The early challenges to the Weimar Republic, 1919-1923 Flashcards
What was the “stab in the back” theory?
A belief made popular by Right-Wing Nationalists that Germany did not lose WW1 because of their army, but because of civilians who rebelled against the Kaiser - including Jews and Communists.
People who supported this theory referred to the government of the Weimar Republic as November Criminals.
What did the key-terms of the Treaty of Versailles mean for Germany?
Land taken away (including Alsace-Lorraine, the Rhineland and the Polish Corridor).
Loss of nationality / weakened economy / reduced world status.
Kept economically weak (132 million marks).
Made even worse food shortages / chance to recover from WW1.
Reduction of the military (No airforce, rule of six for the Navy, only 100,000 men in the army).
Reduced world status / threat of invasion / limited chance to object to the TOV.
Forced to accept blame (War Guilt Clause 212).
International humiliation / less chance to appeal against the harsh terms of the Treaty of Versailles.
Everything about the Treaty of Versailles increased Nationalist resentment / popularity of the “stab in the back” theory.
What did left-wing threats mean for the Weimar Government?
The goal was a Communist Government.
The Spartacist Uprising (Feb 1919) saw a General Strike called in Berlin. 100,000 workers took to the street and seized police stations and newspaper offices.
The Strike was only stopped with the help of the Right-Wing Freikorps.
The Red Rising was a protest that took place in the Ruhr in the spring of 1920. Again the support of the Freikorps was crucial.
What did right-wing threats mean for the Weimar Government?
The goal was a stronger, Nationalist and autocratic style of government.
The Friekorps made Dr. Wolfgang Kapp their figurehead in the spring of 1920 and marched on Berlin.
The government of the Weimar Republic fled Berlin and the Kapp Putsch only failed because workers followed the command of the government and refused to cooperate with Kapp’s plans to seize the government.
What was the reason for and the effects of the French invasion of the Ruhr in 1923?
Germany did not send the coal to France that they were required to as part of the TOV. France responded by sending troops to confiscate machinery and raw materials.
The German economy suffered : Passive resistance meant that productivity in the region collapsed. Important because 80% of the country’s coal, iron and steel came from this region.
Wages needed to be paid because the Government had ordered the passive resistance. With more money being printed this made the inflation in the economy worse and led to hyperinflation.
Nationalist outrage in the country increased. Events surrounding the Ruhr became a cause of The Munich Putsch later in the year.
What was the challenge of hyperinflation?
Money gradually became unusable. People had to carry around huge bundles and shops gradually refused to accept notes.
Food shortages became worse because the value of the money meant other countries did not want to buy German goods.
Big business actually did well because their debts decreased. People who had taken out loans found that their loans got more expensive.
Overall, unhappiness with the Weimar Republic increased and, as a result, so did Nationalist and Communist support.
