Establishment of Weimar (1918-24) Flashcards
What was German like before 1871?
Separate states each ruled by a prince
Why was their instability before 1914?
Working class grew meaning they wanted a voice but majority supported the Kaiser through fear of Allies encircling
Why were their reforms in October 1918?
To limit the Kaisers autocratic power
What happened on 3rd October 1918?
Baden sent a peace note
What effect did the peace note have?
Lower moral and people were no longer willing to suffer hardships of war
When was the strike in Friedrichshafen and why did it happen?
22nd October and because of discontent
What happened on 28th October?
Sailors mutiny about attacking ships
What happened on 3rd November?
Kiel sailors mutiny which spread
When did Kaiser have to abdicate?
9th November
What happened during the Kaiser’s abdication?
Baden released PR statement saying he had abdicated before he had agreed
Who replaced Baden?
Ebert
What did Ebert do?
Agreed armistice and wanted elections for assembly
What did the Sparticist League want?
Government controlled by soldiers and workers councils
What did the USPD want?
Reichstag working with soldiers and workers councils
What did the SPD want?
Left leaning elected Reichstag
What was the Ebert-Groener Pact?
Ebert wouldn’t democratise army in return for the armies support
What happened on 6th December?
Sparticist revolt in Belin
When was the solider’s revolt against government?
23rd - 24th December
What happended on 6th January?
Revoloution launched by sparticists
What happened in the assembly election?
SPD won large amount, soliders and workers handed power back
What were the strengths of the Weimar constituion?
PR as voting system, elections ever 4 (Reichstag) and 7 (President) and Recihrat
What were the weaknesses of the Weimar constituion?
Coallitons, article 48 and anti-democratic dections (Civil Services and Army)
What role did the President play?
Head of State, appointed and dismisses ministers and dissolve Reichstag
What did the Chancellor do?
Proposed new laws to Reichstag
What was the Reichstat?
Second chamber had representatives from all states
What was the Reichstag?
Voted on budget, new laws originated
What happaned in June 1919?
Sheidmann was chancellor at time and believed treaty was incompatible with German and would accept it so resigned. Hindenburg discusse another waging campagin but was impossible for Groener believed. Baurer’s coallition signed treaty to do policy fulfilment to make conditions easier on Germany.
What was pro-republican view on the 1919 political situation?
Started to dislike new constitution and signing led to political demoralisation, republic was weak and unstable
What was right wing view on the 1919 political situation?
Wanted autocratic stat, many groups committed to overthrowing republic, politicians labelled as ‘November Criminals’ and soldiers felt insulted
Support for which parties grew in 1919?
SPD and communist
What was the German economy like in 1922?
Was in debt, reparations couldn’t be paid or massive loans either. Unemployment was low and recovery was rising but inflation was left unchecked
Why was inflation left unchecked?
Allowed because benefited big businesses
Why did Fehenback’s cabinet resign?
Couldn’t agree on reparations
When did Germany ask for a postponement of reparations and loan?
January 1922
What were the political and economic impacts of the treaty?
Made situation worse, gold and coal mines were not sufficient enough, could have used manufactured goods to pay back but allies wouldn’t accept and couldn’t export globally because of tariffs placed on goods
What did the USA want from the treaty?
Create League of NAtiosna nd not destroy Germany
What did France want from the treaty?
Revenge and punishment by disarmament
What did Britain want from the treaty?
Punishment but still strong enough to trade
How did the German people view the treaty?
Diktat
What were the terms of the treaty?
Territorial losses, forbidden to unite with Austria, no league of Nations, war guilt, repreations, disarmament, Rhineland demiliterised and seperation of Saarland
How did the German people view the treaty?
Were horrified and disbelieving of terms being so harsh as propaganda sheltered them
How did the British react to the treaty?
Satisfied Germany had lost ground but was strong enough to trade, sympathised slightly
How did the French react to the treaty?
Convinced suffered worse and wanted revenge, felt too lenient
How did the USA react to the treaty?
Widespread opinion that was too harsh and others benefit themselves, didn’t accept or sign treaty
How many troops did France and Belgium send into Rhur?
60,000
Why did Franco-Belgium occupation of Ruhr happen?
Tried to force Germany to comply with treaty because thought was lying
Why was Ruhr important to Germany?
Heavily industrialised and generated 85% exports
Where was occupied?
All mines, factories, steel works and railways
What was passive resistance?
Worker stopped all production but government paid wages
What were economic effects of Franco-Belgium occupation of Ruhr?
Expenditure on wages and providing goods of strikers, tax revenue cut, had to import coal and shortages of goods boosted prices
What was Hyperinflation?
Money lost all its worth
What happened to prices with spectators?
Spectators would by up food, raise prices and then sell goods
‘Hyperinflation lead to a breakdown of law and order’ True or False?
True
How could Hyperinflation be considered the fault of Allies?
Treaty set unpayable reparations, Germany lost land containing precious minerals and large taxes on Germany good made them less tradable
How could Hyperinflation be considered the fault of Germany?
Large loan was taken out, government refused to raise taxes and printed money 24/7
What were social welfare reformspassed in 1919?
Laws limiting working day to 8 hours, state health insurance and aid for veterans
What were social welfare reformspassed in 1922?
National Youth Welfare Act gives all children a right to education
Who were the winners of Hyperinflation?
Black marketers bought food and sold at high prices, debts were paid off sooner because worthless, fixed rents meant payments decreased in value
Who were the losers of Hyperinflation?
Pensioners were hit hard, unskilled workers or those not in unions, small businesses paid disproportionate taxes and children suffered malnutrition
What happened in January 1919?
Spartacus League staged uprisings, tried to recreate Russian revolution but Freikorps suppressed
What happened in March 1919?
Spartacus uprising in Berlin and communist council establish in Bavaria
What happened in April 1919?
Industial strikes in Halle and Ruhr Valley
What happened in October 1919?
Assassination of Hugo Hasse
What happened in February 1920?
Kapp Putsch, Kapp tried to overthrow after obliged with treaty
What happened in April 1920?
Workers led revolt in Saxony and Thuringia with Red Army
What happened in March 1921?
KPD tried to force revolution and communist revolt in Saxony spread to Ruhr
What happened in August 1921?
Assassination of Mathias Erzberger
What happened in June 1922?
Assassination of Walther Rathenau
What happened in October 1923?
Economic collapse causes communist revolt in Saxony
When was the Beer Hall Putsch?
November 1923
Who did Hitler plot with?
Lossow and Khar
What were the causes of the Beer Hall Putsch?
Ending of Passive Resistance
Beer Hall Putsch - What happened on 4th October?
Khar and Lossow call of rebellion and leaves Hitler with 3000 SA
Beer Hall Putsch - What happened on 8th November?
Hitler storms meeting of business men, rallies support and SA take control of army headquarters and newspaper
Beer Hall Putsch - What happened on 9th November?
Nazis’s went into Munich thought to take power but Khar had already called police and revolt was put down
What was the outcome of Beer Hall Putsch?
Hitler was arrested and 12 Nazi’s shot
What did Article 48 do?
Enabled President to overrule Reichstag and pass laws without approval
