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Germany > Frontsheet 1 > Flashcards

Frontsheet 1 Flashcards

1
Q

Reasons for WW1 defeat

A

Forces on retreat Western Front

British naval blockades
↳food/fuel shortages

Germany allies on brink of defeat
↳seeking peace terms

Failed offensive

USA entrance 1917

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2
Q

Causes for October Revolution

A

Victory impossible
↳needed armistice
↳Wilson talk fair negotiated terms

Ludendorff persuades Kaiser
transform into parliamentary democracy
↳hoped end autocratic rule - more lenient
↳hoped shift blame to democratic politicians

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3
Q

October reforms

A

Kaiser appoints
Max von Baden (aristocratic)
new chancellor

Chancellor responsible to Reichstag not Kaiser

Armed forces under control
civilian government

Aimed to preserve rule of Kaiser

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4
Q

Armistice asked for

A

October 3 1918

hoped end war
& secure land gained since 1914

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5
Q

Wilson’s terms for truce

A
  1. Evacuated all foreign territory
  2. End to submarine warfare
  3. Introduce fully democratic system

Ludendorff’s lenience plan failed
fled to Sweden

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6
Q

Reaction to call for armistices

A

Shocked German people
↳endured hardship & shortage
283,000 died hypothermia/hunger

Faith in gov/Kaiser undermined

People now saw Kaiser as peace obstacle

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7
Q

November revolution timeline

A

28 October
Sailors port Wilhelmshaven mutiny

3 Nov
Sailors Kiel mutiny

4 Nov
Revolt spread city & soviets set up

8 Nov
Republic declared Bavaria - monarchy deposed

9 Nov
SPD called Berlin workers general strike
Schiedemann declare republic on Reichstag steps
Von Baden declares Kaiser abdication & resigns - Ebert replaces
General Groener - army no support Kaiser
Kaiser forced abdicate

11 Nov
Armistice signed

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8
Q

Causes November revolution

A

People’s anger

Naval mutinies & uprising

Wilson demands democracy

SPD demand abdication

Communism fear

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9
Q

Initial problems in gov

A

Need permanent end to war & agree peace terms

Power vacuum post abdication

Demands of opposition

Mass civil unrest

Soviets

Economy - return to peace time production

Need support of army

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10
Q

Initial pressure from left

A

More radical change

USPD & Sparticists wanted further revolution

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11
Q

Initial pressure form right

A

Opposed democracy

Needed army support to stop unrest

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12
Q

Ebert’s decisions in response to pressure

A

10 Nov Ebert-Groener Pact
Army support & keep order
Not democratise army
All general & officers remain in post

15 Nov Stinnes-Legien Pact
Industialists recognise trade union & 8 hr work days
Trade union cooperate w/ employers & not oppose private ownership

22 Nov deal w/ Berlin soviets
support new assembly

All key civil servants & judges remain in post

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13
Q

Response to Ebert’s decision

A

6 Dec
Spartacist demonstration fired on by soldiers
16 killed

23/24 Dec
Sailor’s revolt put down by army
3 USPD ministers resign in protest

6 Jan
Armed revolt by Spartacists agianst gov
Crushed after 1 week

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14
Q

Constitution terms

A
  1. President elected every 7 yrs
    by popular vote
    Infrequent => stability
  2. All men & women >20
    had right to vote (universal suffrage)
    Equal representation (first time)

Women had national voice
greater weight given to women’s issues

  1. Chancellor proposes laws to Reichstag
    needed at least 1/2 support to pass
  2. Reichstage deputies elected every 4 years
    by proportional representation

No majorities - coalitions needed
division indesicion & instability

Easier for smaller parties to grow (NSDAP)

  1. President, Reichsrat & people could call referendum
    if 10% electorate agree

Gave people direct say
Often led to division in society

  1. Each state controlled own
    police/education/welfare
    Elected reprentatives to Reichsrat

Smaller states not dominated by larger
Enforcing national laws harder

  1. Rights of individual clearly definied & enshrined

Only removable by 2/3 majority
Led to increased political campaigns & clashes of groups

  1. President appoined Chancellor & ministers

Aim stability - not just leader of majority party

Allowed decision made if coalition undecided

President had power appoint ‘own men’

  1. Article 48
    Pres rule by decree in emergency

Emergency not defined
Ebert used 136 times 1919-1925
Hindenburg used 60 times 1932

Hindenburg used to benefit elites
Hitler used to consolidate power

  1. Army/judiciary/civil service
    unreformed & mostly independent

Act in interest elites & undermine socialist gov
Ebert used to gain their support

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15
Q

Wilson’s 14 point plan

A

Vision for European peace & prosperity
Liberal

Terms inc:
Worldwide demiliterisation
LoN formed
Land disputes based on self-determination

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16
Q

Clemenceau’s motivation for revenge

A

Borders Germany
Most damaged of ‘big 3’

900,000 civillians & 1.3M military killed

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17
Q

Lloyd-George’s motivation

A

Wanted revenge

Wanted stable enough to trade with

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18
Q

Geman losses in ToV

A

13% population
13% territory
(all colonies under LoN control)
75% iron ore
68% zinc ore
26% coal
15% arable land

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19
Q

ToV terms

A
  1. Rhineland demilitarised
    Clemenceau promised Anglo-American support if broken
  2. Alsace-Lorraine returned to France
  3. Polish Corridor created from German land
  4. Saarland under LoN control 15 yrs
  5. Schleswig returned to Denmark
  6. Oversees colonies given to victorious countries
    Britain/Australia/S.America/Japan
  7. Anschluss forbidden
  8. £6.6 billion reparations
    decided by reparations committee 1921
  9. LoN established
    Germany not allowed join
  10. Army reduced
    No artillery/tanks/areoplanes
    Limited 100,000 men
  11. Navy reduced
    No submarines
    Restricted no. battleships
  12. War guilt clause - Clause 231
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20
Q

Resonses Germans expect lenient peace terms

A

Costly war
1.7M soldiers killed
Suffered fuel/food shortages

Questions over who started war

Responsibilty lay with Kaiser
unfair punish civillians now gone

Stared democratic reforms
Wilson’s pre-requesite for peace

14 point plan talked about fair terms & nations equality

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21
Q

Complaints about ToV

A

Not been present at negotiations & thought could negotiate amendments
given 7 days to sign or back at war

Public saw as Diktat

Lack of self-determination for states

Clause 231 -unjust national humiliation

Reparations

Allied occupation of Western Germany
Patriotic songs & festivals banned in French controlled areas

Disarmament
unjust & left public feeling defenceless

22
Q

Reasons complaints unjust

A

Wilson made return of Alsace-Lorraine & Polish Corridor clear

More lenientthan could have been
Clemenceau wanted French boarder extented & Rhineland indepented

Germany inflicted worse treaty on Russia
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk Mar 1918

Germany planned annex territory & expand empire if won
Demand harsh reparations from allies

Reparations lower than French demanded

23
Q

Steps toward signing ToV

A

All parties agreeing signing against German honour

Scheidemann want reject
majority cabinet & SPD believe had no choice

Scheidemann resigns
Bauer replaces

Some army leaders sought rejection & restart war

Ebert support rejection if chance of military success

Groener advices military action not work

28 June 1919 signs

24
Q

Reaction of left to signing ToV

A

Pursue policy of fulfilment
while negotiating modifications

Republican parties become associated with weakness & failure

25
Q

Reaction of right to signing ToV

A

Growth in groups seeking overthrow republic

Extremists believe politicians unfit to rule
become known as
November Criminals

26
Q

Economic problems

A

War loans
1.44B mark debt

Land loss & valuable resources
reduced tax revenue
Exports effected & allie-imposed tariffs

Reparations

Wider impact of defeat
ex-soldiers’ pensions
gov wages
wefare benefits
subsidies & cheap credit to restart industry

27
Q

Economic policies

A

Avoidance of tax raises & expenditure cutting

Extension of loans

Print more money
Inflation quadrulped 1919-20
Value of mark fell
1922 worth 1% 1914 level
1914: $1 = 4.2 marks
1919: $1 = 8.9 marks
Jan 1923: $1 = 17,972 marks
By 1923 300 paper mills & 2000 printing firms worked 24/7

28
Q

Social impact of hyperinflation (positive)

A

Value of gov debts reduced - accusation of deliberate failure to stop crisis

Mortgages effectivly wiped out

Industrialist easily take out loans buy businesses &pay back loans
By 1924 Hugo Stinnes owned 1535 (20% industry)

Rent increases not keep up with price increases

Foreign currency retained value

German goods cheaper aboad - better for exporting

Famers could barter goods

29
Q

Social impact of hyperinflation (negative)

A

Pensions not increase

Savings worhtless

Welfare not keep up with rate of price increases

Wages not keep up
est. 30% cut spending power

Mittlestand/ small businesses costs increase faster than could raise prices

Cost medical increase

Rapid increase food prices
widespread malnutrition, rickets &TB

By1923 30%workforce fully employed

30
Q

Reparation crisis

A

Given 6 days to sign reparations or breaching ToV
Fehrenbach refused to sign & resigned

Jan 1922
Reparations Committee suspended Jan&Feb payments
recognised financial difficulties

July 1922
asked for suspension for rest of year

Nov 1922
asked for 500M mark loan
& release for 3-4 yrs
French suspected exaggeration of difficulties

End 1922
fallen behind payments to France

Jan 1923
French sent 60,000 troops to Ruhr

31
Q

French invasion of Ruhr

A

1923 progressed
France & Belgium occupy whole Ruhr
100,000 men

Took control of mines, factories, steelworks, railways & shops

32
Q

Response to French invasion

A

Cuno knew could not use military to stop

Stopped reparation payments
Order policy passive resistance
Guaranteed wages striking workers
Army worked with local armed groups - commit acts of sabotage

French:
Set up courts to punish refusal to cooperate
Expelled 15,000 Germans
Responsible shooting 132 people
Brought French workers to replace strikers

33
Q

Economic impact of Ruhr occupation

A

Taxation lost from business closure

Payments to striking workers drained finances

Used limited foreign currency to import coal

Shortage in goods increased prices

Cost est double annual reparations payment

Print more money
Jan 1923: $1 = 17,972 marks
Aug 1923: $1 = 4.6M marks
Nov 1923: $1 = 4.2T marks

34
Q

Causes for political instability

A

Proportional representation & need for coalitions

Lack of continuity
undermined democratic system

Extreme anti-democratic parties benefitted from lack of confidence in system

As financial crisis grew worse more parties wanted overthrow

35
Q

Key trends in votes

A

Strength pro-Rebublic parties decreased

Strength parties extreme left & right increased

Political balance shifted from moderate to extreme

36
Q

Votes
Jan 1919 -> June 1923

A

KPD: 0 -> 4
USPD: 22 -> 83
SPD: 163 -> 103
Centre: 91 -> 64
DVP: 19 -> 65

37
Q

Sparticist Uprising

A

5-13 Jan 1919
General strike with 100,000 workers

Became armed uprising in Berlin
Aim forcibly overthrow Ebert

Poorly planned
not supported by general public

Ebert used army to brutally quash
Army relied on Freikorps

38
Q

Outcome Sparticist Uprising

A

150 revolutionaries killed
including Luxemborg & Liebknecht

Defeat enabled gov to hold elections to constitutional assembly

Reliance on Freikorps allienated many on left

39
Q

Further left wing uprisings

A

Berlin March Fights
1919 - lasted 2 weeks
General strike led to street fights
Approx. 2000 killed

Bavarian Soviet Republic created
April 1919 - lasted 1 month
Overthrown by Army/Freikorps

General strike in Ruhr
1920 (response to Kapp Putsch) - lasted 1 month
50,000 involved
Brutally suppressed by Army/Freikorps

Hamburg Uprising
1923 - lasted 3 days
5,000 involved - 100 killed
Suppressed by police/army

40
Q

Reason for left wing uprising failure

A

Freikorps determination to stop revolution

Ebert’s use of Freikorps

Not enough popular support

Poor leadership & organisation

Unrealistic expectation communist gov could be formed

41
Q

Cause of right wing threat

A

Lost power & influence

Support for authoritarianism & distrust of democracy

Viewed Weimar gov as ‘November Criminals’

Dislike of ToV - ‘Diktat’

Hatred of KPD/fear of communism

Growth of power/confidence
Ebert’s use of Freikorps

42
Q

Kapp Putsch

A

Feb 1920
Defense minister order 2 Freikorp groups outside Berlin disband

Gen. von Luttwitz (CO) refused
Ebert & Bauer order arrest

12 Mar
Luttwitz march troops to Berlin - joined sympathetic officers (inc. Kapp)

13 Mar
Issued proclamation
Blamed left for crisis & argued strong right gov neccesary for stability

Gov forced withdraw to Stuttgart & called army to crush

Army refused to fire on Freikorps

Kapp controlled Berlin 4 days
Collapsed after Ebert called general strike & brought Berlin to standstill

Kapp & Luttwitz fled
Kapp died before trial
Luttwitz retired not prosecuted
Only 1/705 found guilty attempt overthow gov

43
Q

Threat of Kapp Putsch

A

Theat:
Reveal weakness in Weimar
Army loyalty w/ nationalits
Army remained unchallenged
Lenient treatment of those involved

Not threat:
Berlin people support Ebert

Gov withstood threat

44
Q

Political assassinations

A

Extremists organised into
‘Patriotic Leagues’
most organised
‘Organisation Consul’*

Hugo Hasse
Oct 1919
radical socialist

Matthias Herzberger*
Aug 1921
Member von Baden’s gov
led signing ToV

Walter Rathenau*
Jun 1922
Foeign Minister
Anti-Semitic attack

45
Q

Overview prosecutions/assassinations

A

Pol. assassinations by right: 354

Pol. assassinations by left: 22

Right murderers executed: 1 (326 unpunished)

Left murderers executed: 10

46
Q

Gov response to assassinations:

A

June 1922
Law for the Protection of the Republic
Imposed severe penalties for conspiracy to murder
Banned extremist organisations eg. Consul

Largely ineffective
Bavarian gov refused implement
Judges give more lenient sentences to right extremists
(Rathenau murderer given 4 yrs in prison)
Left treated harshly

47
Q

Threat Nazi Party by 1923

A

Munich, Bavaria centre for anti-Weimar pol. parties

Hitler joined DAP after state gov sent him to investigate

Hitler pos. rose quickly
in charge of propaganda
support greatly increased

Feb 1920
became NSDAP
appeal to broad range Germans & distinguish from left socialism
released 25 point programme (manifesto)

1921
Hitler became leader
Created SA - largely former Freikorps
Instructed disrupt left meetings

By 1923
focussed violent overthrow Weimar
still unknown in rest of Germany

48
Q

Causes of Munich Putsch

A

Bavarian state leaders nationalist & wanted return authoritiarian gov

Nov 1923 Stresemann ends passive resistance & begin reparation repayments
angered Bavarian gov

49
Q

Munich Putsch

A

1923
Kahr, Lossow & Seisser plan march Berlin
Invite NSDAP & Hitler secures support Ludendorff

4 Nov
leaders decide postpone
Hitler decided to go ahead

8 Nov
Hitler storms beer hall & force leaders support at gunpoint
Kahr agrees to support then calls police
SA & supporters rampage Munich - trash Jewish property

9 Nov
Nazis march on Berlin
met by police/army
gun battle ensues
16 Nazis & 4 police killed

Hitler fled & arrested 3 days later

50
Q

Outcome Munich Putsch

A

Hitler found guilty treason
5 yr prison sentance
released after 9 months

Other Nazis found guilty immediately released

Ludendorff not found guilty

Hitler use trial as publicity opportunity
turned him into national right hero

Germany (7 decks)

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