G Germany 1918-1923 flashcards
The effect WW1 had
- Britain blockaded Germany and people began to starve due to lack of food.
- Economy was ruined because the cost had been £37 billion.
- Ex-soldiers protested when they returned from the fighting. They demanded a change in the government.
The Kaiser steps down
-Kiel
One month before the end of WW1, soldiers in Kiel refused to fight for the Kaiser anymore.
-Communism
Groups of workers began to demand for a Communist takeover of the country.
-Realisation
The Kaiser realised he needed to go to avoid a violent Communist takeover.
Causes of 1918 Revolution
-Food
Food shortages caused by the blockade made people hungry and convinced Germany would lose the war.
-Anger
The Kaiser’s final attempt to win the war (The Spring Offensive) ended in defeat.
-Russia
The people of Germany were inspired by the Russian Revolution.
-Need to avoid Communism
A new democratic government was quickly set up in November 1918 to avoid a Communist revolution.
Weaknesses of
Weimar’s Constitution
1
Voting system (PR) meant that it was difficult for a strong government to be formed.
2
Political Parties that wanted to destroy the Weimar Republic got a say in running it!
3
Article 48 meant that the President could take over at any point of crisis. This wasn’t actually democratic.
Strengths of
Weimar’s Constitution
1
Anyone over 21 was allowed to vote in elections for the Reichstag.
2
Reichstrat
Laws were checked and balanced out by the fact that two parts of the Reichstag had to agree to them.
3
If any one Political Party received roughly 60,000 votes, they were guaranteed a seat in the Reichstag.
Why the Weimar Republic was so unpopular
1
Democracy had been set up in hurry in order to avoid what lots of people wanted - Anarchism or Communism.
2
Autocracy
The army, judges and office workers of the government wanted the Kaiser and his form of rule to keep going.
3
The Weimar Government were quick to sign up to the terms of the Treaty of Versailles.
Treaty of Versailles effects on Germany
Land
Alsace-Lorraine given to France.
Loss of the Sar which was rich with coal.
Military
100,000 soldiers only.
No airforce or submarines.
Money
£6.6 billion owed to Britain and France.
Blame
Clause 212 forced Germany to accept all blame for starting WW1
Treaty of Versailles effects on government and pride
Weimar
People regretted ever ending WW1 and the Weimar Government became “November Criminals”
Pride
The money owed and Clause 212 was a national humiliation.
The Stab-in-the-back myth
1
Widely supported by right-wing nationalists who wanted to restore pride in Germany.
2
The theory was that the German army never lost the fight in WW1 but were betrayed by the government.
3
World War One had ended on the 11th November 1918.
People who supported this theory called the Weimar Republic Government the “November Criminals”.
Left wing threats - communists, workers
During 5 – 12 January 1919, 50,000 members of the post-World War One Communist Party, known as the Spartacists, rebelled in Berlin, led by Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht.
The government was saved when it armed bands of ex-soldiers, known as the Freikorps, who defeated the Spartacist rebels.
Right wing threats - nationalist
In crushing the communists the Freikorps had saved the government, but the terms of the Treaty of Versailles meant Germany’s army had to be significantly reduced and the Freikorps had to be disbanded.
During 13 - 17 March 1920, as a reaction to this, the right-wing nationalist, Dr Wolfgang Kapp led a Freikorps takeover in Berlin.
The regular army refused to attack the Freikorps; Kapp was only defeated when the workers of Berlin went on strike and refused to cooperate with him.
