History Module 4 - The Weimar Republic Flashcards
Describe the reactions of France and Belgium when Germany failed to pay reparations in 1922.
- Imposed economic sanctions.
- Occupied the Ruhr region in January 1923.
- Seized control of industries, railways, and resources.
- Encountered passive resistance from the German population.
What were the main features of the Weimar Constitution?
- Established democratic federal republic.
- A comprehensive bill of rights guaranteeing civil liberties.
- Significant powers for the President, including appointing the Chancellor.
- Included Article 48, allowing presidential emergency powers.
What was the Dawes Plan?
- A plan to restructure Germany’s World War I reparations.
- Involved American loans to stabilize the German economy.
- Increased foreign oversight of key German industries.
- Contributed to economic stabilization in Germany and Europe.
Who was Rosa Luxemburg?
- A Marxist theorist and socialist philosopher.
- An active participant in socialist and communist movements in Germany and Poland.
- A co-founder of the Spartacist League, which later evolved into the Communist Party of Germany.
- Assassinated in 1919 following her involvement in the Spartacist Uprising.
Describe the Spartacist uprising.
- A communist revolt led by the Spartacist League in Germany.
- Key leadership by Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht.
- Violent suppression by the Weimar government and the Freikorps.
- Resulting in the failure of the uprising and the execution of its leaders.
What was the Ruhr crisis of 1923?
- Occupation of the Ruhr region by French and Belgian forces due to Germany’s failure to pay reparations.
- German government’s encouragement of passive resistance among Ruhr workers.
- Economic disruption in Germany, contributing to hyperinflation.
- Heightened international tensions and economic instability in Germany.
What were the aims of Kapp and the Freikorps in the putsch of 1920?
- To overthrow the Weimar Republic and replace it with a right-wing, nationalist government.
- To reverse the terms of the Treaty of Versailles.
- To restore the German monarchy or establish a more authoritarian regime.
- To suppress the growing communist and socialist movements in Germany.
Describe how the Weimar Republic was established
- German revolution of 1918, Kiel Mutiny, Novemebr Kaiser abdicates
- Scheidermann (leading member of Social Democrat Party (SPD)) proclaims republic from Reichstagg to prevent communist revolution
- Council of People’s Representatives formed to prevent further uprisings, led by Friedrich Ebert
- Armistice signed to end war (November criminals), Jan 1919 elections held
- Republic formally established in August 1919
What were the strengths of the Weimar Republic?
- States, local governing for local needs
- All citizens had equal rights
- Proportional representation, democratic
- Article 48, swift action during crisis
What were the weaknesses of the Weimar Republic?
- Too democratic, small extreme parties get seats
- Coalitions, parties have conflicting interests, agreeing takes forever
- Chancellor elected by president, not people
- Article 48, president may abuse power
Describe the Spartacists
- Leaders: Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg
- Aims: Have Germany ruled by workers’ council or soviets
- Support: Rebel soliders and sailors
- Methods: January 1919 set up Soviets in military towns to attempt uprising
- Defeat: Freikorps employed by Ebert
Describe the Freikorps
- Leader: Dr Wolfgang Kapp
- Aims: Reinstate the Kaiser
- Support: Anti-communist ex-soldiers
- Methods: March 1919 Kapp Putsch, 5000 soldiers marched into Berlin
- Defeat: General strike
Describe the Dolchstoss Theory
- Stab in the back myth, November criminals
- ‘Germany military didn’t lose, they were betrayed by Jews/socialists/politicians’
- Shifted blame from military/Kaiser to scapegoat, contributed to instability of Republic
How was the hyperinflation crisis resolved?
- August 1923 new government under Gustav Stresemann took over
- Called off resistance in the Ruhr
- Introduced new currency (Rentenmark)
- Negotiated American loans under Dawes Plan, renegotiated reparations
Describe the Republic’s international relations from 1923 to 1929
- The Locarno Pact: Germany, France, GB & Italy, Germany accepts new border with France, France promises peace with Germany
- September 1926 Germany allowed to join LoN
- Kellogg - Briand pact: August 1928 Germany & 61 other countries agree not to use war to achieve foreign policy aims
Describe problems Stresemann faced from 1923 to 1929
- Economy: US loans could be called in at short notice, increased inequality
- Politics: Unstable coalition, Hidenburg opposed to democracy, 30% of votes to parties opposed to democracy, extremist parties growing
- International relations: extremist parties against Locarno pact
Describe the activities of the Freikorps, 1919-20.
- Suppressed communist uprisings, including Spartacist Revolt.
- Acted as paramilitary units, former soldiers.
- Engaged in political assassinations, violence.
- Helped overthrow leftist governments, like Munich Soviet Republic.
Describe the activities of Rosa Luxemburg in the early months of the Republic.
- Co-founded the Spartacist League, advocating for socialist revolution.
- Led the Spartacist uprising in Berlin, January 1919.
- Criticized Ebert’s government and moderate socialists.
- Captured and murdered by Freikorps in January 1919.
What was the impact of hyperinflation in 1923 on the German people?
- Savings wiped out, devastating middle class financially.
- Daily necessities became unaffordable, widespread poverty.
- Barter economy emerged as currency lost value.
- Social unrest increased, eroding confidence in government.
What were the roles of (i) the Chancellor and (ii) the President under the Weimar Constitution?
(i) Chancellor:
1. Head of government.
2. Chosen by President.
3. Responsible for day-to-day administration.
4. Needed Reichstag’s confidence to govern.
(ii) President:
1. Head of state.
2. Elected by public vote.
3. Appointed Chancellor.
4. Could invoke Article 48, ruling by decree.
What impact did the Spartacists have on the German Republic?
- Sparked fear of communism, influencing political climate.
- Led to violent suppression by government, Freikorps.
- Increased political polarization, weakening democracy.
- Justified crackdown on leftist movements, affecting civil liberties.
What did the Spartacists want to achieve?
- Overthrow Weimar Republic, establish socialist state.
- Abolish private property, nationalize key industries.
- Promote workers’ councils, direct democracy.
- End involvement in World War I, achieve peace.
What actions had Stresemann taken by the end of 1923 to save the Weimar Republic from collapsing?
- Introduced Rentenmark to stabilize currency, end hyperinflation.
- Called off passive resistance in the Ruhr.
- Negotiated the Dawes Plan, restructured reparations.
- Fostered reconciliation with Western powers, improving international relations.
Describe how Germany reacted to the French occupation of the Ruhr.
- Implemented policy of passive resistance.
- Government paid workers’ salaries who refused to cooperate.
- Led to economic strain, contributing to hyperinflation.
- Eventually called off by Stresemann for stabilization.
Describe what happened in the Kapp Putsch.
- Wolfgang Kapp led right-wing coup in Berlin, 1920.
- Aimed to overthrow Weimar government, restore monarchy.
- Government fled Berlin, called for general strike.
- Putsch collapsed within days due to strike, lack of support.
Describe the problems facing German civilians at the end of the First World War.
- Severe food shortages, leading to starvation.
- Inflation eroding savings, economic instability.
- High unemployment, loss of wartime industries.
- Spanish Flu epidemic worsening health crisis.
What were the ‘November Criminals’?
- Term used by German right-wing to denounce armistice signatories.
- Accused of betraying Germany by signing Treaty of Versailles.
- Included politicians, notably Social Democrats.
- Blamed for Germany’s defeat and post-war hardships.
Describe revolutionary events in Germany in 1918-19.
- Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicated, ending monarchy.
- Republic declared in Berlin, November 1918.
- Spartacist uprising attempted socialist revolution, January 1919.
- Freikorps crushed leftist revolts, stabilizing Weimar government.
Describe the cultural achievements of the Weimar period.
- Flourishing of avant-garde art, Bauhaus movement.
- Breakthroughs in cinema, like “Metropolis” and “The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari.”
- Innovative developments in theatre and literature.
- Growth of jazz and modernist music.
What was Ebert’s role in Germany, 1918-1919?
- Became Chancellor after Kaiser’s abdication.
- Led SPD during November Revolution.
- Signed armistice ending World War I.
- First President of Weimar Republic.
