Part one: Weimar Germany 1914-1933 Flashcards
What was the role of chancellor?
-appointed his own ministers for gov policies
-led bundesrat
-could ignore reichstag decisions
What was the role of the Bundesrat?
-made up of 25 representatives of Germany
-consulted w kaiser and chancellor over gov policies
-proposed laws sent to reichstag
What was the role of the Reichstag?
-all men over 25
-passed or rejected laws proposed by Bundesrat or Chancellor
-could pass or reject grant to fund military every 5 years
As a result of wanting to be more powerful than anyone in Germany what did the Kaiser do when he came to power?
He dismissed Bismarck and disagreed with his policy of realism rather the idealism, he then only appointed people with the same beliefs as him
Industrialisation in Germany:
-coal production rivalled Britains by 1914
-rapid urbanisation led to disease outbreak
-big gap between rich and poor
-high rates of immigration led to hatred of “foreigners”
What is socialism?
the idea that profits from industry should be shared equally
What was the Social Democratic Party?
-they wanted more rights for German workers
-won most votes from every election after 1890, held most seats in 1912
Who feared Socialism and why?
Kaiser, the upper and middle class because they believed workers would overthrow political systems
What were some economic problems Germany faced in 1918?
-food shortages and industrial shortages as British blockade happened
-trade disrupted by war so national income was 2/3 less
-debts had to be repaid from other countries they borrowed money to and from
What was the stab in the back legend?
Germans believed that they had been stabbed in the back by politicians as army leaders forced politicians to seek peace
What were the terms of the Treaty of Versailles?
-accepting war guilt
-paying reparations
-loss of land in Europe and all overseas colonies
-placing severe limits on military
-not allowed to ally with Austria
What was the problem with reparations?
-Agreed to pay to countries who had won the war because of treat of V
-owed 6.6 billion marks
-inability to pay led to hyperinflation and the invasion of the Ruhr in 1923
The invasion of the Ruhr:
- Germany could not pay back second instalment of debt by dec 1922
- Jan 1923 French and Belgian troops invaded the Ruhr for raw materials, machinery and manufactured goods in replacement of debt
What were the results of the invasion of the Ruhr?
-German gov urged passive resistance of workers so they went on strike
-French and Belgian soldiers arrested and their workers were forced to replace strikers
-economy very badly hit as they could not sell produce from Ruhr
-Gov decides to print more money so by 1923 the mark is worthless
What were the negative effects of hyperinflation?
-businesses went bankrupt
-pensioners suffered
-savings became worthless
-people blamed the Weimar government
What were the positives to hyperinflation?
-farmers were paid more for food
-some people and businesses could pay off loans and mortgages
-fixed rents became cheaper
Who was made leader of Germany after 1918?
Freidrich Ebert the leader of the Social Democrats
When did the Weimar Republic officially begin?
31 July 1919
Who was the President in the Weimar Constitution?
- head of state
-elected every 7 years
How often was the Reichstag elected?
every 4 years
What were the strengths of the Weimar Constitution?
1.proportional representation meant small parties had a fair share of seats
2.equality in voting
What were the weaknesses of the Weimar Constitution?
- proportion representation led to unstable coalition governments
- weakness in crisis meant president used Article 48
- not the peoples choice so was not popular
Who were the Spartacists?
- left wing party
- led by Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht
- based in Berlin