Nazi Germany and Hitlers rise to power Flashcards
the legacy of WW1 (4)
fighting had lasted 4 years
2 million Germans died
Germanys debts trebled
750,000 Germans died as a result of food shortages
what happened in the origins of the republic?
Germany became a republic with new democratic (communist) constitution following Kaiser Wilhelm’s abdication
Treaty of Versaille terms (5)
BRAT
Blame- Germany had to accept full blame for the war
Reparations- Germany had to pay 6.6 billion in war reparations
Armament- army was limited to 100,000 men with no heavy artillery, six battleships etc
Territory- Germany had to give up land to victorious countries eg. Alsace and Lorraine were lost to France
Why was the T of V unpopular? (3)
Dolchtoss- German people believed that Germany had not been defeated in the war, they said they had been “stabbed in the back”
made the Weimar republic politically weak, the leaders became known as the “November criminals” as they signed the treaty in November 1918
damaged Germany’s economy due to reperations
right wing groups (3)
capitalism
wanted a return of a strong government
National Party (DNVP) was the main right wing party in 1919
left wing groups (2)
communism
wanted Germany to be controlled by the people
sparticist revolt (5)
Ebert sacked a police officer who was popular among workers
the next day, thousands of workers took to the streets in protest- seeing it as a chance to undermine the workers
on the 6 January, 100,000 workers took to the streets and seized telegraph offices etc.
The freikorps (ex- army soldiers who hated the communists) were sent by Ebert to drive the rebels off the streets
Luxemburg and Liebknict were killed
French occupation of the Ruhr (5)
Germany failed to send coal to France in the Ruhr as they were supposed to do this under the TofV reparations
French troops sent into German industrial area and they confiscated raw materials, manufactured goods and industrial machinery
German worked urged passive resistance, workers went on strike, however the French brought their own troops in
Germans resented the French but also resented the failure of the Weimar republic to resent the French
occuptation of the Ruhr crippled Germany and increased Germanys debt, increased unemployment etc.
hyperinflation (4)
the government needed money to pay their debts, but unemployment and failing factories meant they received less money from taxes
government began to print more money
the more money was printed, the more prices rose
price for a loaf of bread in 1923- 200,000 billion marks
what were the effects of hyperinflation? (3)
normal living became impossible- people had to carry money in wheelbarrows, pin money to letters because stamps were useless etc.
everyone suffered from shortages- german marks became worthless for importing goods. Foreign suppliers would not accept German marks and so imports dries up and shortages of food and other goods got worse
people with savings hit the hardest- their saved money became worthless, the middle class were the worst affected.
what was stresseman’s strategy? (4)
Stresseman hoped that by stabilizing the German economy and gaining respect in foreign affairs, Germans would feel more content with the Wiemar republic
introduced the rentenmark, their value was tied to gold and they were backed by German industrial plants- it had real value
gave Germany a much stronger basis for recovery and improvements to unemployment
could not bring back the losses of hyperinflation
The dawes plan (4)
US banker Charles Dawe
US banks agreed to loan money to Germany- starting with 800 million at first
Germany was given more time to pay their reperations and they were reduced to 2.5 billion marks a year
over 6 years, 3 billion was given which was used on railways, roads and factories to boost the economy
The young plan
Germany negotiated that reperations were reduced from 6 billion to 1.85 billion, whilst it was agreed that they would pay for 60 years
How did the Dawe’s plan help the ruhr crisis? (4)
with new stable currency and reduced reperation payments, Germany was able to start paying their debts
Stresemann ordered an end to the strike in the Ruhr
France and Belgium pulled their troops out from the Ruhr as Germany were now co-operating
German industry was able to start up again
Locarno pact (3)
1925
between France, Belgium, Great Britain and Italy
pact agreed that the countries borders should stay the same.
This improved the friendship between countries
