Germany. Unit 1: From Weimar Germany, 1918 - 1929

Question 1

What was the Kapp Putsch?

Answer 1

Freikorps uprising in January 1920 led by General Walther von Luttwitz and Wolfgang Kapp. Military does not intervene. Ebert calls on workers and a general strike brings down the coup in 4 days.

Question 2

What was the Rapallo treaty?

Answer 2

Agreement between Germany and the Soviet Union signed in 1922. Included open economic agreement and secret military agreements. (Shock as both countries were international pariahs).

Question 3

What was the Spartacist Uprising?

Answer 3

Leftist uprising which started on January 6, 1919 after the dismissal of Emil Eichhorn as Berlin Police Chief. Ebert and Noske use Freikorps to crush the uprising (defeated by January 15).

Question 4

Who was Emil Eichhorn?

Answer 4

Revolutionary Chief of Police of Berlin who had taken office in 9 November 1918 and who’s dismissal on 6 January 1919 sparked the Spartacist Uprising.

Question 5

Who was Kurt Eisner?

Answer 5

Minister President of the People’s State of Bavaria (founded in November 1918). Member of the USPD. Assassinated by the right in 21 February, 1919.

Question 6

Who was Eugen Levine?

Answer 6

Leader of the short lived Bavarian Soviet Republic. (The successor state to Eisner’s People’s State of Bavaria in April 1919). After the military intervention, Levine was captured and subsequently executed on 5 June 1919.

Question 7

Who was Karl Liebknecht?

Answer 7

German Socialist who, together with Rosa Luxemburg founded the Spartacist League. Called for the establishment of the Free Socialist Republic in 1918. Was killed during the Spartacist uprising of January 1919.

Question 8

What were some central features of the German Constitution of 1919?

Answer 8

It was one of the most democratic constitutions, allowing universal suffrage for men and women aged 20 and up. Was a compromise between the states and central government. Included the infamous article 48 which allowed the president to sidestep parliament in case of a crisis.

Question 9

What were some of the main restrictions of the Treaty of Versailles on Germany?

Answer 9

Loss of territory (Alsace Lorraine, North Schleswig, Upper Silesia). Loss of ALL colonies (German East Africa, Cameroon, New Guinea). Limit army to 100.000. No conscription allowed. Demilitarize the Rhineland. Pay reparations. Accept responsibility for the war.

Question 10

How was the Treaty of Versailles received in Germany?

Answer 10

Hindenburg wants to continue the war (Stab in the back theory, and ‘November criminals’ starts). Chancellor, Scheidemann, resigns. Seen as a ‘Diktat’ in Germany. (Armistice was signed between ‘equals’).

Question 11

What was the Ruhr uprising?

Answer 11

An uprising in the Ruhr region in March 1920, inspired by the success of the general strike in Berlin which ended the Kapp-putsch. The Ruhr rising is put down by the military and Freikorps: left around 2000 dead.

Question 12

What happened in the June 1920 Elections?

Answer 12

First elections under the new constitution. SPD still the largest party, but lost a third of their seats. Other central parties also lost. Gains for the USPD (left) and DNVP (right)

Question 13

What are examples of (extreme) right violence between 1920 and 1922?

Answer 13

Assassinations of: Karl Gareis (USPD leader, killed in September 1921) Matthias Erzberger (Zentrum, former finance minister, killed August 1921) Walter Rathenau (DDP, Foreign Minister, killed June 1922).

Question 14

What was the Economic Situation in Germany directly after the First World War?

Answer 14

Germany’s debt had ballooned from 5000 million to 144000 million marks. By printing extra money, the value of the Mark had lost over 80% of its value by 1919.

Question 15

What was decided with regards to German Reparations after the First World War?

Answer 15

A Reparations Committee is created which by 1921 sets reparations on 132 billion Gold Marks (6.6 Billion Pounds). Germany will have to pay 2 billion per year plus 26% of its exports value. (The height and impact of these reparations are hotly debated).

Question 16

What was the Invasion of the Ruhr?

Answer 16

A French/Belgian invasion of the highly industrialized Ruhr after the conclusion by the Reparations Committee that Germany was intentionally defaulting on its reparations payments.

Question 17

How did Germany respond to the occupation of the Ruhr?

Answer 17

German government calls for Passive Resistance (as well as sabotage actions). The government will pay any worker that goes on strike. To do this, the government starts to print additional money.

Question 18

What was the scope of the 1923 Hyper Inflation

Answer 18

In January 1923 1 USD was worth 80 Marks. By mid 1923, 1 USD was worth 4420 billion Marks

Question 19

Who were Gustav von Kahr and Otto von Lossow?

Answer 19

Von Kahr was the Bavarian State Governor and Von Lossow was the Bavarian military chief. They considered overthrowing the federal government, but when Hitler attempts to force their hand in 1923, they both condemn his Putsch.

Question 20

What were some of the main points of the NSDAP 25 points?

Answer 20

Published in February 1925, the programme included a call to abolish the TOV, the necessity of German Blood in order to obtain German citizenship, call for additional Lebensraum, a need for a strong central government, a nationalization of large industry, a ban on war profiteering, an end to large department stores and the creation of generous old-age pensions.

Question 21

What was the Ebert-Groener Pact?

Answer 21

Ebert agreed to suppress the Bolshevik revolutionaries and to maintain the traditional role of the armed forces as a pillar of the German state; General Groener promised that the army would support the new government

Question 22

What the Stinnes-Legien Agreement?

Answer 22

Agreement made on 15 November 1918. It achieved many of the trade union’s goals by making trade unions legal and by introducing the 8 hour work day. It prevented the nationalization (or socialization) of large companies.