Germany in the 1920s

Question 1

WWI Catalyst

Answer 1

Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to Austria-Hungary empire, by Serbian Nationalist Gavrilo Princip

Question 2

WWI Causes

Answer 2

Nationalism (Alsace and Lorraine)
Alliances
Imperialism (competition over colonies)
Militarism

Question 3

Central Powers

Answer 3

Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire, and Bulgaria

Question 4

Allied Powers

Answer 4

Serbia, Russia, France, Britain, US, Italy, and Romania

Question 5

Treaty of Versailles

Answer 5

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

Question 6

Kaiser William II

Answer 6

When Germany lost the war, citizens blamed politicians. Kaiser William II was forced to abdicate the throne.

Question 7

Throughout WWI, Germans believed… Then…

Answer 7

government propaganda that they were winning. Then they were starved by British naval blockade.

Question 8

Effects of WWI in Germany

Answer 8

• 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

Question 9

Friedrich Ebert

Answer 9

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.

Question 10

German Revolution

Answer 10

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.

Question 11

Free Corps

Answer 11

Paramilitary group of former soldiers. Right wing nationalists that hated communists. Murdered communists but served very little jail time. Many later joined Nazis.

Question 12

Weimar Constitution: president

Answer 12

Head of state elected for 7 years, could dissolve the Reichstag, call for general election, veto Reichstag legislation, declare state of emergency

Question 13

Weimar Constitution: Chancellor

Answer 13

Appointed by President, wanted majority support of Reichstag

Question 14

Weimar Constitution: legislative branch

Answer 14

Bicameral assembly: Reichstag repped whole nation, system of proportional representation, handled finances + taxes + foreign policy. Reichsrat ripped regions.

Question 15

Women in German politics

Answer 15

Women could vote, made up 52% of potential electorate

Question 16

Weimar Constitution: Protections

Answer 16

Speech, press, religion

Question 17

Ballot often had…

Answer 17

30+ parties

Question 18

Weimar Political Parties: Left

Answer 18

Communists support dictatorship. Social Democrats support Weimar. Both support: taxation, welfare, unions, equality for women, and are less nationalistic, militaristic, or antisemitic.

Question 19

Weimar Political Parties: Center

Answer 19

Catholic Center Party: moderate, support Weimar

Question 20

Weimar Political Parties: Right

Answer 20

Nazi Party. Strong nationalism, large military, disliked taxation and welfare and unions, antisemitism and traditional roles for women

Question 21

Munich

Answer 21

Home of Nazi Party. Capital of German state of Bavaria. Third largest German city.

Question 22

Kapp Putsch

Answer 22

1920 Wolfgang Kapp and Free Corps attempt to overtake Berlin. Failed, workers strike and paralyzed city.

Question 23

Workers in the Ruhr Valley…

Answer 23

formed a communist story but crushed by Free Corps

Question 24

Walter Rathenau

Answer 24

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.

Question 25

Hyperinflation

Answer 25

Inflation that is high and out of control: prices rise, value of money decreases

Question 26

Cause of hyperinflation in Germany

Answer 26

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

Question 27

Impact of hyperinflation

Answer 27

bartering common, fixed income worthless, burned furniture for heat, rich fined because they could grow own food, middle class suffered most

Question 28

Dawes Plan

Answer 28

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.

Question 29

Beer Hall Putsch

Answer 29

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.

Question 30

Mein Kempf

Answer 30

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.

Question 31

Brown shirts

Answer 31

Nazi storm troopers. Drew membership from Free Corps. Protected Nazi Party meetings, marched in Nazi rallies, assaulted political opponents (leftists)

Question 32

Nazi Party platform

Answer 32

25 point program.