Germany 1890-1945 Key Facts Flashcards
When did the Wilhelm become Kaiser and how old was he?
In 1888, he was 29 years old
When was Germany created as a country?
1871
Outline three facts about Kaiser wilhelm
Strong outgoing personality
Deformed arm
Impatient, rude and short tempered
What was weltpolitik?
‘World policy’, kaisers plan to turn Germany into global power
When were a series of naval laws introduced?
1898-1912
When did WW1 start?
August 1914
What protests occurred against WW1 in 1915 and 1916?
500 of women gathered in front of the German parliament buildings and said they wanted their men back from the trenches
In 1916, 10,000 workers assembled in Berlin to shout ‘down with war , down with government’
When was Germany close to collapse?
1918
What did General Ludendorff advise the Kaiser to do in 1918?
To become more democratic so they get treated more fairly and that’s exactly what the Kaiser did by transferring some power to reichstag.
Mutiny and revolution
What happened on 28 October 1918?
Sailors on the ships refused to follow orders and new is their mutiny spread. Soldiers went on protests. In just six days workers and soldiers councils were running major cities.
What happened to the Kaiser in November? Name the specific date
He abdicated 9 November 1918
Who took over Germany after the Kaiser left?
Freidrich Ebert
When did Germany surrender?
11 November 1918
How was Germany virtually bankrupt after the war?
Germany had borrowed money from abroad e.g. America and they had to pay it back
Germany had lent money to their allies and they might never get it back
Left 60,000 widows and 2 million children without their dads
Germanys factories exhausted and could no longer make money
How had the war divided German society further?
Some factory owners made a fortune during the war and the workers had very little pay
Women worked in factories during war which some thought damaged traditional values
How had Germany become politically unstable after the war?
Mutiny and revolution
Many ex soldiers felt betrayed by the ‘November criminals’ who had ended the war
What did Ernest do when he first took charge?
Improved housing
Unemployment
Freedom of speech
Improved working conditions
Ordered a democratic republic so no more kaisers
What happened on 6 January 1919?
Spartacists tried to take over Berlin.
Thousands roamed streets firing guns and took over important buildings.
Ebert sent the free corps. 2000 tough ex soldiers. After three days of brutal street fighting they recaptured buildings
Rosa Luxembourg and Karl liebkneckt were arrested then tortured then finally murdered
What took place in late January 1919? ( the thing Ebert had promised) and what was the outcome?
The election
The SPD won and Ernest became new German President
Who met up on 11 February 1919 and who?
Newly elected politicians and Ebert in a town called Weimar.
Weimar Republic start
What was the Weimar constitution and when was it created?
Formal set of rules on how Germany would be governed. 1919
In 1919, could women vote
Only over 20
Describe consequences of the Treaty of Versailles
Germany had to pay £6.6billion in reparations, paid by 1988
Only 100,000 soldiers 6 battleships No submarines tanks or airforce Must never untie with Austria again No German soldiers in Rhineland
Hand over colonies to winning countries
What did the Germans name the treaty of Versailles?
‘Diktat’ a dictated peace
How much did a loaf of bread cost in December 1921 and in September 1923
Dec 1921- 4 marks
Sep 1923- 1.5 million
Nov 1923- 201 billion marks
What did Germany announce in 1922?
They could not afford to pay their next payment. French and Belgians decide to take what was owed by force
How many French and Belgian soldiers marched into the Ruhr in January 1923?
60,000
What did the French and Belgian troops do in the Ruhr?
Took control of every factory, mine and railways
Took food and goods from shops and arrested Germans who stood up to them
What did the German government order their workers to do in the ruhr?
Go on strike, passive resistance
How many were killed in the invasion of the Ruhr and how many thrown out of their homes?
100 dead
15,000 thrown out of homes as a punishment
How much were people life’s savings worth after hyperinflation?
1000 marks couldn’t even buy them a loaf of bread
How were people effected by hyperinflation?
Pensioners lost all of their pensions
Small businesses collapsed
People in debt easily paid it off
What did the treaty of Versailles state?
£6.6 billion in reparations Only have 100,000 soldiers 6 battleships No submarines No tanks No Air Force Hand over colonies Never unite with Austria No soldiers in Rhineland
What were the left wing beliefs?
Workers should have power and rule the country as a collection of workers’ councils
There should be equality
Change is welcome
Anti right wing
What were the right wing beliefs?
Strong leaders should rule over people
Major differences between class people and race
Country should have large empire
Change is not welcome
Anti left wing
Describe the events of the Kapp Putsch
One of 1st right wing groups that tried taking over Germany led by Wolfgang Kapp
March 1920, gathered 5000 men and took over Berlin
President Ebert fled from Berlin, however, no workers supported him and everyone went on strike. Meaning no gas water electricity or trains
After 100 hours Kapp gave in and fled abroad and Ebert returned
Describe the events of the Red rising in the Ruhr
After Kapp Putsch, left wing workers stayed on strike rose up and took over several towns
Free corps sent to deal with and over 1000 workers killed
How many assassinations were there between 1919-1922
350 political murders
E.g.
August 1921 Matthias Erzberger man who signed armistice shot dead by right wing group
Give facts about Hitler’s early life
1889-1945
Born is small town in Austria-Hungary
Parents both dead by 1907
1914-joined German army
Describe Hitler and his politics
First discovered the German Workers Party in May 1919, members met in beer halls. People made speeches on how the TofV made Germany weak
Hitler joined party and tried to attract new members, powerful speeches and persuaded party to buy Munich Observer to put forward views
Before long hitler was running the party
What did hitler design for the German Workers’ Party soon after being the leader
Swastika which was a new flag and symbol in order to attract attention
Changed name to National Socialist German Workers Party known as the Nazi party for short
Give figures to show that the party grew between 1920 and 1921
1920- 3000 members
1921 - 5000 members
Party still minor
Who were the Stormtroopers (SA)
Formed in 1920 Protection for Nazi Party Disrupt other parties meetings Mainly from Free corps After Wall Street crash people had no jobs no money, Nazi's used this to their advantage and offered uniform, job and food
Collapsed after Munich Putsch but re organised in 1926
Describe the events of the Munich Putsch
8 November 1923
Hitler interrupted netting in beer hall where Gustav von Kahr hard of Bavarian government
Hitler fired bullet into ceiling and announced he was taking over Bavaria and then march into Berlin and take over
Locked Kahr in small room, the Ludendorff walked in and said he supported Hitler
Around Munich Hitler storm troopers took control of government buildings and arrested officially
What happened the day after the Munich Putsch?
Kahr promised to help him but contacted the police.
Hitler’s 2000 supporters were met by armed police
3 policemen and 16 nazis killed
Describe the trial and imprisonment of Hitler after the Munich Putsch
Lasted 24 days
It was a media sensation and took opportunity to criticise the government and impressed nation and judges
Ludendorff set free and Hitler sent to prison for 5 years while other nazis let off with light sentences
Hitler could have been executed for such a serious crime but it was let off
What did hitler write whilst in prison?
Mein kampf meaning my struggle
Released from prison in 1924 after serving 9 months
What was the impact of the Munich Putsch on hitler?
Taught hitler valuable lesson
Realised he had to change his strategy
Nazis would have to stand in election and win votes
He would have to win power democratically
Who was Stresemann?
Member of parliament since 1907
Germanys foreign minister from 1924 until his death in 1929
How did stresemannn solve the hyperinflation crisis?
Stopped printing of old paper money and replaced it with the temporary Retenmark.
In 1924, the rentenmark was replaced by the reichsmark, a stable currency which lasted for the next 25 years
How did Stresemann solve the invasion of the Ruhr?
Met with American Vice President Charles Dawes and came up with the Dawes Plan. Germany began to pay the money they owed and new repayment schedule was agreed
How did Stresemann improve Germany’s image abroad?
In 1925 he signed the Locarno Pact . Promised never to invade eachother
In 1926, Germany joined the League of Nations
In 1928, signed the Kellogg-Briand Pact where participating countries agreed never to go to war.
How did Stresemann improve German industry?
Built new factories house schools and roads. Which meant more jobs
Ford and Gillette built factories in Germany
When did Stresemann die?
1929 of a stroke
Did Germany fully recover under Stesemann?
No attempts to overthrow between 1924-1929
Still many political parties and hounding to coke to power
Extreme ideas political parties
Still large groups in trouble e.g. Farmers incomes were really low
Much of prosperity relied on American loans
Name aspects that contributed to the Golden Age?
Cinema Nightlife Literature Art Design
Cinema in the golden age
Very popular
Metropolis directed by Fritz Lang was most technically advanced film of decade
Nightlife in Weimar Culture
Germany became a centre for new plays
The threepenny opera was a box office smash
Berlin famous for its nightclubs that played American jazz music
Literature in Weimar Germany
Writing became big business
120 newspapers and magazines
‘All quiet on the western front’ which was an anti east novel sold half a million copies in just three months
Art in the golden age
Art flourished
Avant garden artists such as ‘Otto Dix’ believed that art should show the reality of everyday life
Design in Weimar Germany
New group of designers Leon as the Bauhaus
Designed modern simple practical things
What were the reactions to the cultural changes?
While some loved them others hated them
Some wanted traditional
Berlin was viewed as corrupt and sex-obsessed
The Nazi’s openly criticised the period when they came to power in 1933. Many Weimar artists and performers had to flee the country
