Establishment of the Weimar Republic

Question 1

Why were German people shocked at the armistice in WW1?

Answer 1

They had defeated Russia and were convinced they were winning

Question 2

Name two reasons why Germany were struggling in WW1?

Answer 2

Ammunition shortages
Food shortages

Question 3

How did the Navy respond to the armistice in 1918?

Answer 3

They disagreed with it and sent a fleet out leading to the Keel mutiny

Question 4

What was the impact of the Keel mutiny?

Answer 4

Soviets were set up across Germany

Question 5

When Kaiser Wilhelm abdicated what was the biggest fear to German officials?

Answer 5

Revolution similar to Russia in 1917

Question 6

Who was Friedrich Ebert?

Answer 6

Leader of the SPD and temporary government following the Kaisers abdication

Question 7

How was German industry effected by WW1?

Answer 7

Industry had shrunk by two thirds

Question 8

What promises did Ebert make about the Republic?

Answer 8

Freedom of speech
Freedom of worship
better working conditions

Question 9

What is the “stab in the back” myth?

Answer 9

People blamed the shift from autocracy to democracy for the defeat in the war pinning this on politicians such as Ebert

Question 10

Name three German losses caused by the Treaty of Versailles?

Answer 10

Lost all it’s colonies
Army reduced to 100,000 men
48% loss in iron industry

Question 11

When and how much where the war reparations decided?

Answer 11

1921 it was settled that Germany would have to pay £6,600 million

Question 12

Which clause was the war guilt clause?

Answer 12

clause 231

Question 13

What two features essentially forced Germany into signing the Treaty of Versailles?

Answer 13

The Naval blockade was still in effect
Allies where ready to invade the Rhineland

Question 14

How was the Weimar constitution an issue?

Answer 14

It promised proportional representation which allowed for many parties to have a say in government

Question 15

What was the left wing challenge in 1919?

Answer 15

Spartacist uprising by Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxembourg in which the KPD tried to seize political power. The two leaders where murdered by the Freikorps

Question 16

What was right wing challenge in 1920?

Answer 16

Kapp Putsch lead by Wolfgang Kapp. It was defeated by the trade unions calling a strike which paralysed public services

Question 17

What were the three crises that occurred in 1923?

Answer 17

French occupation of the Ruhr
Hyperinflation
Munich putsch

Question 18

Why did France occupy the Ruhr?

Answer 18

Germany fell behind on reparation payments and so France seized the industrial part of Germany in order to compensate

Question 19

How did Germany’s response to the French occupation cause Hyperinflation?

Answer 19

They issued the Ruhr workers to strike resulting in the excessive printing of money to compensate for lack of work

Question 20

Outline the events of the Munich Putsch?

Answer 20

The plan was aucostrated by Hitler and saw initial success by seizing Munich but was defeated by police before he could reach Berlin. Sixteen Nazis were killed

Question 21

When did Stresemann come to power?

Answer 21

1923 through the “great coalition”

Question 22

What economic action did Stresemann take that improved Germany to pre WW1 levels?

Answer 22

Dawes Plan which secured 800 million marks for Germany from America

Question 23

What were issues with the Dawes plan?

Answer 23

Made Germany more dependent on loans which could be damaging should they be removed

Question 24

Who was made president in 1925?

Answer 24

Hindenburg

Question 25

What was Hindenburg’s view of the Republic?

Answer 25

He favoured a DNVP and wanted to ban the SPD

Question 26

Name two successes of Stresemann

Answer 26

Wages rose
Standard of living rose

Question 27

What was an issue Stresemann was unable to solve?

Answer 27

The vast gap between rich and poor

Question 28

Name two foreign policy successes under Stresemann in 1929 and 1930

Answer 28

Young plan 1929 reduced reparation payments
Britain and France agreed to leave the Ruhr in 1930

Question 29

When did the US stock market collapse?

Answer 29

1929

Question 30

Why did the US market crash effect Germany so badly?

Answer 30

The Dawes plan created financial dependency on the US

Question 31

Name two effects that the financial crash in 1929?

Answer 31

German loans where removed
Unemployment rose over 2.5 million

Question 32

How many seats did the Nazis win in the 1933 election?

Answer 32

288

Question 33

Name two reasons why the Nazis won support in 1933

Answer 33

Nazi policy appealed to the unemployed who were promised jobs
Hitler was perceived as a competent leader

Question 34

When did Hindenburg appoint Hitler as chancellor?

Answer 34

30 January 1933

Question 35

Why did Hindenburg appoint Hitler as Chancellor despite it being a risky move?

Answer 35

It was perceived that the Nazis were in decline and would be easy to control

Question 36

What were the features of the 1920 Kapp Putsch?

Answer 36

Right wing army officers and Freikorps attempt to overthrow the SPD government but was thwarted by public opposition through a strike which brought Berlin to a complete standstill

Question 37

When and what was the Dawes plan?

Answer 37

1924 a foreign aid from America which entrusted $800 million to Germany