Establishment and Development of the Weimar Republic 1919-1933

Question 1

What year did Germany surrender WW1?

Answer 1

1918

Question 2

What were the conditions that the allies forced upon Germany for their surrender?

Answer 2

Must become a democracy and sign the treaty of Versailles

Question 3

When was the Weimar constitution approved by the national assembly?

Answer 3

July 1919

Question 4

What were the strengths of the Weimar constitution?

Answer 4

Proportional representation - very democratic
Fundamental laws - human rights to everyone
Article 48 - gave power to president when emergency
President (7 years) - Offered stability in turbulent govrnment

Question 5

What were the weaknesses of the Weimar constitution?

Answer 5

Proportional representation - meant many parties got in, therefore, lots of coalitions which compromises their views.
President had control of appointing Chancellor (head of government), court judges and officers (control of army). Therefore has power over so much.
Article 48 - meant president could pass anything they wished if power abused.

Question 6

What were the main things the treaty of Versailles demanded? (LAMB)

Answer 6

Land
Armaments
Money
Blame

Question 7

What were the “land” regulations forced by the treaty of Versailles?

Answer 7

Alsace-Lorraine returned to France.
Germany split into two make “polish corridor” to give Poland access to the baltic sea. Created East Prussia, although Germany separated from the “mainland”.
Saar coalfield taken, and put under league of nations control for 15 years until reconsideration.
Upper Silesia coal and steelworks given to Poland.
Danzig made free city.

Question 8

What were the “armament” regulations forced by the treaty of Versailles?

Answer 8

Only 100,000 soldiers
Only 15,000 sailors
6 battleships
No airforce
No submarines or tanks
No conscription
This was also a major trade for Germany so was an economic problem too.

Question 9

What were the “Money” regulations forced by the treaty of Versailles?

Answer 9

Reparations set in May 1921 at £6.6 billion

Lost of trade and raw materials due to loss of industrial heartland. See “land card”

Question 10

What were the “Blame” regulations forced by the treaty of Versailles?

Answer 10

Article 231 of the treaty of Versailles - Meant Germany and her allies took full responsibility for starting the war.

Question 11

What economic challenges did the Weimar Constitution face after the war?

Answer 11

GB naval blockade had ruined trade for the German export trade.
The Government was 250.7 million marks in debt after WW1.

Question 12

What political/social challenges did the Weimar Constitution face after the war?

Answer 12

Was blamed for signing the treaty of Versailles (hated by the Germans as made them appear weak). Become known as the November Criminals and forever associated with the hated treaty.
Germany had a kaiser before the end of WW1 and therefore, especially the older generation was very hesitant to have a democracy.

Question 13

When was the hyperinflation?

Answer 13

1923

Question 14

What were the events that led to the hyperinflation?

Answer 14

• 1921 reparations set at £6.6 billion. Paid first installment and no attempt to stabilize the economy.
• 1923 Germany default on the payment of timber and coal. Therefore French and Belgian troops occupy the Ruhr of industrial importance. The German Government pays the workers to passively resist (strike).
  However to pay the workers with no financial benefit the government had to print more money which led to inflation. This spiralled out of control and led to a hyperinflation.

Question 15

What was the extent of the hyperinflation? (Statistics)

Answer 15

1914  £1 = 20 Marks
1921  £1 = 256 Marks
Sept 1923  £1 = 1,413,648 Marks
Oct 1923 £1 = 3,954,408,000,000
Nov 1923 £1 = 1,680,800,000,000,000

Question 16

What were the negative economic effects of the hyperinflation?

Answer 16

Money became completely worthless, was cheaper to use as a fire fuel than buy wood. This led to the majority of the population being in poverty, therefore not buying goods, which led to businesses not supplying.
The middle class lost all of their savings leaving them with nothing.
Those on fixed incomes and pensions saw their earnings turn to nothing.

Question 17

What were the negative social effects of the hyperinflation?

Answer 17

For many this proved to them that the Weimar government was inefficient at running a country. Germany had been a rich and powerful country before the war, with the kaiser. Made people look for other options… Extremist parties.
People began to look for a scapegoat. The Jewish community had been least affected due to their independence and often had high paying jobs such as finance. This jealousy made people think they were to blame.

Question 18

What were the positives of the hyperinflation?

Answer 18

Those with debts gained from it, as they were written off as they became worthless.
The Government’s debt was significantly decreased.
Unemployment unaffected.

Question 19

What was the Spartacist uprising?

Answer 19

A communist uprising in 1919, 5,000 strong. They wanted a revolution in Germany like the one in Russia in 1917.

Question 20

How successful was the Spartacist uprising?

Answer 20

In Berlin they took control of the gov. newspaper + telegraph. Tried to lead striking workers in a revolution, but workers didn’t join them. Gov. ordered army and Freikorps (ex-army, anti-communist) to stop rising. Leaders executed for part in uprising.

Question 21

What was the Red Rising in the Ruhr?

Answer 21

In 1920 workers were angry about low pay + poor working conditions. Had been protesting throughout 1919.

Question 22

How successful was the Red Rising?

Answer 22

Communist Red Army of 50,000 workers occupied Ruhr + took control of raw materials. Army + Freikorps crushed them, killing around 1000 communists.

Question 23

What was the Kapp Putsch?

Answer 23

In 1920 Freikorps disbanded after left-wing protests were crushed as they weren’t needed anymore. Leader of Freikorps, Wolfgang Kapp, attempted to seize power with help of Freikorps.

Question 24

How successful was the Kapp Putsch?

Answer 24

12,00 Freikorps marched into Berlin and gov. forced to flee. Workers went on general strike to protest, which stopped uprising as he couldn’t rule. After 4 days, he fled, due to lack of support and protests, government returned.

Question 25

What was the Munich Putsch?

Answer 25

In 1923 Adolf Hitler, General Ludendorff (WW1 hero), and private army (SA) of 50,000 members attempted to take over gov. + establish new one in Munich. Hitler + 600 SA members burst into beer hall in Munich where leader of Bavaria was (Kahr). Held him hostage + forced him to support their plans.

Question 26

How successful was the Munich Putsch?

Answer 26

Not planned well. Kahr allowed to leave and following day he withdrew his support. Gov. responded quickly + army stopped revolt. Hitler + other Nazi leaders sent to prison for 5 years, Hitler released after 9 months. Nazi Party nearly disbanded due to lack of leadership. However gave the Nazi party publicity during the trial, showing off Hitler’s public speaking. Also gave Hitler time to write Mein Kampf.

Question 27

When were the ‘Golden Years’ of the Weimar Republic?

Answer 27

1924-1929 under the leadership of Gustaf Stresemann.

Question 28

What were the social issues facing the Weimar republic in 1923?

Answer 28

Resentment for the Weimar govt as ‘November Criminals’
Class divide
Poverty (hyperinflation)
Lack of cultural identity (due to little disposable income/lack of investment in the arts)

Question 29

What were the economic issues facing the Weimar republic in 1923?

Answer 29

Poverty due to the hyperinflation.
Industry making no money in Ruhr.
Germany unable to pay Reparations.
German govrnment had no money, as in debt.

Question 30

How did Stresemann overcome the economic problems?

Answer 30

He ended passive resistance in 1923 against the French in the Ruhr.
Dawes plan in 1924. This plan gave Germany longer to repay the reparations and brought in loans from America, which were then invested in infrastructure.
The Young Plan 1929 gave Germany longer to pay off reparations.
Introduced new currency, the Rentenmark, by recalling the old one.

Question 31

How did Stresemann overcome the economic problems?

Answer 31

The hyperinflation was over, however people had still lost money and faith in government. The loaning from America also made Germany too dependent on the United States economy. Moreover people were angry he was conforming to the treaty.

Question 32

How did Stresemann overcome the foreign policy problems?

Answer 32

Locarno Pact 1925 - Peace treaty between countries like Britain, France, Belgium which agreed that if a country was attacked all others would help. Settled borders.
League of Nations 1926 - By joining the Leauge of Nations Germany could actively take part in major decisions in Europe.
Kellogg-Briand Pact 1928 - Between many nations promising not to use war to settle disputes.

Question 33

What were the problems with Stresemann’s foreign policy strategies?

Answer 33

Many Germans angry as he did not try to get rid of the treaty of Versailles and conformed with them, borders and reparations.
However, made Germany more trusted as a country in Europe.

Question 34

What was the great coalition and how did it make Germany more politically stable?

Answer 34

The Great Coalition worked to fight challenges from the extreme right and left wings, which were strong due to Proportional Representation. The 4 main pro-democratic parties within the Reichstag: -The SPD, a moderate socialist party -The Centre Party, a centrist Catholic party -The DDP, a liberalist middle-class party -The DVP, a centre-right party led by Gustav Stresemann.

Question 35

What was the Wall Street Crash?

Answer 35

October 1929, share prices began to fall on the Wall Street Stock exchange. This meant that stock brokers lost their money.

Question 36

What was the cause of the Wall Street Crash?

Answer 36

Minor fluctuation on stock prices, worried about losing their money Stock brokers rushed to sell their shares before the value fell any further. The Panic selling made things worse and sent prices even lower.

Question 37

What was Black Thursday?

Answer 37

24 October 1929, was when 13 million shares were sold

Question 38

What did the Wall Street Crash mean for Germany?

Answer 38

The American banks recalled all of the loans to German companies. Meaning they had less money or simply went bankrupt causing millions to lose their jobs, meaning people earned then spent less causing businesses to earn even less.
By 1932 unemployment had reached 6 million.