Impact of the First World War Flashcards
What happened to Germany after their loss in WW1?
They had food shortages, there were protests, the economy was ruined, and the country became a republic as the Kaiser abdicated.
What was the Reichstag?
The new German Parliament.
What is proportional representation?
Based on the amount of votes they received, all political parties received proportional power.
What was Article 48?
Gave those in power the ability to pass laws if they declared it an emergency.
What figures did the Reichstag comprise of?
A president and a chancellor.
What was the Treaty of Versailles?
A list of conditions France, Britain, and the USA required of Germany after WW1.
What was taken from Germany in the Treaty of Versailles?
Land - 13% of Germany’s land was taken by France or Poland.
Army - reduced to 100000 men, and weren’t allowed air forces.
Money - forced to pay £660 million in reparations.
Blame - Germany had to accept full blame for the war.
Give three movements that opposed the government.
The Spartacist Uprising, the Kapp Putsch, and the Munich Putsch.
Summarise the Spartacist Uprising.
Led by Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg, the Spartacists attempted to overthrow the Weimar government to create a communist state in 1918-19. However, they were defeated by the German army.
Summarise the Kapp Putsch.
The Weimar government tried to reduce the size of the army and the Freikorps but in Berlin, they refused. With the help of Wolfgang Kapp, they attempted to create a right wing government in Berlin. However, Ebert called for a strike in Berlin so the Putsch failed.
What were the Reichswehr?
The German army.
What were the Freikorps?
Parliamentary groups formed from war veterans after WW1.
Summarise the Munich Putsch.
In 1923, Hitler and 600 Nazis burst into a Munich beer hall, armed. Hitler forced von Kahr and von Lossow to help him take over the government, but they told the authorities. The next day, the Nazis were faced by police - 20 were killed, (including 4 police) Hitler was arrested, and Nazis were banned.
What led to hyperinflation in Germany?
France and Belgium occupied the Ruhr to take the reparations they were owed. The workers of the Ruhr went on strike, which cut government income, so they printed more money. However, this meant that the value of money dramatically dropped. The economy collapsed.
