Germany 1914-1924 Flashcards
What was the Weimar constitution
After Germany lost the war in 1918, the Kaiser abdicated and the Weimar Republic was created to create the perfect democratic country.
What was good about the Weimar republic
- rather than being ruled under a monarchy, it became a democracy under an elected president and Reichstag
- features of it appealed to German citizens - it guaranteed freedom of speech and religion, equality under the law and a lowered voting age
- citizens were allowed more control over the leadership of their country
- advocate majority rule, which seems a fair system
What happened in Germany 1917
- Germany started to lose the war - expected it to end in 1914
- America joined the war
- fighting on both western and eastern border
- food shortages
- naval blockage by allies
- socialists opposed the war
What happened in March 1918
Russia was taken over by extreme left wing so surrendered. Germany troops were therefore sent to the western front
Why did general Ludendorff want a new government
So people are more involved. He could then blame the government for the armistice and defeat, and allies would be sympathetic
TofV: Land
- Germany lost 13% of its land - industrial areas (the Ruhr), meaning people were homeless, more jobs and accommodation required
- this lost land had important raw materials - needed to trade with other countries - economic problems
- German troops were not allowed in the Rhineland, meaning they were vulnerable to attack
- all of Germany’s oversea colonies were taken away - more concentration on Germany’s position in Europe
TofV: Army
- German army reduced to 100,000 - more concise, well trained army of men - less likely for a war to start
- navy cut to 15,000 sailors and 6 battleships - vulnerable and humiliated
- were not allowed submarines, tank or Air Force - they were at a disadvantage compared to other countries
TofV: blame
- allies demanded compensation from Germany for all the damage
- Germany was blamed for the war in the ‘war guilt clause’ - new government signed on behalf of Germany - stab in the back theory
TofV: money
• Germany had to pay reparations, £6600 million, mostly to France and Belgium
• impossible figure of money to pay - already had a shortage of money
• industrial regions lost trading
IN 1923 IT WAS ANNOUNCED GERMANY COULD NOT PAY REPARATIONS
what was the Munich putsch
- aimed to take over government - Weimar Republic were weak by 1923 - signed tofv which showed weakness - hyperinflation
- hitter wanted to cease power - Mussolini marched on Rome in 1922
- had 55,000 supporting members
- hitler changed party to make it more appealing - organised party, propaganda, widespread support and disciplined representatives
- held the leader of Bavaria and 2 others at gun point
- was arrested when the Kahr was released, sent to prison for 9 months but only served 5 - had time to reevaluate his methods and create a plan and the nazis had no leader
- wanted Ludendorff to become the leader of Germany - was a war hero and had nationalist support
The invasion of the Ruhr
- Ruhr was a key industrial area of Germany - manufacturing bases and had raw materials
- no money could be made - consequently had an impact on hyperinflation
- government had to pay families money
- people were not working and therefore not producing
- German government told Germans to strike - passive resistance
- French and Belgian troops invaded - 60 in 1923- no reparations being paid in 1922 as Germans could not pay
- over 100 workers killed
- French expelled over 100,000 protestors within the region, putting a halt to Germany’s industrial production - loss of money
- workers had to be paid by government - more money printed - hyperinflation
What is a constitution
A set of rules and principles outlining how a country be covered
