Test Revision 1-1.4 Flashcards
What was the German democratic government weakened by?
- Disagreements between political parties
- Violent undemocratic groups incited brawls
- Treaty of Versailles
- Hyperinflation
What did the SPD demand?
- Democratic reforms, so Germans could have a proper say in the government
- Improved conditions and rights for workers
- Improved healthcare and education
The Weimar Republic formation?
- Phillip Schneidemann gave a speech on the balcony of the Reichstag building
- The Kaiser abdicated under duress and fled, formally only hours before WW1s end.
- SPD signed armistice together as peace symbol
Why did the German government have to sign the Treaty of Versailles?
- War years of war weakened their army
- Allied troops blocked their ports stopping food + medicine
- Same Allies threatened to invade Germany
How did the Treaty of Versailles humiliate Germany?
- Germany lost 12% of its population and 13% of its territory, including other countries it had colonised
- The Rhineland was occupied for 15 years, with no German soldiers allowed. They weren’t allowed chemical weapons, tanks, submarines or an airforce.
- Article 231 War Guilt Clause
- 132billion gold marks in reparations over 50 years
What were the SPD called by nationalists?
The November Criminals
What happened at the Paris Peace Conference?
Governments of defeated Nations - Germany - were not invited. 32 Allied Nations came to put an end to WW1. French - revenge on Germany because of the suffering they caused them and want to weaken them, so they can’t start another war. British - Germany should pay, but come to fair peace. USA - fearful of too many restrictions on losers
How was the
German economy in 1920s?
The economy couldn’t recover post war because factories weren’t producing enough and the government couldn’t raise money.
What was the crisis of 1923?
Jan 11 - Germany declared bankrupcy, but the French refused to accept they couldn’t pay their reparations. So French and Belgian soldiers occupy Ruhr (steel and coal producers in Germany) and took what they felt they were owed. Germany couldn’t resist the invasion, so they ordered passive resistance - holding peaceful strikes and protests. They paid people to do this.
French response to passive resistance
150,000 Germans are forced from their homes and 132 are shot dead.
Effects of the occupation on Germany?
- Added to humiliation and resentment + France’s soldiers were from African colonies
- Made people think government was weak
- Heightened hyperinflation
Why did the Spartacists attempt to overthrow the German Government in January 1919?
They were inspired by the Russian Revolution
How much was bread in 1918 (Dec) vs March 1923 vs Sept 1923 vs Nov 1923
In December 1918 it was 0.54 vs in 1923 in March it was 463, in Sept it was 1,512,000 and in Nov it was 201,000,000,000
What was the Spartacist uprising?
An armed uprising that took place between January 5-12 1919. They seized Government buildings such as telographs.
Who led the Spartacist uprising?
Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht
Who put down the Spartacist uprising?
Friedrich Elbert (Chancellor) forms a group of volunteer soldiers that attacked and regained control of Berlin called the Freikorps.
What was the outcome of the Spartacist uprising?
Government fled Berlin. Rosa and Karl were murdered and chucked in river 2 days after. Surviving leaders formed German Communist Party (KPD.)
What was the Kapp Putsch?
A coup led by Wolfgang Kapp to overthrow the Weimar republic.
Why did Wolfgang Kapp attempt to overthrow the government?
He was supported by many current government officials and wants to regain land + military strength that the Treaty snatched.
What was the outcome of the Kapp Putsch?
Army refused to stop it, but the people of Berlin led a general strike and peacefully defeated Kapp. The main reason it failed was because Germans still believe in democracy. In the end - 700 rebels were put on trial, only one went to jail because judges sympathised with Kapp.
How did the German government respond to their bankrupcy?
By authorising the mass printing of notes in 300 paper mills and 2,000 printing shops.
What were the effects of the German governments response to bankrupcy?
- Reduces the value of peoples savings
- Wages paid daily
- Long lines for goods + prices being changed multiple times a day
- People started trading in foreign currency
- Widows + war pensioners pensions stayed the same, despite increasing prices leading them to starve.
- Unemployment from 1.5% in 1922 to 13.5% in 1924.
What did Stresemann introduce to address the economic crisis?
- Orders German workers to return to work while he negotiates with French
- Changed currency to Rentenmark and burned all Reichsmarks
- Negotiates with allies for the Dawes plan (reduced reparation payment amounts) and Allies gave them experts and the Young Plan (gave them until 1988 to pay).
- He also convinced the US to lend them $800million USD and the French left the Ruhr and returned it
Why did nationalists hate Stresemann’s leadership?
They believed paying any reparations was a false admission of guilt and they hated the Dawes Plan because they felt allies were taking partial control over banks, railways and taxes.
