germany part one: germany & the growth of democracy Flashcards
1
Q
chapter 1 not in exam
A
2
Q
chapter 2: how did germans feel at the beginning of ww1 (in 1914)?
A
- war was popular, young patriotic germans thought it’d end quickly
- soon british navy stopped ships getting food into germany, leading to food, medicine & clothing shortages
3
Q
chapter 2: how did germans feel in the middle of the war? (1915-1916)
A
- protesters demanded end to war: 1915, 500 women gathered in front of german parliament buildings, said they wanted men back from trenches
- yr later, 10k workers assembled in berlin - war weariness had increased
- on front line, soldiers worn down by bombs, gas & machine gun fire
4
Q
chapter 2: how did germans feel near the end of the war (1918)?
A
- germany close to defeat
- flu epidemic killed thousands already weak from poor diet due to food shortages
- october: general Ludendorff stated Germany couldn’t win war, advised Kaiser to make country more democratic so winning Allies would treat germany more fairly
- Kaiser allowed main political parties to form new gov., transferred some of his power to Reichstag. but german people not satisfied, came too late, more demonstrations followed
5
Q
chapter 2: what happened on 28th october 1918?
A
- german navy in Kiel mutinied as didn’t want to fight
- mutiny spread
- soldiers sent to deal w protests also joined sailors & workers
- in just 6 days, workers’ & soldiers’ councils were governing towns & cities all over germany
- Kaiser realised he’d lost control, army generals refused to support him
6
Q
chapter 2: when did the germany navy in Kiel mutiny?
A
28th october 1918
7
Q
chapter 2: what happened on 9th november 1918?
A
- Kaiser abdicated & secretly left germany, never to return
- Friedrich Ebert, leader of germany’s largest political party (the SPD), took over germany temporarily
- he promised to hold elections & ended the war
8
Q
chapter 2: when did the kaiser abdicate?
A
9th november 1918
9
Q
chapter 2: what was the impact of WW1 on germany by 1918? (3 short points)
A
- germany virtually bankrupt
- war had divided german society further
- germany become more politically unstable
10
Q
chapter 2: why was germany virtually bankrupt after ww1?
A
- owed vast sums of money that it’d borrowed to pay for war (like from USA)
- lent some of own money to its allies - might not get it back
- factories exhausted: been producing guns, bullets & shells, not goods to sell abroad & make money
- war left 600k war widows & 2 million children w/o fathers: war pensions would cost gov. a fortune
11
Q
chapter 2: why had the war divided german society further?
A
- some factory owners made fortune during war, while german workers had restrictions placed on their wages
- women worked in factories during war, some thought this damaged traditional family values
12
Q
chapter 2: why had germany become more politically unstable after the war?
A
- before war, germany was stable, rich nation - now mutiny & revolution
- many ex-soldiers & civilians felt germany could’ve won war, felt betrayed by politicians (‘november criminals’) who’d ended it & refused to support them
13
Q
chapter 2: what did the spartacists believe in?
A
- new political idea called communism: wanted germany 2 be run by small councils of soldiers & workers, not large parliament
- spartacus league named after spartacus, roman gladiator who led rebellion of slaves against slave-masters of ancient Rome
14
Q
chapter 2: what did the spartacists do on 6th jan 1919?
A
- tried 2 take over berlin (germany’s capital)
- 1000s of them roamed streets, firing guns & trying to take over important buildings
15
Q
chapter 2: how did Ebert respond to the spartacist revolt?
A
- violent solution: sent in group of 2000 tough ex-soldiers (Free Corps) to attack them
- after 3 days of brutal street fighting, Free Corps recaptured buildings & arrested leaders (Rosa Luxemburg & Karl Liebknecht)
- after beating them savagely, FC murdered them; revolt now over
16
Q
chapter 2: when did the spartacist revolt begin?
A
6th jan 1919
17
Q
chapter 2: who were the spartacist revolt leaders?
A
Rosa Luxemburg & Karl Liebknecht
18
Q
chapter 2: when was the weimar constitution established?
A
august 1919
19
Q
chapter 2: how did the weimar constitution work? like what was the structure of it
A
- all germans had equal rights, incl right to vote (incl all women over 20!!!)
- proportional representation (weakness, made it hugely difficult 2 make decisions & pass laws, slow, no majority so weak coalition govs)
- many groups didn’t like this new democratic system of governing at all
20
Q
chapter 2: what was the weimar government linked to?
A
- the surrender at the end of WW1 - forced to have democratic gov. in ToV, so associated w defeat
- politicians who’d lost the war (the November Criminals) were changing the way the country was ruled, many didn’t like it
21
Q
chapter 2: why didn’t people like the weimar system of governing?
A
- some of older army generals, judges, upper-class families, rich factory owners & uni professors longed for ‘good old days’ when Kaiser ruled Germany
- linked to surrender/defeat, November Criminals
22
Q
chapter 2: true or false: between 1919 and 1933, only once did a political party win more than half the votes in any election
A
false: it was never between those years
23
Q
chapter 2: what did the President do in the weimar gov.?
A
- elected every 7 yrs
- controlled army, navy & air force
- stayed out of day-2-day running of country; however in crisis he could rule on own w/o support of Reichstag by issuing special emergency decrees known as Article 48
24
Q
chapter 2: what did the Chancellor do in the weimar gov.?
A
- chosen by president (usually from political party w most votes at an election)
- responsible for day-2-day running of country, e.g. law & order, taxation, schooling, health care
- must have support of at least 1/2 MPs/politicians in Reichstag to introduce new laws
25
chapter 2: what did the Reichstag do in the weimar gov.?
- discussed & introduced laws
- members of it (MPs) elected every 4 yrs
- voting system is proportional representation
26
chapter 2: what was proportional representation?
the number of MPs each party had in Reichstag based on no. of votes they had, e.g. if party won 10% of votes, they get 10% of seats
27
chapter 2: what did the german people (the electorate) do in the weimar gov.?
- all men & women over 20 could vote
- elected President & politicians in Reichstag
- the constitution guaranteed them basic freedoms, such as free speech
28
chapter 2: what sequence of events led to hyperinflation? (10 points)
- **1922**: germany couldn’t afford instalment of reparations that was due
- **jan 1923**: 60,000 french & belgian soldiers marched into Ruhr & took control of basically everything, arrested germans who stood up to them, didn’t believe they couldn’t afford it so tried taking it by force
- german gov. ordered workers in Ruhr to do **passive resistance** (strike)
- over 100 strikers killed by french & belgian soldiers; 15,000 thrown out of homes as punishment
- german gov. promised to continue paying workers on strike, bc they’re doing what they told them to do, but germany running short of money because Ruhr not producing coal, iron, steel to sell to other nations
- to pay workers, gov. printed large amounts of money
- striking workers being paid for not working; began to spend money quickly - in response shopkeepers put up prices
- as shops raised prices all over germany, gov. printed even more money to help ppl buy things. but more money gov printed, faster prices inc.
- faster prices inc, faster ppl spent wages; soon workers paid 2x a day, carried wages around in wheelbarrows which wasn’t even enough to buy decent meal. price of goods even rose between joining back of queue & reaching front
- as expected, german gov & weimar politicians lost lots of support in 1923, since ppl looked for someone to blame. their savings had become worthless
29
chapter 2: what was the impact of hyperinflation on germany?
- **ppl w savings in bank** were biggest losers - some people saved all lives for 1000 marks in bank; by 1923 wouldn’t even buy them loaf of bread
- **elderly ppl who lived on fixed pensions** found income wouldn’t buy what they needed anymore
- many **small businesses** collapsed as normal trade became impossible bc of daily price changes
- ppl who’d **borrowed money** found very easy to pay off debts - they were real winners
30
chapter 3: when was the Kapp Putsch?
march 1920
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chapter 3: who led the Kapp Putsch?
Wolfgang Kapp
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chapter 3: what happened in the Kapp Putsch? (6 points)
- march 1920: Wolfgang Kapp gathered about 5000 men (Free Corps), mainly police & ex-soldiers, & took over Berlin
- aimed to eventually take over whole country, make army strong again, then recover lands Germany lost in ToV
- Ebert & rest of gov fled from Berlin
- but Kapp didn’t have support of workers & all went on strike, resulting in no gas, water, electricity or trains
- after only 100 hours as Germany’s newest leader, Kapp gave in & fled abroad
- Ebert & gov returned to the capital
33
chapter 3: what wing was the Kapp Putsch on politically?
right wing
34
chapter 3: what happened in the Red Rising?
- soon as Kapp fled abroad, left-wing workers in industrial area of Ruhr stayed on strike, rose up & took over several towns
- the gov, now back in Berlin, sent soldiers & some Free Corps units to deal w it
- over 1000 workers killed
35
what year was the Red Rising?
1920
36
37
chapter 3: how many political murders were there in Germany between 1919-22, and who were most of them carried out by?
over 350, mostly carried out by right-wing extremists
38
chapter 3: what were some key assassinations/attacks in Germany between 1919-1922?
- **Aug 1921: Matthias Erzberger**, man who signed armistice in 1918, shot dead by right-wing group
- they also killed **Foreign Minister Walter Rathenau**
- and threw acid on **Philipp Scheidemann**, important politician in Weimar gov
39
chapter 3: what sentence were most of these right-wing murderers given (political assassinations)?
short sentences - avg of 4 yrs in prison
40
chapter 3: when was the Munich Putsch?
8th Nov 1923
41
chapter 3: what happened in the Munich Putsch?
- Hitler interrupted meeting in beer hall in Munich where **Gustav von Kahr** (head of Bavarian gov) speaking
- Hitler fired bullet into ceiling & announced he’s taking over Bavaria, & then he’d march to Berlin & take over whole country
- locked Kahr & his companions in small room
- then **General Ludendorff**, great G war hero who knew about plan, walked in & said supported Hitler
- around Munich, Hitler’s Stormtroopers took control of gov buildings & arrested officials
42
chapter 3: what happened the morning after the Munich Putsch (its failure)? (6 points)
- things didn’t go to plan for Hitler
- Kahr promised to help him & was released, but went back on word & contacted police
- when Hitler + about 2000 supporters began march through Munich’s streets, met w armed police
- after short gun battle, 3 policemen & 16 Nazis dear
- Hitler wounded w dislocated shoulder, and he & Ludendorff arrested and taken to prison
- Munich Putsch over, & Hitler went on trial for treason
43
chapter 3: how long was Hitler’s trial?
24 days
44
chapter 3: what punishments did Hitler & Ludendorff get for the Munich Putsch?
- Hitler sent to prison for 5 yrs (could’ve been executed for such serious crime)
- Ludendorff set free
- other Nazis got away w equally light sentences
45
chapter 3: how did the public/media react to the Munich Putsch?
- was media sensation
- reported in newspapers all over G
- largest audience Hitler ever had - and used every opportunity to criticise gov & put across political views
- tactics seemed to work, impressed judges
46
chapter 3: what did Hitler do while in prison?
- saw lots of visitors
- wrote Mein Kampf, which became bestseller - described life story & political views
47
chapter 3: when was Hitler released from prison?
Dec 1924 after serving just 9 months
48
chapter 3: what impact did the Munich Putsch have on Hitler?
failure of it, & time in prison, taught him valuable lesson:
- realised had to change strategy
- Nazis would have to stand in elections & win votes, just like other political parties
- attempt to forcefully take over G had failed; instead they’d have to win power democratically
49
chapter 3: what did Hitler change about the Nazi Party/German Worker’s Party when he became leader of it?
- designed new flag & symbol (swastika) to attract attention
- set up private army of thugs to beat up anyone who disagreed w him
- they were the Stormtroopers (SA), wore brown uniform w swastika armbands, made of mostly ex-soldiers
- they’d disrupt meetings of other parties & guard Hitler’s meetings
- changed name from German Workers’ Party to National Socialist German Workers Party (NSDAP), or Nazis for short
50
chapter 3: how much did the Nazi party grow under Hitler’s influence?
3000 members in 1920
5000 members 1921
- still minor political party, but by 1923, Hitler felt confident enough in his party - and abilities - to try to take over Munich, & then G
51
chapter 3: when did Hitler discover the German Workers’ Party?
May 1919
52
chapter 3: how did the German Workers’ Party appeal to Hitler?
speeches about how ToV made G weak & defenceless, & how country would become great nation once again
—> appealed to him, a wounded & defeated ex-soldier who hated politicians who ended war
53
chapter 3: what years was Stresemann G’s Foreign Minister for?
1924-1929 (when he died)
54
chapter 3: how did Stresemann solve the hyperinflation crisis?
- stopped printing of old paper money & replace it w temporary, new currency called **Rentenmark**
- this could be exchanged for old currency
- in 1924 Rentenmark replaced by Reichsmark, stable currency that remained for next 25 yrs
- **was a success:** G quickly accepted new currency & hyperinflation ended - however, ppl who’d **lost all savings never got money back**, blamed him & gov
55
chapter 3: how did Stresemann deal with F & Belgian troops invading the rich industrial area of the Ruhr when G stopped paying reparations?
- **Dawes Plan:** met w American Vice President, Charles Dawes, & arranged for USA to lend money to G (800 million gold marks).
- G could now begin to pay what owed, & repayment schedule agreed which saw G re-start reparation payments
56
chapter 3: was Stresemann’s solution of the Dawes Plan successful?
- yes, F & Belgian troops left Ruhr
- however, some G felt he’d ‘given in’ to bullying tactics of F & Belgians, & should’ve demanded end to reparations altogether
- in 1929, through new agreement called **Young Plan**, he negotiated reparations down from £6.6 to £1.8 billion, & G given longer to pay it
57
chapter 3: when was the Young Plan?
1929
58
chapter 3: what was the Young Plan?
1929, Stresemann negotiated reparations down from £6.6 to £1.8 billion, and G given longer to pay it
59
chapter 3: what was the Dawes Plan?
april 1924
60
chapter 3: what was the Dawes Plan?
- Stresemann met w American Vice President, Charles Dawes, & arranged for USA to lend money to G (800 million marks)
- G could now begin to pay what they owed, & repayment schedule agreed which saw G re-start reparation payments
61
chapter 3: how did Stresemann deal with Germany no longer being considered a great power?
- worked hard to improve G’s relationships w other nations
- 1925: G signed Locarno Pact w B, F, Belgium, & I - promised to never invade each other
- 1926: G joined LoN
- 1928: G signed Kellogg-Briand Pact- agreed never to go to war, unless to defend selves if attacked
62
chapter 3: did Stresemann’s work to improve Germany’s image abroad succeed?
- G regained international status & became important part of LoN
- however some right-wing Germans criticised him for not demanding back some of land taken from G by ToV
63
chapter 3: how did Stresemann deal with German industries being in trouble after the war (factories run down, few jobs and poor schools, housing & hospitals)
- as well as using some of money G borrowed from USA (Dawes Plan) to pay reparations, also used it to build new factories, houses, schools & roads
- this meant more jobs, w Germans earning more money
- some American companies (e.g. Ford & Gillette) built factories in G too
64
chapter 3: was Stresemann’s solution for improving G’s industries & facilities successful?
- yes, slowly, G became more prosperous & many G better off
- e.g. sales of radios (‘must have’ item of 1920s) rose from 1 million 1926 to 4 million 1932
- however, some G, even Stresemann himself, **feared G relied too much on the American loans**
65
chapter 3: when did Stresemann die?
1929
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chapter 3: how many attempts to overthrow the gov were there between 1924-29?
none!! yippppeeeee!!!
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chapter 3: what underlying problems were still left in G after Stresemann’s death?
- **too many political parties:** no single party ever got enough votes to rule on own; parties always joining up w others to rule together but often fell out bc found hard to agree on priorities & spent ages arguing
- **extremist parties:** e.g. Nazis & Communists continued to hate politicians in Reichstag. e.g. Hitler expanded Nazi Party since release from prison, but for now found difficult to persuade millions of Gs they should vote for him (when country doing so well).
—> in 1924, about 5% G voted for them, by 1928 support had dropped & only about 2% voted for them
- **still large groups in G society that in trouble:** farmers’ incomes really low & middle classes had had savings wiped out by hyperinflation 1923
- **much of prosperity created by American loans** - what if they wanted it back
68
chapter 3: why did people feel a new sense of freedom in the ‘golden age’ of the 1920s?
- before WWI, Kaiser kept tight control on all types of entertainment
- these controls removed in Weimar Germany
- after horrors of war & difficulties of early 1920s, many decided to experiment w new ideas & try new things
69
chapter 3: how did cinema change/advance in the ‘golden age’ of the 1920s?
- became v popular in Weimar Germany
- Metropolis, directed by Fritz Lang, most technically advanced film of decade
- German-born actress Marlene Dietrich became worldwide star playing glamorous, strong-willed women
70
chapter 3: how did nightlife change in the 1920s/golden age?
- G became centre for new plays, operas & theatre shows during this time
- Kurt Weill’s The Threepenny Opera, adapted by Bertolt Brecht, was box office smash
- musicians performed vulgar songs about politicians that would’ve been banned in Kaiser’s day
- Berlin in particular famous for nightclubs w live bands that played American jazz music
- some clubs provided dancers who appeared naked, or cross dressing evenings
71
chapter 3: how did literature change/advance in the golden age?
- writing became big business - people had 120 newspapers & magazines to choose from
- a G anti-war novel, All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Remarque, sold half a million copies in just 3 months
72
chapter 3: how did art change/advance in the golden age?
- avant-garde artists such as Otto Dix & George Grosz believed art should show reality of everyday life, in particular differences in social classes & society, & should make ppl think
- they tried to show what G actually like at this time & often painted in way that criticised current events
73
chapter 3: how did design change/advance in the golden age?
- new group of designers & architects began work at this time
- known as the Bauhaus & designed anything from chairs to coffee pots to office buildings
- believed in modern, simple & practical designs, rather than more elaborate designs of long ago
74
chapter 3: how did people react to the cultural changes?
- while some G embraced them, others hated them
- they wanted art, music, theatre, film & literature to celebrate older, traditional values of G
- thought new nightclubs, shows & paintings leading G into moral decline
- Berlin viewed as corrupt & sec-obsessed by some
- Nazis openly criticised nightclubs & art of this period, & when Hitler came to power 1933, many Weimar artists & performers (e.g. Fritz Lang & George Grosz) had to flee G
