History Module 4 Flashcards
How was the Weimar Republic established?
- Mutinies
- Which led to other revolts
- Kaiser abdicated
- Republic was proclaimed
Who was Kaiser Wilhelm?
- The final German emperor
- Abdicated in 1918
- Fled to Holland
Who was Friedrich Ebert?
- Was leader of the SPD
- Became the Republic’s first Chancellor
- Was elected the Republic’s first president
Who was Philipp Scheidermann?
- Was a member of the SPD
- Proclaimed the new republic
- 1919 was elected Minister President, resigned same year
What were the economic impacts of WW1 on Germany?
- National income impacted
- Food shortages
- Widows and fatherless children
- Industrial production impacted
What were the social impacts of WW1 on Germany?
- Living standards gap
- Poor workers angry
- Demobilised, disillusioned soldiers
- Anger at losing war
What were the political impacts of WW1 on Germany?
- 1918-19 revolution
- ‘Stab in the back’ myth
What were the strengths of the Weimar Republic?
- States
- Equal rights
- Proportional representation
- Swift action in crisis (Article 48)
What were the weaknesses of the Weimar Republic?
- Extreme parties get seats
- Coalitions (nothing gets done)
- Chancellor appointed, not elected
- President may abuse power (Article 48)
What challenges did the left wing bring the Weimar republic?
- Communist uprisings
- Middle class fear of communism
- Forced reliance on right-wing paramilitary (Frei Korps Militas)
What challenges did the right wing bring the Weimar republic?
- Stab in the back myth
- Many opposed to democracy
- Over-reliance on Frei Korps Militas
What four things were affected by the ToV?
LAMB
Land
Army
Money
Blame
Give an example of a left wing uprising.
Soviets set up in towns in January 1919 by Spartacists. Crushed by Freikorps employed by Ebert.
Give an example of a right wing uprising.
Kapp Putsch in March 1920, 5000 marched into Berlin, stopped by general strike
What is the Dolchstoss Theory?
- ‘Stab in the back’ myth
- German military didn’t lose, they were betrayed by politicians (November criminals), socialists and Jews
What caused the economic disaster of 1921-23?
- Occupation of the Ruhr by France
- Money printed to pay workers and debts, causing hyperinflation
Who was Gustav Stresemann?
- Appointed Chancellor and Foreign Secretary in 1923
- Resigned as Chancellor same year
- Stayed as Foreign Secretary until death in 1929
What were Stresemann’s economic achievements?
- Ended hyperinflation
- Dawes Plan (reparations lowered, American loans)
- Young Plan (reparations lowered further)
What were Stresemann’s international achievements?
- The Locarno pact (peace with France)
- Joined LoN
- Kellogg-Briand pact (promise against war)
What were Stresemann’s political achievements?
- No more attempted revolutions after 1923
- Lives of Germans improved
- Support for extremists dramatically reduced
What were economic problems Stresemann faced?
- US loans could be called in
- Increased class inequality
What were international problems Stresemann faced?
- Nationalists against Locarno pact
- Communists against Locarno pact
What were political problems Stresemann faced?
- Too democratic, everything unstable
- Extremists not gone, silently growing
- 30% of votes and President Hindenburg opposed to democracy
What were the causes of the cultural revival?
- Removal of censorship
- Horrors of WW1 and modern troubles
- Expressionism
What was the tone of the cultural revival?
- Objective, reflected Germany’s current turmoil
- Mocked upper classes, lamented fate of lower classes
- Hedonistic nightlife (cabaret), exploring sexuality (homosexuality included and accepted)
What was the backlash of the cultural revival?
- Was only in Berlin, so rest of German saw it as trashy and corrupt
- Many artists were Jewish, communist, and immigrants which strengthened cultural divide
- Right-wing called for traditional country values, which was to Nazis’ advantage
