Germany- Was the Weimar Republic doomed from the start?

Question 1

What was Germany before 1870?

Answer 1

It was a collection of small states. The largest of which was called Prussia.

Question 2

Who became the leader of Germany in 1888?

Answer 2

Kaiser Wilhelm II

Question 3

When was Germany unified?

Answer 3

1871

Question 4

Why did Germany need a new government?

Answer 4

Germany was starving and could not carry on with the First World War and needed to make peace. The Allies would not make peace unless they got rid of the Kaiser and set up a democracy. October 1918-Germany navy mutiny and refuse to fight, 10th Novermber 1918-Kaiser flees to Holland, Ebert signs the Armistice.

Question 5

When did the First World War end?

Answer 5

11th November 1918-this was when the Armistice was signed.

Question 6

Where did the left-wing Spartacus League (the Spartacists) get their name from

Answer 6

The famous Roman gladiator-Spartacus

Question 7

What was the SPD and who was their leader?

Answer 7

The Social Democrats and their leader was Friedrich Ebert

Question 8

What was the name of the democratic government established in Germany?

Answer 8

The Weimar Republic

Question 9

Who was the first chancellor of Weimar?

Answer 9

Friedrick Ebert (SPD)

Question 10

What happened in January 1919 in Berlin ?

Answer 10

The Spartacists took over the government’s newspaper and telegraph bureau

Question 11

Why did the Spartacists fail to take power in 1919?

Answer 11

They wanted to start a revolution similar to the Russian Revolution, however other left-wing groups did not support them. The rising was easily crushed by the Friekorps. The Spartacist leaders, Rosa Luxemberg and Karl Lieknecht, were killed.

Question 12

Who were the Freikorps?

Answer 12

They were ex-soldiers who were returned from war and initially helped Weimar to keep control.

Question 13

What happened on 28th June 1919?

Answer 13

The Treaty of Versailles was signed by the German representatives.

Question 14

What was Article 231?

Answer 14

It was the article in the Treaty of Versailles that said that the Germans were to blame for the war-many Germans resented this.

Question 15

What were the military terms of the Treaty of Versailles?

Answer 15

The army was reduced to 100,000 men, the air force had to be disbanded. The navy was reduced to 15,000 men 6 battleships and no submarines. This was humiliating for Germany.

Question 16

How much did Germany have to pay in reparations?

Answer 16

£6,600 million.

Question 17

What were the territorial terms of the Treaty of Versailles?

Answer 17

Alsace-Lorraine was given to France, West Prussia was given to Poland (made the Polish Corridor), the Rhineland was demilitarised, they lost overseas colonies. In total they lost 13% of their land. They were banned from joining with Austria (Anschluss) .

Question 18

Did Germany have a choice as to whether to sign the Treaty of Versailles?

Answer 18

No, it was a Diktat-they were made to sign it.

Question 19

Who was blamed for stabbing the German army in the back?

Answer 19

The Weimar Government, the communists and the Jews. This was called the ‘stab in the back myth’

Question 20

What political challenges did the Weimar Government face between 1919 and 1923?

Answer 20

The Spartacists (1919), the Kapp Putsch (1920), the Red Rising in the Ruhr (1920), the Munich Putsch (1923)

Question 21

Who was the leader of the Kapp Putsch (1920)?

Answer 21

Wolfgang Kapp

Question 22

What happened at the Kapp Putsch?

Answer 22

Wolfgang Kapp led the Freikorps into Berlin and declared a new national government. The army did not stop them and the government fled to Dresden. The politicians appealed to worked to help them by going on a strike. The Kapp Putsch collapsed after 5 days.

Question 23

Who was in charge of Weimar?

Answer 23

The President (elected every 5 years)

Question 24

Who appointed the Chancellor of Weimar?

Answer 24

The President appointed the Chancellor from the majority party in the Reichstag

Question 25

How were MPs elected into the Reichstag?

Answer 25

They were elected by the people of Germany

Question 26

What type of voting system did Weimar use, and why was this a problem?

Answer 26

Proportional Representation-This was a problem because a number of smaller parties could be voted in. This meant it was hard to get a majority vote and could lead to a number of coalition governments.

Question 27

What was the Reichstag?

Answer 27

This was the name for the German parliament.

Question 28

What caused France and Belgium to invade the Ruhr in 1923?

Answer 28

Germany did not make the 2nd reparation payment, so they invaded the Ruhr to take the money that was owed to them.

Question 29

What did the German government tell the workers in the Ruhr to do in 1923?

Answer 29

Go on a general strike (passive resistance). If they aren’t working then the French wont be able to take anything from them.

Question 30

Why was this strike a problem for Germany?

Answer 30

As the Ruhr land was a very industrial area, it meant that it wasn’t producing anything so Germany was made even poorer.

Question 31

How did the invasion of the Ruhr lead to hyperinflation?

Answer 31

The German government couldn’t pay for the strike, so they printed more money. As a result, the money became worthless.

Question 32

What is hyperinflation?

Answer 32

This is when the value of money becomes worthless and the price of goods increases at a massive rate.

Question 33

Who benefitted from hyperinflation?

Answer 33

People in debt (debts could be cleared), the rich were protected as they had goods which would be worth money, rich businessmen benefitted because they could buy the smaller businesses, some workers if they had a job benefitted because their wages increased, but unemployment rose rapidly.

Question 34

Who was damaged by hyperinflation?

Answer 34

Old people on fixed incomes and had savings, these became worthless, the unemployed, the Middle Classes lost business and savings., the Weimar government.

Question 35

When was the Munich Putsch?

Answer 35

8-9th November 1923

Question 36

What were the main challenges for Weimar between 1919-1923?

Answer 36

The ‘stab in the back myth’, the Treaty of Versailles, political violence, invasion of the Ruhr, hyperinflation

Question 37

How did the problems between 1919-1923 damage Weimar?

Answer 37

The memories of the suffering did not disappear, the Treaty was humiliating for Germany, many were angry at the government, some people did not trust the government.