Germany 1890-1945 Flashcards
what was the role of the chancellor
to advise the Kaiser and run the government
what was the Reichstag
the parliament which was elected by men over 25
what was the bundesrat
made up of representatives from each state
what was the role of the Kaiser
could ignore government advice, made all military and foreign policy decisions, ruled over all the states in Germany
whats militarism
Kaiser Wilhelm strongly believed in it, the belief a country should have strong armed forces.
what was the industrialisation period during Kaiser Germany
In the late 1800s Germany began to industrialise, high production of coal, iron and steel. This meant Germany were thriving, a global power during this time
what did industrialisation lead to
The growth of socialism due to workers being unhappy about low wages and poor working conditions, this then led to the uprising of the SPD
What was the social democratic party (SPD) and it’s aims
a party which came popular among workers, believed wealth and power should be shared equally among everyone. Hoped the Kaiser might allow the the Reichstag to make more laws to improve work.
what were the Navy Laws
laws to rapidly increase the size of the navy especially but also the army
why did the Kaiser want these navy laws
to help expand the German empire and protect those who are already part
How did kaiser Wilhelm afford this increase
increased taxes and borrowed a lot of money, leaving Germany i n debt for a long time
what were the different problems and difficulties faced to the kaiser up until 1914
the growth of socialism, debt due to navy laws, potential future opposition by enemy’s over rise of the German Empire, rebellions against the Kaisers ruling
what were the impacts on Germany from WW1 by 1918
Germany virtually bankrupt, society divided further, political instability
who were the spartacists and what did they do
they were a group of communists who wanted Germany to be run by small councils of workers and soldiers, on the 6th Jan they seized power of Berlin
who were the Freikorps
a group of 2000 ex-soldiers sent by Ebert to attack the spartacists, after 3 days of brutal fighting they defeated the spartacists and regained power of Germany
what was the weimar constitution and who was now ruling Germany
The SPD (Ebert) were now ruling Germany and the Weimar constitution was created, a set of rules which gave all Germans equal rights and the right to vote
what were the weaknesses of the Weimar constitution
lots of parties were able to win seats in Reichstag so difficult to decide laws, any groups wanted back the ‘Good old days’ back with the Kaiser. The November criminals and Article 48
who were the November criminals and how is this linked to the Weimar Constitution
The November criminals were politicians who were linked to the defeat of WW1. Some politicians who created this Government system were the November criminals
whats article 48
Article 48 meant that laws could be passed without going through the Reichstag by the president.
what were the strengths of the Weimar constitution
Genuine democracy, power of the Reichstag and the Bill of rights
what was the bill of rights
a law which protected freedom of speech, freedom and equality
what were the punishments given to Germany from the TofV
war reparations (6.6 billion)
limits to the army and navy
hand over colonies to enemy countries
demilitarisation of Rhineland
Germany must never unite with Austria again
German land given away to form new countries
what were the reactions to the punishments of the TofV
too harsh, felt humiliated
felt they were forced to sign it, dictated peace
felt betrayed by politicians as they felt they did not lose the war at all
what happened during the occupation of the ruhr
next payment for reparations was due and Germany couldn’t afford
french and belgains didn’t believe them so they used force to take what they were owed
they occupated the ruhr - a rich industrial part of Germany