Germany Flashcards
Political Impacts of WW1?
During the War, Germany ruled by dictatorship. The Kaiser, Ludendorff and Hindenburg are supreme leaders
Social And Economic Impacts of WW1?
- Farming disrupted by 50% due to farmers being drafted in to army
- Mass starvation, 750,000 deaths
Psychological Impacts of WW1?
- Germans felt bitter after war
- They needed someone to blame
Violent impacts of WW1?
- ex-soldiers stage violent demonstrations against the Kaiser
- open resistance in streets from workers
- socialists demanding revolution
- sailors in Kiel demonstrate mutinies in Kiel in 1918
What 3 reasons made Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicate?
- revolution threatening
- Germany seeking armistice
- army could harm him
What happened to Wilhelm II after abdication?
Exile
When does the Kaiser abdicate?
November 1918
Who was put in Chancellor and declared Germany a republic?
Friederich Ebert
When does Ebert become chancellor?
November 1918
When does Germany become a republic?
December 1918
When was the armistice signed to end war?
November 1918
Why did the armistice anger many Germans?
Some still believed they were doing well in the war, so many got angry at the new government
When was Treaty of Versailles accepted?
June 1919
Name 5 terms within the treaty?
- Germany loses overseas colonies
- Rhineland demilitarised, occupied by Allied troops
- army limited to 100,000 men
- admit war guilt
- pay reparations
Nickname given to Weimar politicians who signed Treaty of Versailles due to it being seen as a ‘diktat’? (Dictated Peace)
‘November Criminals’
What volunteer army did the government hire to stop any Left Wing threats?
Free Corps
When and what was the Sparticist Uprising
January 1919, a putsch to overthrow the government, led by Luxembourg
When and what was the Berlin Uprising?
March 1919, communist unrest in Berlin
When and what was the Bavaria Rising?
March 1919, Communist Republic declared in Bavaria
When and what was the Red Rising
March 1920, in reaction to Kapp Putsch, workers in Ruhr go on strike and form their own ‘Red Army.’
When and what was the Kapp Putsch?
March 1920, putsch to overthrow the government led by Wolfgang Kapp with help of the Free Corps
When was Weimar Constitution accepted?
July 1919
Name the 5 Clauses in Weimar Constitution?
- freedom of speech
- freedom of religion
- 20+ years old can vote
- Proportional Representation
- Article 48
What is Passive Resistance?
To oppose a group without using violence
How long has inflation been rising by 1921?
Since WW1
In 1921, how much did Germany discover it would have to pay in Reparations?
£6600 million
Germany paid first instalment of Reparations in 1921, now in 1922 they couldn’t afford to and asked for a break. What were the consequences?
The French refused, invaded The Ruhr in January 1923, and production stopped when German citizens told to engage in Passive Resistance
Passive Resistance worsens the state of the economy, and Germany’s solution is to print more money. True or False?
True
By Autumn 1923, Germany was experiencing Hyper Inflation due to them printing too much money. True or false?
True
Germany becomes a barter economy as a result of Hyper Inflation. What is a Barter Economy?
When goods, rather than money are traded in exchange for services or products
In August 1923, Ebert founded a new government after the collapse of the previous one. How?
Using Article 48
Who became the new chancellor in August 1923? And Foreign Minister by 1924?
Gustav Stresemann
What 5 things did Stresemann do to solve the Economic Crisis? ( 5 R’s)
- Reduced Government Spending
- Resumed paying Reparations
- Passive Resistance ended in Ruhr
- New currency ( Rentenmark)
- New Bank ( Reichsbank)
When did Stresemann and the Allies draw up the Dawes Plan? And what does it do?
In 1924 it was drawn up, and it gave Germany more time to pay Reparations overall and less would have to be paid over the next few years.
At the same time of the Dawes Plan, 1924, it was announced that Germany would benefit from US Loans as well. True or False?
True
In 1929, The Young Plan was drawn up. What did it do?
Dropped Reparations down to £1800 million
Name 5 positives of Golden Twenties?
- heavy industry recovered
- exports on rise
- wages on increase
- social welfare improved
- infrastructure development
What did the 1928 General Election indicate?
People were supporting moderate parties
What were the 1925 Locarno Treaties?
Germany, France and Belgium accept common borders
In 1926, what international association was Germany allowed to join?
League of Nations
Name 5 negatives on the Golden Twenties?
- von Hindenburg elected as president, doesn’t like democracy
- agriculture depression
- unemployment on increase
- over - reliance on US loans
- governments can’t last longer than 2 years
Why did Hitler join the DAF?
His job was to infiltrate extremist parties, but he was impressed by their aims