Germany Flashcards
In what order did the final events of WW1 take place
9th of Nov (KW abdicates and WR is formed)
11th of Nov (WW1 ends and WR signs the armistice)
Why was Kaiser Wilhelm II not very popular?
He was a dictator
When did Kaiser Wilhelm abdicate and what was the result
1918 (end of ww1) when his empire was demolished
What was interesting about the way Kaiser Wilhelm was born
He was born breached with a paralysed arm. He blamed his mother and the English doctors for his liability. He also had psychological problems and feared weakness
Who were Kaiser Wilhelm’s cousins
Tsar Nicholas II and George V
What were Wilhelm’s aspirations for Germany when he became Kaiser and how did he do this?
Wanted to make Germany as great as Britian (strongest country at the time).
Used industrialisation (building up German industry) and militariansim
How and why did Wilhelm II build up his army
He wanted Germany to be great so he introduced naval laws 1898 and 1912 to build up his army and compete in the naval race.
He also introduced compulsory conscription in 1913
What new party went against the Kaiser
Social Democratic Party (SDP) who believed in socialism and wanted the kaiser and powerful people to share their social wealth.
Didn’t like the working conditions so they joined trade unions.
1 in 3 Germans vited for them
What did the Kaiser do during WW1 that upset the people
He raised taxes
What can the Kaiser do?
Rule as a king so they can control the army, and foreign affairs, change the chancellor, and remove the Reichstag
What is militarianism?
Strengthening Germany’s army to influence foreign relations
How was life for people working under the Kaiser
Iron and coal industrialization led to more opportunities, worse working conditions, and less upper-class power.
This led to a rise in the SDP (social democratic party) Reichstag seats and trade unions. (3.3 mil in trade unions)
What did the Kaiser do to improve workers’ lives and what was the result?
Workers Protection Act of 1981 to improve workers’ safety
The SDP lost seats in the Reichstag.
What political status did Germany fall under after KW abdicated and what was it called?
Democracy, Weimar Republic
What were some German views on the armistice
They saw it as a sign of weakness from the government
What are the reasons the ToV was harsh (LAMB)
Land lost (13% and mandates and the Saar) annexations
Army (100,00 men + conscription banned + 6 ships + no marines, air, or Rhineland)
Money (£6.6B reps + mandates and Saar)
Blame (A.231)
How were Germany’s powers constructed?
1st -> President
2nd -> Reichstag
3rd -> Reichstrat
Role of the President (5)
Elected every 7 years, allocated the chancellor, is the head of the army and can suspend the Reichstag
Article 48
Role of the Reichstag (2)
Elected every 4 years through proportional representation (so all parties were guaranteed some seats resulting in opposing opinions)
Role of the Reichstrat (2)
Members from each local region
Less powerful than the Reichstag so it’d relay their messages
How did German votes change (3)
Proportional representation
Women could vote for the first time
The voting age was lowered to 20
How did Germans feel about the signing of the ToV
Weimar were named Nov Criminals
They were upset it was a diktat (expected 14 Points)
Germans felt cheated by Weimar and thought they could’ve won the war
The treaty harmed the republic’s popularity and created political and economic unrest which hindered the gov (to its downfall)
Who are the Freikorps
Right-winged ex-soldiers who hated communists
When and what was the Spartacist Revolt
The extreme left revolt took place in January 1919. Communists attempted to take over Berlin and 50,000 workers went on strike to support the communists. The Freikorps helped stop them and over 100 were killed.
When and what was the Kapp Putsch
The extreme right revolt took place in March 1920. Wolfgang Kapp led a revolt (with the Freikorps) for a new right-winged gov. German workers opposed the putsch and Kapp was forced to give up
What was a cause of the Kapp Putsch
Dr. Wolfgang Kapp was upset that the government disbanded the Freikorps after they assisted in stopping the Kapp Putsch.
When and what was the Munich Putsch
The right-winged Nazi revolt took place in November 1923.
Hitler’s soldiers occupied a beer hall in the Bavarian city of Munich where government leaders were meeting. He announced the start of the revolt.
The next day he marched into Munich with the SA but news was leaked to the police who waited for Hitler and collapsed the revolt.
When was the Nazi Party founded
1920
When did Hitler become the leader of the Nazi Party
1921
What were the aims of the Nazis
They aimed to improve health, and education and raise pensions for the true Germans
How did the Nazis feel about the ToV
They rejected the ToV as they stood for German greatness
When did Hitler found the SA and who were they?
The storm troopers were founded in 1921 and they were Hitler’s army militia
What did the SA do
They were ex-soldiers and political thugs who carried out anti-Semitic attacks and intimidated rival political groups.
Why did the Weimar Republic become weak in 1923
The situation in Germany worsened as hyperinflation peaked and there were food riots. Germans were also upset about the French and Belgian invasion of the Ruhr in Jan 1923
What was the Ruhr
The richest industrial part of Germany, access to Germany’s iron and coal reserves
Why did France and Belgium occupy the Ruhr and what was the result
Germany had stopped paying their reparations. Germans in the Ruhr went on strike.
What was the later result of the occupation of the Ruhr
Germany started printing more money to pay the reparations, which led to hyperinflation
What is a statistic for hyperinflation?
In 1918 an egg cost 1/4 of a mark but in 1923 it cost 80 million marks
What was the impact of hyperinflation? (2)
The German currency became useless so no country wanted to trade with them, and savings for the people became useless so pensioners struggled.
This led to more people wanting a strong leader
Who was Gustav Stresemann
He was the Chancellor of the Republic from Aug-Nov 1923.
What did GS do in his time as Chancellor (2)
In Sep, he ended the strike in the Ruhr to reduce tension between Ger, Fra, and Bel.
In Nov he changed the currency to Rentenmark
What and when was the Dawes Plan
The Dawes Plan of 1924 was a £40mil loan from the USA and an agreement that Germany would start paying more realistically
What and when was the Young Plan
The Young Plan of 1929 was an agreement that the Allies would lower the reparations to 1/4 of its original amount and give Germany 59 years to pay them
What and when was the Locarno Pact
The Locarno Pact of 1925 meant that Germany, France, and Belgium all agreed to respect their borders
When did Germany join the LoN
1926, they were re-established as a national power (who could be trusted)
What and when was the Kellog Briand Pact
The Kellog Briand Pact of 1928 was a treaty signed by Germany and 65 other countries as a promise not to use violence to settle any disputes
Why was it not a good idea to rely on America financially
After Streseman died in Oct 29, the Wall Street Crash followed and his plan for the recovery of Germany relied on the economic stability of the US
What 3 things improved in the Golden Years
Unemployment, Wages, and Housing
How did unemployment improve?
The unemployed had better protection (insurance by the gov) so they could receive cash benefits
How did housing improve?
A massive housing project was launched and the government built 2 million homes between 1924 and 31
How did the wages improve?
Wages for industrial workers rose in the late 1920s
How did the Golden Era change the lives of women? (4)
Employment increased as they proved they were capable of working after the war.
They were given political freedom. They could vote and enter politics more easily and women began being elected into the Reichstag. 12 between 1919 and 1932
Traditional gender roles began to change, and women’s sports clubs and societies evolved
Divorce rates increased as it became easier to have one
What other advances were there in the Golden Era
Advances in art, literature, theatre, cinema, and cabaret culture. Critical thinking was also encouraged in places like Frankfurt University
When was the Wall Street Crash
October 1929
Why was the WSC bad for Germany
Germany’s recovery was built on the foundation of the USA’s economic help in the form of loans. The USA could not afford to give any more loans and asked for some to be repaid. Germany’s economy collapsed
What were the results of the WSC in Germany? (4)
Factories and banks had closed and industrial production declined.
Unemployment rose: from 1.6mil in 1929 to 6 mil in 1932
The government cut unemployment benefits
The popularity of extreme groups rose
What 2 parties fought for German votes during the GD and how?
The Nazis and KDP (communists). They promised to represent workers’ needs for a fair Germany and unemployed Germans supported them. The Nazi party grew a lot faster than the KDP
Who specifically did the Nazis appeal to (3)
Wealthy businessmen, unemployed people, and young people looking for a brighter future
For what other reason did people support the Nazis
Their anti-communist and anti-semitic views. Many used them as scapegoats for the (economic) problems in Germany
How did the SA appeal to Germans
It gave the Nazis a military feel of organization and discipline, which the people wanted
How did Hitler’s speeches help the Nazis
He presented patriotic views with enthusiasm so many people listened to him. He came across as a strong leader.
How many seats did the Nazis win in the Reichstag in July 1932
230 (more than any other party)
Who won the election as President and what did Hitler want from them
Hindenburg was reelected Pres and Hitler demanded to be made Chancellor but Hindenburg didn’t trust him
How many seats did the Nazis lose in Nov 32
34
What deal did Hitler make with Franz Von Papen
He said if Von Papen could get Hindenburg to make Hitler Chancellor then Hitler would make VP Vice Chancellor
