area - those who didn’t comply with French demands
132 Germans shot within 8 months of occupation
French blockade to stop resources being sent to other areas of Germany
After the French implemented the methods to control the Ruhr what was the result?
Even after bringing in French workers to operate railways and export coal
Coal deliveries down to a 1/3
Overall output fell to 1/5 of its preoccupation figures
What were some further effects on Germany because of the invasion of the Ruhr?
Wages for striking workers drained finances
Tax revenue lost from businesses within the Ruhr due to closure and workers due to unemployment
Germany had to import coal - using foreign currency
Shortage of goods drove up prices
The cost of this was double the annual reparations payments.
What is hyperinflation?
A period of rapid and extreme inflation that causes the value of a currency to erode - typically at a rate of more than 50% per month
What was the result of hyperinflation?
notes were worthless
desperation = crime
urban thefts from farms
spend ASAP
food shortages and hording
thievery became common
bartering of possessions
wages in wheelbarrows
HYPERINFLATION KEY KNOWLEGE / STATISTIC
Rye Bread
January 1923: kilo loaf = 163 marks
October 1923: kilo loaf = 9 million marks
November 1923: kilo loaf = 233 billion marks
Who benefited from the hyperinflation crisis?
those who relied on a fixed income, investments, welfare support
pensioners/ war widows
those who lent money to the government in wartime by fixed rate wartime bonds
artisans and small business owners
sick people
Who benefited the least from the hyperinflation crisis?
owners of foreign exchange and foreigners
long term fixed renters the real value of hat they paid decreased
farmers as food was in demand
enterprising business owners who got loans and repaid them once currency devalued
those who had debt and mortgages
black marketeers who boat food and sold it at inflated prices
By the end of 1923 what percentage of the workforce was employed?
By the end of 1923, only 29.3% of the workforce was fully employed.
Who was wilhelm Cuno ?
No party allegiance
Began his political career in the
Treasury in 1907
Economic expert who participated in
the armistice talks
Became chancellor in November
1922 after Wirth’s resignation
Chosen given his business experi-
ence and the belief he would be able
to steer Germany through such eco-
nomic turmoil
Resigned in August 1923 after a vote
of no-confidence initiated by the SPD
