Opposition, Control And Consent 1918-1933

Question 1

What was the ‘stab in the back myth’?

Answer 1

Another factor that undermined the new German democracy
WW1 was not lost by military but by the betrayal of socialists, communists, Jews and politicians

Question 2

Who was seen to blame for the stab in the back myth?

Answer 2

Jews, centre party

Question 3

What was Woodrow’s 14 points?

Answer 3

A statement for peace at the end of ww1

Question 4

Was Germany involved with the peace negotiations of the ToV?

Answer 4

No

Question 5

How did the ToV affect the Weimar Republic?

Answer 5

-reparations blamed for the problems of the German economy and were reply resented. 1923, french occupied the Ruhr to demand reparation payments which caused non-co-operation
-demobilisation of armed forces was a condition of the treaty but was resented so did not fully take place. Tight restrictions on the army were a source of grievance for ex-soldiers.

Question 6

What were the economic consequences?

Answer 6

Hyper-inflationary crisis 1923, workers resisted with strikes, sabotage and disruption
Munich beer hall putsch 1923

Question 7

Political effects from ToV affecting Weimar

Answer 7

-treaty forced germany to surrender colonies in Africa, Asia
-reduced size of military

Question 8

Terms of the ToV

Answer 8

-Germany to pay for all damage done to allied civilians
-no tanks, military aircrafts, big guns
-German navy to be limited : 6 battleships, 6 cruisers, 12 destroyers, 12 torpedo boats, no submarines

Question 9

What was Article 231?

Answer 9

Germany forced to sign the war guilt clause therefore accepting responsibility for loss and damage.

Question 10

Were economic reparations significant?

Answer 10

No but people on the right thought that they were.

Question 11

What happens when the economy is doing badly?

Answer 11

Votes for extremists increase

Question 12

Spartakist uprising

Answer 12

January 1919
This was a radicalism group that wanted to replace Germany’s capitalist government with a network of local soviets made up of workers and soldiers now controlled Berlin.

Ebert determined to end this and restore authority of the government so used defence minister Gustav Noske to use army to crush the revolution. Also used brutal force : 100 workers killed

Question 13

Bavarian Republic

Answer 13

March 1919
Soviet Republic was declared in Bavaria = saw the establishment of worker councils and battalions of Red Guards committed to defending worker’s power.

But in may 1919, the revolutionary government was crushed by the Freikorps and a right wing party was put in charge of Bavaria

Question 14

Ruhr Uprising

Answer 14

March 1920
Communists formed army of approximately 50,000 workers. Known as the ‘Red Army’ which controlled large parts of the Ruhr for several weeks

But the reliance on the army created a difficult position for the government, needed help from the groups which supported Kapp Putsch. This demonstrated the fractured nature of German political opponents of democracy

Question 15

The Red Fighting League

Answer 15

1924
This was a parliamentary organisation dominated by the KPD
Involved in street clashes with the SA, 1929 a celebration of international worker’s day led to 30 deaths in Berlin.
Well organised by age and region and had its own newspaper

But it only lasted 5 years and was disbanded b he government in 1929. Politically it was not completely united, up to half the members were not KPD

Question 16

examples of the opposition of the extreme left?

Answer 16

-spartikist Uprising
-Bavarian republic
-Ruhr uprising
-The Red Fighting League

Question 17

The Kapp Putsch

Answer 17

1920
This was the first major right wing challenge to the Weimar Republic which seized control of the German capital and established new alternative government. Disbarment and demilitarisation required by ToV was an immediate cause

But it only lasted 5 days and was put down by a general strike and it lacked support

Question 18

Organisation Consul

Answer 18

1919-22

This was a parliamentary terrorise group dominated by the Freikorps units angry at ToV. At their peak they had up to 5000 men, most with military training. In total they murdered over 350 people: e.g Matthias Erzberger (politician) and German foreign minister Walter Rathenau (1922)

But they were faced to disband in a legal order in the mid 1920s

Question 19

The Munich Putsch

Answer 19

1923

Intended to seize control of Munich and then Berlin.
Hitler amassed a force of 3000 men to march on the centre of Munich, may of them ex soldiers.
SA was able to take control of the Army Headquarters in Munich

But president ebert declared a national state of emergency and ordered General Seeckt to use army to crush the revolt which was successful
Hitler and Ludendorff were arrested and put on trial for treason

Question 20

The SA and the NSDAP

Answer 20

-members of the SA were involved in street fights with the communists in many major German cities
-1929, SA added a Motor Corps for better mobility and a faster mustering of units.
-grew with importance, 400,000 men by january 1932
-1930s= Nazis expanded and so did SA

Question 21

Examples of opposition from the extreme right

Answer 21

-Kapp Putsch
-Munich Putsch
SA and NSDAP
-Organisation Consul

Question 22

What are conservative elites?

Answer 22

Upper class groups with power and wealth in the Kaiserreich and keen to maintain the new republic. Held right wing views and traditional values. May were monarchists

Question 23

Who were Junkers?

Answer 23

A rich landowning class mostly based in Prussia with strong influence in the army. Conservative and nationalist organisation which opposed communism.

Question 24

Who were the industrialists and businessmen?

Answer 24

Manly based in industrial areas such as Ruhr basin
Controlled Germnay’s biggest companies such as Mercedes Benz cars
Attacked social policies of the Weimar Republic

Question 25

Who were Administrators and bureaucrats?

Answer 25

The dominant group in the institutions of germany. : civil service, army, judiciary = cooperated with the government buy also undermined it.

Question 26

Examples of actions from administrators and bureaucrats

Answer 26

Judiciary did not use powers when finance minister Rathenau was murdered in 1922. A gang of conspirators responsible but only one man brought to justice for murder

Question 27

How significant was the opposition of the extreme left and right to the strength of Weimar?

Answer 27

Extreme left lacked coordination to succeed
Extreme right perceived as thuggish and undisciplined

Question 28

Which class supported the republic?

Answer 28

-majority of working class until 1930 = new legal rights +secure position = negotiate with business leaders
-middle class = less than working class, 1919 = threatened by new democracy

Question 29

Women in support of the republic?

Answer 29

-less willing to vote for extremist parties, voted for z party (60%) as they shared strong religious message
-women workers involved in strikes which brought monarchy down

Question 30

How was support for Weimar weakening from 1928?

Answer 30

Industrialists becoming increasingly unwilling to honour agreements
Middle class resented rising costs and increased taxes of a welfare state

Question 31

The Weimar Republic never won the support of the mass of the German people?

Answer 31

No, initial support as in 1919, 80% of votes were pro-Weimar
Support decreased due to Great Depression in 1930s so people starting voting for extremist parties instead. 1932 = only 35.2% of votes were pro-weimar

Question 32

Key ways of government control

Answer 32

-banning extremist parties
-confronting and controlling extremism : use of Article 48
-controlling the left : 1918, Ebert-Groener Pact = army defend new regime against the left + negotiations with employers and workers.

Question 33

What were the main methods used by the Weimar government to control/win over the people?

Answer 33

1. Legislation : Reichstag could pass laws, president could use emergency powers
2. Propaganda : ‘young plan’ (attempt to settle issues from ww1) and ‘black horror’ (allegations of widespread crimes)
3. Compromise with the Nazis