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Weimar History U2 > Key Question 1: Challenges Facing the Weimar Republic (1918-1923) > Flashcards

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
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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)
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3
Q

Prussia and Germany

A

There was no single country called Germany until 1871, all individuals states, loosely allied in German confederation, most powerful was Prussia
- Germany was created by Otto Von Bismark
- 1871 Prussia ceased to be independent

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4
Q

Revolution from Above

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)
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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
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6
Q

Effect of World War One on Germany

A
  • Living Conditions
  • Economy/Finances
  • Political Development
  • Terms of Armistice
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7
Q

Living Conditions

A
  • Earning fell 20%-30%
  • major food and fuel shortages
  • diseases
  • Turnip Winter
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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
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9
Q

Political Development

A
  • 1914 Confidence, 1917 unity breaking down
  • Increasing military control of government
  • USPD formed (Independent Socialist Party)
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10
Q

Terms of Armistice

A
  • West Bank of Rhine occupied Allies
  • Treaty of Versailles signed
  • German troops evacuated east bank
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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
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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
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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

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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”

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15
Q

The First Leader of the new Government was?

A

Prince Max Von Baden

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16
Q

Revolution from Below 1918-1919

A
  • Economic discontent grew and war weariness caused unrest
  • 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
  • Prince Max announced Kaiser abdication and gave chancellorship to Fredrich Ebert (9 Nov) causing some revolutions to stop
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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
  • 11 November Gov signed an armistice
  • end fighting of WW1 and start peace negotiations
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18
Q

Weimar Parities

A
  • Left wing - progressive, believe in equality (USPD,SPD)
  • Right wing - traditional, everyone for themselves
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19
Q

How was the revolution from below suppressed?

A
  • January 1919 communist rising by Sparticists is suppressed by socialist goverment
  • 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/flue 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
Q

The Groener-Ebert Deal

A
  • 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
Q

What are the Freikorps?

A

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
Q

The Groener-Ebert Deal: Short Term Effects

A

deal with Groener and Army, deal with industrialists

28
Q

The Groener-Ebert Deal: Medium Term

A

Gave the support of the army to the government against the left (KPD) and workers rallied to the new government/not challenging them

29
Q

The Groener-Ebert Deal: Long Term

A

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
Q

Was the co-operation with the Elite and crushing Communists justified?

A
  • Cold War atmosphere of 1950s with it’s exaggerated fear of communism, encouraged acceptance of view of communist Germany as dangerous and consequent need for repression
  • communists Historians portrayed Ebert as the servant of the Bourgeoisie, saying capitalism from revolutionary threat of communists - inspired masses
  • chances of soviet - style communists regime
31
Q

The Weimar Constitution

A
  • 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
  • Preuss worked with the committee of 28 members over six months (overshadowed by ToV)
  • new constitution were influenced by long -established democratic ideas of Britain/USA
  • traditions were not ignored as the introduction of proportional representation + federal structure
32
Q

What did the Reichstag vote in the end?

A
  • 31st July 1919 they voted strongly for the constitution, president aprroved
  • the electorate can vote (anyone over 21) - even women
  • votes every 7 years
  • 2 houses - the Reichstag and the Reichstrat
  • Article 48 - bypass Reichstag in time of crisis
33
Q

Weimar Constitution Structure: President (1)

A
  • elected every 7 years
  • has power to dissolve the Reichstag
  • right to appoint the chancellor
  • ruled by Article 48
34
Q

Weimar Constitution Structure: Chancellor + Ministors (2)

A

Appointed by the president, but must have support of the Reichstag

35
Q

Weimar Constitution Structure: Reichstrat (3)

A
  • Less important house in parliament
  • representatives of all 17 states
  • initiate or delay proposals
36
Q

Weimar Constitution Structure: Reichstag (3)

A
  • main representative assembly and main law making body of parliament
  • deputies elected every 4 years
37
Q

Weimar Constitution Structure: Bill of Rights (4)

A
  • constitution drew up a range of individual rights
  • outlined broad freedom
  • eg. Speech, religion and social
38
Q

Weimar Constitution Structure: Regions (5)

A

Electorate of people - citizens over 21 (men and women)

39
Q

How did the Republican survive the crisis of 1918-1923?

A
  • 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
40
Q

Burden for Weimar

A
  • 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
41
Q

The Big Three: Woodrow Wilson

A
  • 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
42
Q

The Big Three: George Clemenceau

A
  • 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
43
Q

The Big Three: David Lloyd George

A
  • 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
44
Q

Terms of the Treaty: Land

A
  • Alsace-Lorraine, Germany to return these provinces to France
  • took away Rhineland and Ruhr
  • Anschluss - Austria cannot combine with Germany
45
Q

Terms of the Treaty: Army

A
  • had to reduce to 100,000 no tanks or guns
  • no military aircraft’s or subs
  • demilitarise Rhineland
46
Q

Terms of the Treaty: Money

A
  • had to pay £6.6 billion in reparations
  • under league control until 1935
  • coal production given to France
47
Q

Terms of the Treaty: Blame

A
  • forced to sign war guilt (Article 231)
  • even though they didn’t start the war
  • took responsibility for damage

Weimar History U2 (3 decks)

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