Germany in the 1920s Flashcards
WWI Catalyst
Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to Austria-Hungary empire, by Serbian Nationalist Gavrilo Princip
WWI Causes
Nationalism (Alsace and Lorraine)
Alliances
Imperialism (competition over colonies)
Militarism
Central Powers
Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire, and Bulgaria
Allied Powers
Serbia, Russia, France, Britain, US, Italy, and Romania
Treaty of Versailles
post-WWI treaty that Allies forced on Germany.
Terms: burdensome reparations, full blame, restrictions on military, loss of overseas colonies, Allied troops would occupy German territory
Kaiser William II
When Germany lost the war, citizens blamed politicians. Kaiser William II was forced to abdicate the throne.
Throughout WWI, Germans believed… Then…
government propaganda that they were winning. Then they were starved by British naval blockade.
Effects of WWI in Germany
- Government moved to Weimar from 1919-1933
- 2 million Germans dead
- Economic ruin, starving population, communism spread, disrespect for govt.
- Former soldiers angry and traumatized and not disarmed
Friedrich Ebert
Strikes and workers’ and soldiers’ councils took over cities. Ebert led the Social Democratic Party, pleaded with Kaiser to leave. Party announced Germany was now a republic. First president of Weimar.
German Revolution
Attempts from groups on left (Communists or Sparticists) and right (Free Corps) to take over govt. between 1918 and 1919. Dec 23 1918 sparticists and sailors took Ebert hostage, announced communist takeover, so Ebert’s govt allied with Free Corps and Ebert and Social Dem majority in Reichstag elected in Feb 1919.
Free Corps
Paramilitary group of former soldiers. Right wing nationalists that hated communists. Murdered communists but served very little jail time. Many later joined Nazis.
Weimar Constitution: president
Head of state elected for 7 years, could dissolve the Reichstag, call for general election, veto Reichstag legislation, declare state of emergency
Weimar Constitution: Chancellor
Appointed by President, wanted majority support of Reichstag
Weimar Constitution: legislative branch
Bicameral assembly: Reichstag repped whole nation, system of proportional representation, handled finances + taxes + foreign policy. Reichsrat ripped regions.
Women in German politics
Women could vote, made up 52% of potential electorate
Weimar Constitution: Protections
Speech, press, religion
Ballot often had…
30+ parties
Weimar Political Parties: Left
Communists support dictatorship. Social Democrats support Weimar. Both support: taxation, welfare, unions, equality for women, and are less nationalistic, militaristic, or antisemitic.
Weimar Political Parties: Center
Catholic Center Party: moderate, support Weimar
Weimar Political Parties: Right
Nazi Party. Strong nationalism, large military, disliked taxation and welfare and unions, antisemitism and traditional roles for women
Munich
Home of Nazi Party. Capital of German state of Bavaria. Third largest German city.
Kapp Putsch
1920 Wolfgang Kapp and Free Corps attempt to overtake Berlin. Failed, workers strike and paralyzed city.
Workers in the Ruhr Valley…
formed a communist story but crushed by Free Corps
Walter Rathenau
Associated with treaty, famously murdered by four men who were sentenced to only four years. Many murders of leftwing politicians were committed by right wingers.
Hyperinflation
Inflation that is high and out of control: prices rise, value of money decreases
Cause of hyperinflation in Germany
By 1922, Germany couldn’t pay reparations. By 1923, France and Belgium invaded Ruhr Valley and took over steel and iron factories to pay reparations. Weimar government told workers to strike, printed money to support them, caused inflation
Impact of hyperinflation
bartering common, fixed income worthless, burned furniture for heat, rich fined because they could grow own food, middle class suffered most
Dawes Plan
New chancellor Gustav Streseman ordered Ruhr workers to go back to work. Mark replaced with new currency: Rentenmark backed by US gold. 1924 Dawes Plan set realistic targets for Germany’s reparation payments, US loaned Germany $200 million. 1924-1929 Golden Age of Weimar.
Beer Hall Putsch
Nov 1923 Hitler attempted to organize a coup in Munich at height of inflation. Hitler and 2000 Nazis entered Munich Beer Hall and announced. Nazi march met by police, Hitler arrested and jailed for treason.
Mein Kempf
My Struggle, written by Hitler during his nine months in jail. Discussed superiority of the Aryans and characterized Jews (1% of pop) as a threat to German people. Nazi party gained popularity due to book and economy.
Brown shirts
Nazi storm troopers. Drew membership from Free Corps. Protected Nazi Party meetings, marched in Nazi rallies, assaulted political opponents (leftists)
Nazi Party platform
25 point program.
