Problems facing the Weimar Republic

Question 1

When was the Treaty of Versailles signed?

Answer 1

28th June 1919

Question 2

What happened at the Treaty of Versailles?

Answer 2

32 countries came together in Paris, in Jan 1919 at the Versailles palace to hold a conference to make peace post WW1. Germany wasn’t invited

Question 3

Who was the Treaty of Versailles dominated by? What did each of them want/not want?

Answer 3

‘The Big Three’
David Lloyd George (Britain) - was neutral in decision making, he wanted to punish Germany so that they could be taught a lesson but leave Germany strong enough so that they could still trade
Woodrow Wilson (US) - opposed to any punishment to prevent another World War
Georges Clemenceau (France) - Wanted revenge and to punish Germany, and return Alsace Lorraine - wanted to weaken Germany by taking their military away fromthem

Question 4

What were the consequences of the TofV?

Answer 4

It damaged the country and allowed Hitler to take advantage of the opportunity to show German citizens that they were being betrayed by German representatives

Question 5

As a result of the TofV, what happened to the military?

Answer 5

Military restricted to only 100,000 men
Only 6 naval ships
No submarines or air force
Rhineland = demilitarized

Question 6

As a result of the TofV, what economic factors caused some consequences?

Answer 6

Germany had to pay reparations of about £6,600 million for damage
Loss of Prussia, which meant loss of Germany’s richest farming land
Loss of Saar reduced Germany’s industrial strength

Question 7

As a result of the TofV, what happened in terms of territory?

Answer 7

Alsace Lorraine given back to France
West Prussia and upper Silesia was given to Poland -was done to weaken Germany. Clemenceua said ‘smaller country, less of a problem’

Question 8

When was the Kapp Putsch?

Answer 8

13th March 1920

Question 9

What is the significance of the Kapp Putsch?

Answer 9

It was the first major crisis from the right

Question 10

What happened at the Kapp Putsch and where did it take place?

Answer 10

5000 men wanted to take overthrow the government and went to Berlin

Question 11

Who was the Kapp putsch led by?

Answer 11

Wolfgang Kapp; a right wing extremist and monarchist who hated the Treaty of Versailles. He founded the Fatherland party

Question 12

Why did the putsch fail?

Answer 12

Workers went on a general strike which brought the city to a standstill - there was no water, coal, train or buses running

Question 13

Due to the financial punishment of Versailles, how much did Germany have to pay?

Answer 13

Germany had to pay a reparations sum of £6,600 million

Question 14

What were the causes of Hyperinflation, in 1923?

Answer 14

1. Many blamed allies and on the French and British demands for reparations
2. Many blamed the government, as they favoured inflation as it reduced the real burden of it’s internal debt. Also the government continued to print money as they had to pay compensation for war victims and pay civil servants
3. Occupation of the Ruhr

Question 15

How did the Weimar government try and reduce the effects of hyperinflation?

Answer 15

In Nov. 1923, Stresemann replaced the old currency with the Retenmark - replacing 1,000 billion paper marks

Question 16

Who were the ‘winners’ when it came to hyperinflation?

Answer 16

• People who were in debt and mortgage holders
• Entrepreneurs, like Hugo Stinnes, who profited from hyperinflation with access to cheap credit
• German state lost it’s debt of 150,000 marks

Question 17

Who were the ‘losers’ when it came to hyperinflation?

Answer 17

• Those with savings

- Those with fixed income - as value of money would decrease by 30-100% every day

Question 18

RUHR CRISIS:

What happened in 1921?

Answer 18

It was in 1921, when France and Belgium extended their occupation of Germany and marched into the Ruhr in reaction Germany’s infringement of reparation payments

Question 19

RUHR CRISIS:

What happened in 1922?

Answer 19

The Reichstag announced Germany was behind in deliveries of timber to France

Question 20

RUHR CRISIS:

What did the French decide to do as a result of Germany’s infringement of reparation payments?

Answer 20

The French sent a team of engineers to control the industry of the Ruhr starting 11th January 1923

Question 21

RUHR CRISIS:

What did chancellor Cuno do?

Answer 21

He implemented a policy of passive resistance in the Ruhr

Question 22

RUHR CRISIS:

What made it impossible for Germany to maintain a policy of Passive Resistance?

Answer 22

Germany couldn’t fight back as they practically had no army as TofV weakened them and hyperinflation made it impossible beyond August 1923

Question 23

RUHR CRISIS:

What do historians agree with?

Answer 23

German government added further strain to their economy by implementing a policy of passive resistance, they turned economic difficulties into economic crises

Question 24

When did Adolf Hitler join the DAP and what happened as a result?

Answer 24

He joined the DAP in September 1919, which changed in to NDSAP by 1921 when he became leader

Question 25

What was created by Hitler in February 1920, what was this?

Answer 25

Hitler created the 25 Point Programme, which was extremely nationalist and anti-semitic

Question 26

Which 3 articles in particular were directed at Jews?

Answer 26

Article 4 - Jews were to be denied of full German citizenship
Article 8 - Demanded an end to non-German immigration
Article 23 - Demanded that non-Germans be excluded from any influence within the media.