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German History (Weimar) Flashcards

1
Q

What happened in 1914?

A

War broke out

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2
Q

What happened in 1916-17?

Give specific numbers on deaths

A

food/fuel shortages
‘Turnip winter’- severe food shortages (relied on turnips)
Civilian deaths rose from 121,000 in 1916 to 293,000 in 1918.
Number of child deaths increased 50%.

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3
Q

Why did Ludendorff support constitutional reform? ‘October reform’

A

Ludendorff wanted to change Germany’s autocracy into a constitutional reform to secure the best possible peace terms (Allies would be more sympathetic to them) and hoped it would prevent revolutionary disturbances.
Shift blame from conservative forces/military leadership and put it on new leadership (origins of stab-i9n-back myth)
resulted in Kiel Mutiny, left wing-movment, spartisicst revolt

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4
Q

When was the new weimar constitution drawn up?

A

Nov 1918

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5
Q

When was the National Assembly called?

A

Feb 1919

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6
Q

What is proportional representation?

A

allocating parlimentary seats to the proportion of total number of votes

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7
Q

What is federal structure?

A

Central and regional governments work together (share power)

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8
Q

What were the powers of the President?

A
  • picked every 7 years
  • appointed the Chancellor (generally the leader of the largest partry in the Reichstag)
  • Had to work with leaders of other parties to form workable coalition parties
  • Had the power to declare a National emergency and oversee the Reichstag
  • Supreme Commander of Armed Forces
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9
Q

What was the Reichstag?

A

Law-making part of Pariliment
Elected every 4 years on proportional representation sustem
Elected from an official list of candidates
60,000 votes for 1 member in an electoral district.

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10
Q

What was the Reichstat?

A

less important/had representatives from 17 states

  • responsibilities at a local level like education
  • could only initiate/delay proposals- Reichstag could always overrule it
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11
Q

Bill of Rights?

A

outlines personal freedoms:
censorship forbidden
equality first
religious freedom

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12
Q

And social rights?

A
  • welfare provision (housing , orphans)

- protection of labour

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13
Q

Fsilure of proportional representation?

A

encouraged the formation of lot’s of splinter parties
meant to reflect different political/social views
negotiations/comprmies in forming coalitions contributedn to instability
(1 paarty couldn’t form a majority governemnt so coalitions of 3/4 had to form one)
(Britian/USA- 2 partiesm to vote- worked better
economic/political crisi of 1929-33 system of PR encouraged extremists
However, difficlut to see how an alternative voting system wouold work
PR- only fair way of representing different views (area) issue of splinter parties was relatyively minor
argument it encouraged extremism- people’s opinion was too volatile to be predicted(first past-post-model could have resulted in Nazis)

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14
Q

Balance of power between Reichstag and President?

A

Wanted to limit power of Parliment (Reichstag)- didn’t want the Right to be too strong
By doing this the President basiclaly acts as an Emperor
GIve more power to the Reichstag they might become too strong
Struggled in a fair balance where did the real authority lie?

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15
Q

Article 48?

A

This gave the President powers to suspend civil rights in an emergency to restore la and order (meant to allow the governement to work efficently)
too much power?

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16
Q

Keeping of Traditiions?

A

Army maintaining its infleunce changed- >1918, their infleunce was only in military capacity
Conservative judges want traditiion- favoured the Right - used their power to exert great infleunce over Weimar daily life
Harsher to the left (wanted a modern democratic society)
Universities generally kept old rules

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17
Q

Strenths of the new constituion?

A

great improvement on the previosu autocratic constitution of Imperial Germany

  • large favoured majority (most adanced democracy at its time)
  • made good use of pofessional skills and educated institutions of the state
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18
Q

Weaknesses of the new constitution?

A

The Weimar constituion couldn’t control the cirmcumstances/conditions it was in e.g. the Treaty of Versailles, its socio-economic problems

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19
Q

It wasn’t fatally flawed but..

A

Itn had fundamental, already existant problems that mad eit very unlikely to succeed

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20
Q

Why was Weimar united in their fellings towatrds the Treaty of Versailles?

A

All hated it- thought it was unfair (Diktat)
(weren’t included)
- Unfair that Wilson’t 14 points (self-determination) didn’t include Austria, Upper Silesia, Saar ect
- Didn’t give it to other colnies either, just mandates put under British/French control

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21
Q

Why didn’t they accept sole responsibility?

A

Didn’t believe it was their fault (thought it was the Allies’ encirclement of 1914 that caused it

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22
Q

Why did Germans hate reparations?

A

Weren’t told originasl sum ‘blank cheque’ unfair

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23
Q

why did they hate disarmament?

A

Wilson’s 14 points- universal disarmamnet
Germany was unilaterally disarmed
Britian/France stayed hgihly armed

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24
Q

Why did they hate L of N

A

annoyed at treatment by Allies
weren’t allowed to join L of N but ahd to accept it
Believed it was a tool used by the Allies (not genuinely designed to keep peace)

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25
What did Germany lose?
- lost all overseas colonies - lost income, production, population from Upper Silesia, Saar, Rhineland - Anschluss- forbiden to unite with Austria
26
What did the Allies do until the Treaty was signed?
Maintained a military blockade till they signed the Treaty had consequences in Germany like increasing food shortages threated further military action if didn't sign
27
Was the treaty really unfair? What was the situation like when they had to make it?
Situations created by the war, not just anti-German feeling that shaped the terms. Aims/objectives of the Big three varied so they had to compromise Other countries to deal with (like Bulgaria- had to sign seperae treaty)
28
Problems in other countries?
- Collapse of the Turkish Empire (result of war) | - Worried about the threat of Communism from USSR
29
Was it a compromise?
yes, it wasn't based on Wilson 14 points but it wasn't as harsh as it could have been e.g. French demands for Rhineland idneendance
30
Was self-determination attempted?
Plebicites were held in Silesia and Prussia so people could decide their future. - Alsace-Lorraine would have voted to return top France anyway Danzig's new status was a rsulst of 'polish access to the sea' in Wisons 14 ppints West Prussia- mixture of Germana dn Poles living there- harder to draw clear, frontier lines (harder to try for self-determination)
31
Was Germany physically occupied?
It easnt so the real damage was done to French/Belgium soil anyway
32
Treaty of Brest-Litovisk
Germany were much harsher with the Russians in the treaty of Brest-Litovisk - annexed large areas of Poland and the baltic states
33
Did it hurt Germany economically?
Worrie it would fundamentally weaken Germany's economy>effect on the whole of Europe Germany still had potentially the strongest economy in Europe sill had extensive industry/resources Weimar's economic problems can't be blamed on reparartions alone (Kaiser's plan of taxing defeated states- debt) By 1932, Germany had taken more money from the Dawes Plab than given in reparations
34
Did the T of V hurt Germany politically?
No, in som ways Germany was actually sterogner than in 1914. Empires of Turkey, Russia, Austria-Hingar were gone creatign a power vacum in heart of Europe - could't be filled by weak/ isolated USSR - Germany could have with cautious diplomacy
35
Was the T of V the cause? Was it fair on the current Germans that had to deal with it?
Problem ws that nationilist proganda had shaped German views (deeply shocked by defest) T of V closely linked with 'stab in the back' myth (Germany hadn't lost the war whcih a lot believed)- November criminakls were Weimar Although the war had been persued by Imperial Germany, Weimar had to deal with blame
36
Did it affect the resuklting Weimar democracy?
yes, even for sympathetoc democrats like Huge Preuss the gaisn of the revolution of Weimar were beign undone by the constant reminder of the T of V weakened democracy- fuelledt the Republic's opponennts propaganda for years.
37
overall ,did it contribute?
Yes, overall, although not the ony cause, the T of V did contribut to the internal political and econmic difficulties of Weimar.
38
What did the extrmem right united in? [5 things]
Anti-Weimar (democracy was weak) Anti-Marxist (communism destroyed tradition e.g. state ownership of property) Authoritiarisanism- wanted to get back autocratic constitution (type of governemtn hadn't been established in early 1920s Nationilist- believed German pride had been hurt by T of V (e.g. loss of land) - wanted to restore it conservative-nationilist propaganda: reinforced 'stab in the back' - Germany hadn't lost the war but had been betrayed> found scapegoats like Weimar democrats, Jews to take blame November criminals- prepared to overthrow the monarchy to establisha republic>acceped a shameful peace>blame should be on them not imperial Germany
39
DNVP?
German National People's Party conservative/nationilist/imperial extremist/racist elements mainly landowners/industrialists(middle-class appeal) largest party in Reichstag(15.1% votes in 1920 election)
40
Racist nationislism
increased after war 70 small nationilsit parties (Nazi one of them)- common in Bavaria Adolf Hitler- leader of German Worker's Party political differnences between groups divided them/attmepts to unite failed 1923- Munich Beer Hall Putsch- failed NSDAP- Hitler united them(mad it powerful_
41
Freikorps
brutal German militry/dembolisation of the armed forces committed to autocracy used by the government to supress extreme left thrreat White Terror, violence
42
Assasinations by Freikorps?
Weimar tried to conrtol them 1919-22(376 political muders) 22(left) and 354 (right)
43
Who was responsible for the assasinations?
Consul Orgainsaion- murdered ket politicians e.g. Fiance minister- catholic/zp forign minister- jew/democrat leader of USPD- committed socialist
44
Kapp putsch
``` Freikorps annyoed (disarmament) demands for 2 brigades to be disarmed in Berlin> wolfgang kapp and General Ludwitz encouraged 12,000 tropps to march on Berlin (take contorl of buildings/install a governemtn) ```
45
what did the army do in kapp outsch?
army didn't resit | didn't join them but didn't support legitmiate governemtn (follow Ebert and Chancellor)
46
Did the Kapp Putsch work?
No, it failed, just before SPD left, told BErlin workers to go on strike>paralysed the capital (weren't making any money) >after 4 days Kapp left (had no real authority)
47
Was the Kapp Outsch successful?
-retain backing of Berlin people (6 days) withstand the uprising However: - showed the army's rejection of democracy -government faield to adress this issue months after -unreliabiltity of army leaders -Seecht appointed chief of army command but ignore d that he aslo didn't suprot the republic
48
What happened to the army after Kapp Putsch?
army was remodelled less Freikorps didn't disarm kept independance from government many within the army believed army had a higher puropose, within their right to intefere without regard to obligation to governement failure to reform the army'state within a state' Judiciary- old, traditional values (imoprial) biased towards right 1/705 involved in the putsch went to prison Political assinations 28/354 (right)- went to prison (non executed) 10/22 (left) were executed
49
What was the Munich Beer Hall putsch?
Von Kahr and General Von Lossow plotted with Hitler to take contol of Berlin (blamed democartic governemtn in Berlin for Germany's problems) 23rd Nov- Lossow backed out 8th Nov -Hitler went in anyway and declared a 'national revoltuion' at a rally Kahr and Lossow followed Lost their nerve when Seecht commanded army to resit Hitler had insuficent supoport- 14 Nazis killed/Hitler arrested.
50
Was it a success?
``` Yes: withstood dangerous threat army supported democratic governement No: Hitler- only given years (out after 10 months) Ludendorff accquited ```
51
long-term causes of the Great inflation | 4 years of total war had seriously dislocated the economy
Kaiser's plan to pay for war costs by selling loads iof war bonds to the public planned to pay ti back once they won the war) - proved insufficent from 1916- national debt grew masively During ww1 emplyment had been concentrated on armament production but this didn't satisfy civilian needs so food prices shot up (high demand)
52
medium -term causes of the great inflation
raise money for social reform, reparartions raise taxes>raise income reduce governemnt expenditure would alienate people Erzberger did increase taxes on profits but didn't balance te budget
53
Why did Erzberger follow a plan of deficit fiancing, meaning INFLATION WOULD CONTINUE?
Decided to reduce taxes>increase demand>increase employment>vercome problem of returning troops>give soldiern work>less debt aims: maintain demand, reduce national debt,
54
Consequences of Great Inflation
mainyl middle-class affected (so voted Nazi in 1923) impact on whole of society questioned depends on amount saved and debt
55
Real winners?
Those who payed off mortgages/debts with inflated, wothless money THose who bought property off fianicaly desperate those who invested cheaply in industries mainly homeowners/businessmen in middle lass e.g. hugo stinnes- controlled 20% of german industry by 1923 exporter- sell to foreign countries (exchange rate was cheap)
56
Poor
Interest rates on savings eroded war bonds lost everything (worth nothing) pensions- fixed savings (any increase wiped out by inflation) Fixed Income (decreased dramitcally) Depended o charrity- didn't have donations/payments fell behind inflation rate
57
Were reparations a main cause of inflation?
No they were only a contributing factor Still, they had to pay them in har currency like gold> had to seelinflated German marks to get the hard currency > value of the mark decreased even more>inflation increased
58
Short-term causes?
- July 1922 Germany asked for ANOTHER posponement of reparation payments Dec 1922- French/Belgium soldiers occuped the RUhr - Cuno (governent in Ruhr) policy of 'pasiv eresistance -told workers to go on strike/still paid them -couldn't colelct taxes from them French prevented coal to rest of Germany They had to import it using marks Marks value declined to nothing Reichsbank- had to sue newspaper presses to print sufficent money
59
Peasents in the Great Inflation?
fairly well off: self-sufficent in food and food was in high demand 9sold a lot)
60
Mittlestand?
nLower middle-class (small businessmen like shopkeepers) | Fairly wel- expolit demands of market (had the necessary essentials people needed)
61
Industrial Workers
Worker's real wage/standard of living improved until 1922 1923- trade unions couldnt negotiate wage- decline took place fewer savings - lost less those those living on saved income
62
Civil Servants?
``` unemplyment increased 1914-1920 made gains in 1921-22 Fixed incomes (decreased dramitcally) Some paid off mortgages War bonds- lost out ```
63
Retired?
Generally they relied on fixed incomes and savings (decreased loads)
64
Businessmen?
Did well : bought property off poor, paid off debts, made sales to foreign countries
65
Other social effects?
health levels dropped/oedema reappeard (watery diet), food poisioning (eating spoiled foods), increase in suicide, increase in mortality rate (1920-1 it was 12.6%) to 13.4% (1921-22)
66
Change in behavior?
- decline in law/order - decline in morality e.g. prostitution - increase in crime - more blaming the situation on scapegoats like Jews
67
January 1919 election results?
86.0% (high turnout suggested faith in democracy) 76.1%- pro-Weimar parties (SPD DDP ZP) extremist parties -10.3% for DNVP- right - 7.6% for USPD (later KPD)- left
68
June 1920 election results?
combined support for pro-democratic parties declined dramatically: 76.1%>48% support for extremist parties increased: DNVP- from 10.3%>15.1% 7.6%>20.0%

AS Level (74 decks)

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