Key Question 1: Challenges Facing the Weimar Republic (1918-1923) Flashcards
1
Q
Background 1918-1924
A
- Germany was shattered by the defeat and blamed their empire
- Kaiser was abdicated and Germanys’ politics drew up a democratic constitution
- Democracy was implanted
- Totalitarian = controlling people in strict ways
2
Q
German Reich
A
- first reich was during the Roman Empire
- second reich was proclaimed 1871-1918
- third Reich was he title the nazis gave to their regime (1933-1945)
3
Q
Prussia and Germany
A
- Germany was created by Otto Von Bismark
- 1871 Prussia ceased to be independent
4
Q
Revolution from Above (Elites)
A
- Germany was left in financial burden/continuing inflation
- war was declared in 1914 and the majority of Germany rallied the nation
- Autumn 1917 Germany faced a economic and military crisis
- starvation was near and military supplies were critically short
- Generals recommend a new civilian gov (29th September)
- new civilian gov based on Reichstag (3rd October)
5
Q
Reactions to the War Ending
A
- Kaiser was perused to transfer his power to civilian government by General Ludendorff
- Sailors carry on fighting and revolt (Kiel Muteny - Nov 1918)
- Germany was offered a lifeline when communists seized power in Russia
- Russia accepted Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
- USA poured nearly 2 million fresh troops to reinforce allies
- Growing economy crisis and war weariness sapped the commitment - down in moral
6
Q
Effect of World War One on Germany
A
- Living Conditions
- Economy/Finances
- Political Development
- Terms of Armistice
7
Q
Living Conditions
A
- Earning fell 20%-30%
- major food and fuel shortages
- diseases
- Turnip Winter
8
Q
Economy/Finances
A
- 1913-1918 mark (currency) lost 75%
- Agricultural production fell
- war financed by printing money
- cheaper to play with money as it has no value
9
Q
Political Development
A
- 1914 Confidence, 1917 unity breaking down
- Increasing military control of government
- USPD formed (Independent Socialist Party)
10
Q
Terms of Armistice
A
- West Bank of Rhine occupied Allies
- Treaty of Versailles signed
- German troops evacuated east bank
- 11 November 1918
11
Q
‘Stab in the Back Myth’ Created by General Von Ludendorff
A
- Claimed the German Army was stabbed in the back by unpatriotic and weak politicians (thought they were winning)
- German felt they weren’t drafted on the battlefield but by pacifists and socialists
- anti war agitators weakened morale
- October 1918 new gov failed to support military
- Nov 1918 revolution ‘November criminals’ - declared republic
12
Q
Why was the democratic Weimar Republic criticised?
A
- peoples belief Germany was betrayed by socialists and Jews
- government was linked to defeat and humiliation
- first thing Weimar did was sign Treaty of versailles - weakening prospects
- many were hostile due to myth
13
Q
The Creation of Democracy
A
General Ludendorff persuaded the Kaiser to transform the second Reich into a virtual parliamentary democracy by handing power to the civilian government and then advising the Kaiser to abdicate
14
Q
What were Ludendorff’s motives?
A
1) Hoped new government would be able to get better peace terms from allies (allegedly)
2) Hoped the new government would be blamed for the defeat to mask the responsibilities of the generals and save their reputation/maintain their position (main motive)
- “Bring those groups into government whom we have in the main to thank for the fact that we have reached this mess”
15
Q
The First Leader of the new Government was?
A
Prince Max Von Baden
16
Q
Revolution from Below 1918-1919
A
- late October the navel base of Kiel and Wilhelmshaven refused to obey orders, stopping the fleet sailing by putting out fired in the boilers and raised the red flag for communism, they took over Mel
- Mutiny encouraged other sailors and workers to challenge the authority of the state
17
Q
Are there other Uprisings in Germany during 1918-1919?
A
- Radical Socialists were competing for leaderships of revolution, to outmanoeuvre them, Philipp Scheidemann declared a republic in Berlin
- Karl Liebknecht (leader of communist Separatist) declared a soviet republic - illegally
18
Q
Weimar Parities
A
- Left wing - progressive, believe in equality (USPD,SPD)
- Right wing - traditional, everyone for themselves
19
Q
How was the revolution from below suppressed?
A
- January 1919 communist rising by Sparticists is suppressed by socialist goverment (left)
- Formal establishment of regime, February 1919 a new elected National Assembly meets Weimar to draw constitution
20
Q
The New Republic Government and the Problems it faced
A
Ebert was an SPD leader brought in on 9th November 1918
He had to deal with:
- Political Left
- Economy failure
- Political Right
- Military morale
21
Q
The New Republic Government and the Problems it faced: Political Left Wing
A
- radical groups holding strikes
- KPD wanted communist revolution like in Russia (1917)
22
Q
The New Republic Government and the Problems it faced: Economic Failure
A
- Hunger/flu epidemics (Spanish Flu in 1919)
- Inflation in prices and goods - money became worthless
- Shortages of essentials for a good quality of life
23
Q
The New Republic Government and the Problems it faced: Political Right Wing
A
- Hostility of Elite (Von)
- Generals temporarily supporting new regime
- Freikorps (ex-soldiers and anti communists)
- Separatist movement in Bavaria, Rhineland, East Prussia, etc
24
Q
The New Republic Government and the Problems it faced: Military Morale
A
- Bitterness of defeat
- Demobilisation of 1.5 million
- many not coming back to jobs and most became homeless
25
The Groener-Ebert Deal
* Ebert was determined to defeat the democratic system after Bolshevism (communism)
* He believed the new regime needed support of the traditional elite
* He was helped by many elites as they were scared of a socialist revolution
* 10th November 1918 General Groener telephoned Ebert and made a secret deal, support of the military in return for gov promising to maintain authority of existing officers and got rid of communism
26
What are the Freikorps?
Demoralised solders and officers, right wing nationalists, they believed they were protectors from the communists, they helped the new government forcibly suppress the left wing (similar to fascist squads in Italy)
27
The Groener-Ebert Deal: Short Term Effects
deal with Groener and Army, deal with industrialists
28
The Groener-Ebert Deal: Medium Term
Gave the support of the army to the government against the left (KPD) and workers rallied to the new government/not challenging them
29
The Groener-Ebert Deal: Long Term
Over time it gave a lot of power to the military of the elite and industrialist came to resent power given to the workers and reject Weimar
30
The Weimar Constitution
* November 1918 Ebert invited the liberal lawyer Hugo Preuss to draw a new constitution, a draft outlined by the time the National Assembly, established in February 1919
* new constitution were influenced by long -established democratic ideas of Britain/USA
* traditions were not ignored as the introduction of proportional representation + federal structure
31
Weimar Constitution Structure: President (1)
* elected every 7 years
* has power to dissolve the Reichstag
* right to appoint the chancellor
* ruled by Article 48
32
Weimar Constitution Structure: Chancellor + Ministors (2)
Appointed by the president, but must have support of the Reichstag
33
Weimar Constitution Structure: Reichstrat (3)
* Less important house in parliament
* representatives of all 17 states
* initiate or delay proposals
34
Weimar Constitution Structure: Reichstag (3)
* main representative assembly and main law making body of parliament
* deputies elected every 4 years
35
Weimar Constitution Structure: Bill of Rights (4)
* constitution drew up a range of individual rights
* outlined broad freedom
- eg. Speech, religion and social
36
Weimar Constitution Structure: Regions (5)
Electorate of people - citizens over 21 (men and women)
37
How did the Republican survive the crisis of 1918-1923?
* 1919 just as the new state was being created, the communist sparticists started rising
* ToV laid full blame for the war and exacted financial compensation from Germany
* 1920 second attempt to overthrow government was by the right wing - Kapp Putsch
* 1923 hyperinflation threatened the economy
* 1923 Beer Putsch
* assassinations
* French and Belgium Invasion + Hamburg Rising all in 1923
38
Burden for Weimar
* Paris peace settlement of 1919 was a more controversial issue
* assumed around German public the treaty would result in peace (Wilson’s 14 points)
* national shock and outrage, Reichstag finally had to accept ToV by 237 votes to 138
- 28 June 1919 signed ToV
39
The Big Three: Woodrow Wilson
* USA
* idealist with a strong religious framework
* Drew up 14 points plan to create a more just world
* main points were
1) bring in international disarmament
2) apply principle of self-determination
3) create a League of Nations to maintain international peace
- tried to stop punishment
40
The Big Three: George Clemenceau
* France
* uncompromising French nationalist
* deeply influenced by devastation from the war
* motivated by revenge and was determined to gain financial compensation
* main points were
1) annex the Rhineland and create a buffer state
2) imposing major disarming
3) impose heavy reparations to weaken Germany
4) recompose from damage of war to finance rebuilds
- harshest
41
The Big Three: David Lloyd George
* Britain
* pragmatic
* keen to uphold British nationalist interests
* recognition that there would need to be a compromise
* main points
1) guarantee British military (naval supremacy)
2) keep communism at bay
3) limit French demands
4) thought of Germany’s economic issues causing a rippling effect
- middle man
42
Terms of the Treaty: Land
* Alsace-Lorraine, Germany to return these provinces to France
* took away Rhineland and Ruhr
* Anschluss - Austria cannot combine with Germany
43
Terms of the Treaty: Army
* had to reduce to 100,000 no tanks or guns
* no military aircraft’s or subs
* demilitarise Rhineland
44
Terms of the Treaty: Money
* had to pay £6.6 billion in reparations
* under league control until 1935
* coal production given to France
45
Terms of the Treaty: Blame
* forced to sign war guilt (Article 231)
* even though they didn’t start the war
* took responsibility for damage
46
Interpretations of the Treaty: Diktat
* different to Wilson’s 14 points
* Saar and Austria were German but excluded from new state
* Article 231 war guilt was seen as impossible
* size of reservations was decided in the treaty but after
* allies maintained a blockage on Germany until they accepted and threatened military action if they did not comply
47
Interpretations of Treaty: Balance View
* Britain felt sympathy
* allied statesmen were motivated by their own national self-interest
* Austria and Hungary were forced to sign separate treaties
* Clemenceau had to get rid of majority of harsh ideas
* real damage was suffered on foreign soil as Germany wasn’t physically occupied
48
Significance of the Treaty of Versailles
* economic consequences were a genuine concern
* strongest economy in Europe and still had resources
- republics economy cannot be blamed on burden of reparations alone
* Germany in 1932 received more in loans under Daws plan than in paid reparations
* German’s view was shaped by nationalists propaganda
* new democracy took the fall
49
The Threat from Extreme Left
* January 1919 (Berlin), Sparticists uprising to seize power, they were instantly crushed
- KPD leaders assassinated
* March 1919 (Bavaria), overthrow Bavarian monarchy, creation of republic, creation of red guards and workers council, Crushing Freikorps
* March 1920 (Ruhr) a wave of strikes to demand shorter hours for army, 50,000 under coordinated, stopped by the Army
- 1,000 workers, 250 police all killed
Also had 1921 uprising by KPD (1,000 dead)
* October 1923 wave of strikes and the creation of KPD/SPD
50
How did the Left Wing threats fail?
* lost it’s leadership in sparticits uprising
* no organisation
* poor leadership after SPD leaders were killed
* authority systematically repressed the rebels with brutality
* failed coordination with other parties
* right wing propaganda turned to people against left-wing
51
Threats from Extreme Right
* November criminals - politicians who signed the armistice
* DNVP
- Largest party in the Reichstag had 15.1% in 1920 election
* Freikorps - attracted brutal elements of German military they played a crucial role in suppressing the left
- government tried to control but then the new threats of right wing assassination started and 376 political murders occurred e.g. Karl Gareis
52
Extreme Right Wing Uprising: The Kapp Putsch
* Wolfgang Kapp and General Littwitz, and encourage 12,000 troops to march on Berlin and sees the main building of capital
* army did not resist even though Ebert and Chancellor put down rebellious forces
* General Von Seeckt “troops do not fire on troops”
* overall failed SPD members of government had called for a general strike
53
Extreme Right Wing Uprising: The Kapp Putsch (Aftermath)
* army was revealed to be unreliable and highlighted the weaknesses of the Weimar Republic
- General Seeckt was appointed chiefs of army command
* Kapp died awaiting trial
* Littwitz was given early retirement
* one out of 705 were sent to jail
* 28 out of 354 right wing were punished
* and 10 out of 22 left wing with sentenced to death
54
Extreme Right Wing Uprising: The Beer Hall Putsch
* 1923 brought the rise of the Nazi party
* Bavaria was under control of Gustav von Kahr who was right wing
* General von Lossow began to disobey orders under Kahr
* 8 November 1923
55
Extreme Right Wing Uprising: The Beer Hall Putsch (Aftermath)
* Hitler a sentenced to 5 years in reality he served 10 months
* shows fragile system
* Hitler controlled his public image
56
The Great Inflation
* 1923 money became totally worth less
* blamed everything on the Jews
* fundamental cause inflation was a huge increase in amount of money in circulation, resulting in the printing of more and more bills
57
The Great Inflation: Short Term Factors
* had already postponed several instalments of treaty reparations in 1922
* December 1922 reparations commission declared Germany to be in a default, French troops then occupied the Ruhr
* period of hyperinflation between January and November 1923
* Gov led by Wilhelm Cuno, policy of passive resistance by urging workers to go on strike
58
The Great Inflation: Medium Term Factors
* social reforms and welfare benefits - cost of war was high
* started printing too much money
* deficit financing - long-term it did not work or reduced inflation
* reparations for the war (6.6 billion) had to be paid during this time
59
The Great Inflation: Long Term Factors
* military demands of World War I led to an enormous increase in financial costs
* borrowing money during the war “borrow bonds” to the public (not popular)
* produced wartime goods rather than consumer goods - shortages
* 84% of war funds were borrowed
60
The Great Inflation: Social, Benefitting and Losing Effects
* the people who benefited were peasants as they didn’t have money, investors like Hugo Steins, shopkeepers and craftsman, those who are able to pay off loan mortgage (business and homeowners)
* some social effects were the increase in prejudice and antisemitism, suicide, scurvy, like a nutrition, decline in law following, inproper food, prostitution went up and death by food poisoning
* people who lost out were people with savings, pensions, middle class, working class, people who are old or lived in a different area
