The Establishment and Early Years of Weimar Republic

Question 1

When and how was Kaiser Whilem receive the news of his abdication?

Answer 1

on the 9th November 1918

Prince Max, form the pressure of the November Revolution and in order to keep government in tact announced the Abdication of the Kaiser

Question 2

Where did the Kaiser Wilhelm abdicate to?

Answer 2

travelled to Holland, which remained neutral during the war

when he arrived he declared to the German Ambassador that ‘ am a broken man’

Question 4

What was the Amestice and when was it signed?

Answer 4

in October 1918 Prince Max of the German High Command wrote to President Wilson, calling for a ceasefire

Signed on the 11th November 1918
came into egffect imediateeey

Question 5

What occurred in the November Revolution?

Answer 5

on the 3rd of November, 1918 German sailors mutinied against their officers at the main German Naval base at Kiel

the revolt spread to many other German cities and ports, and their were workers and soldiers councils spraining up

they unity was patriotic and aimed to bring down the authoritarian government to bring a new democratic republic

Authority was challenged and on the 8th November the Bulgarian monarchy was deposed

was a key turning point in the creation of a German Republic

Question 6

What was the consequences of the November Revolution?

Answer 6

to keep government in tact, Prince Max announced the abdication of the monarchy on the 8th of November 1918

Prince Max on the same day resigned as Chancellor and handed to position to Friedrich Ebert, leader of the SPD

Question 7

What was the state of Germany before the Constitution was formed

Answer 7

Ebert urged the German people to keep essential services running, avoid street demonstrations and maintain Law and order

However, his authority failed to extend outside Berlin, much of Germany was facing unrest as returning soldiers and inpatient citizens roamed the street and carried out demonstrations

Question 8

how had Ebert been facing pressure over the formation of the constitution

Answer 8

Ebert had faced pressure from both the left and right

the left had become increasingly more prominent following the Russian Revolution in 1917, the spread of socialism across Europe, and the growth of socialism within the worker and Soldiers Councils

Pressure from the army and the aristocratic right came as they opposed the idea of a democratic republic and favoured an authoritarian government

Question 9

What was the Ebert - Groner pact

Answer 9

on the 10th November 1918 General Groomer telephoned Ebert to assure him that the Army leadership would support the democratic government, and in return, Ebert would resist the demands of the workers and soldiers Councils to democratise the army and to protect Germany form the threat of communist revolution.

Question 10

What was the importance of the Constituent in 1919

Answer 10

They were amidst political tensions on the 19th of January, 1919

Women were allowed to vote for the first time.

The SPD secured the largest percentage of the vote but did not secure an overall majority, therefore formed a coalition government

the first assembly was in Weimar as apposed to Berlin

Question 11

What did the Constituent Assembly meet to do

Answer 11

• Ebert was elected by the assembly as the first President of weimar Germany

the representatives met to draw up a new constitution

although the representatives did not agree on all issue concerned inthe constitution

It wanted to differ from the old Constitution of the German Empire, therefore it began with the clear declaration that authority derives from the people and the constitution was designed to enshrine the rights of the German people.

Question 12

What ere the strengths of the Weimar Constitution?

Answer 12

more democratic than other European countries at the time, women were fully enfranchised and were allowed to become deputies in the Reichstag

The proportional Representation system allowed for smaller parties to influence government decisions

the consitition fully set out the rights of the individual, set out in the second part of the constitution

full democracy in local and state government

Question 13

What were the weaknesses of the Weimar Constitution

Answer 13

The system of Proportional representation was enabled smaller parties, many of which were anti-republican to to exploit the parliamentary system

due to the proliferation of smaller parties, no party could gain an overall majority of the vote, lead to numerous Coalitions that did not usually act long due to political disagreements

Question 14

What was the rule of Presidential Decree

Answer 14

Article 48 gave the President the power to rule by presidential decree

to be used in exceptional circumstances

Ebert, as president used Article 48 on 136 occasions

Question 15

Why was Article 48 use so frequently

Answer 15

Ebert as President used Article 48 over 136 times

some of these situations could be deemed to be real emergences, as the Weimar Republic was new and somewhat unstable

Other occasions Article 48 was used to override opposition in the Reichstag
(somewhat ironic as Ebert was the key figure in establishing a democratic system but undermined democracy on many occasions)

Question 16

What undemocratic institutions survived in the new Constitution’s

Answer 16

The Weimar Republic inherited the army of the Second Recih, maintained its political independence, softened intervened in politics, supported right wing parties

German Civl Service particularly in the Foreign office, were predominantly recruits of the Aristocracy

Article 54 ensured that the Judicial system remained independent, yet Judges who served on the Second Empire were allowed to remain in post, in turn keeping the Judicial system largely right wing and anti-democratic

Question 17

What were the terms of the Treaty of Versailles

Answer 17

Territorial changes: Germany lost territory to France, Belgium, Denmark, and Poland

Disarmament: Restricted German military size and capabilities

War guilt clause: Germany accepted responsibility for causing the war

Reparations: Germany obligated to pay reparations to Allied nations

League of Nations established to maintain peace (not ratified by the U.S.)

Question 18

What was the reaction to the Treaty of Versailles of the German people?

Answer 18

German people were furious and in disbelief

due to propaganda neither German citizens or German soldiers knew how desperate Germany’s position was on the Western Front

many people who considered themselves to be German were now living in non-German states like Poland, the separation of East Prussia form Germany through the ‘Polish Corridoor’ was a massive source of resentment

Anger towards the high reparations which were certain to cause economic problems

many refused to accept the ‘War Guilt Clause’

Question 19

What was the reaction of pro-republican parties to the treaty of versicle

Answer 19

the SPD and allies to seek reassurance from opponents against charges of unpatriotism;

the “policy of fulfilment” advocated outward compliance while negotiating modifications;

Some members of pro-democratic parties, who agreed with the terms of the constitution, defeated after learning the terms of the Treaty of Versailles

Question 20

What was the reaction of the political right to the Treaty of Versille

Answer 20

nationalist right believed that the politicians in charge of the new republic were failing, from the amerstice ‘defeat’, the formation of a democratic constitution, and the acceptance of the Versailles Treaty, the politicians became known as tthe “November Criminals” and viewed their actions as a ‘stab in the back’

the German army refused to bare responsibility for the defeat in the War, Despite Ludendorf advancing the Kaiser that the army were on the brink of defeat

Ludendorf and Von Hindemberg actively promoted the ‘stab in the back’ myth

Question 21

how didi Germany finance the war?

Answer 21

increased borrowing and printing more money

meaning that government debt increased and the value of the currency fell

Question 22

What was the Political impact of the Reparations?

Answer 22

reparations Commisions report concluded Germany were to pay 132 billion gold Marks

Ultimatum for Germany to accept terms caused political crisis, yet the new government signed unwillingly to pay the reparations

Germany began paying reparations with the policy of ‘Fulfilment’ in mind

November 1922, Germany asked for a loan of 500m gold Marks t be released from its obligation.

French refused the loan, led to French and Belgium occupation of the Ruhr in 1923

Question 23

What was the economic impact of the reparations?

Answer 23

made government debt from the war even more difficult to pay back

Germanys gold reserves were inadequate

some reparations had to be paid in coal, but coal reserves were lost in versicle treaty

Tariffs were placed on German manufactured goods, meaning Germany could not increase reserves of other currencies

As a result Germany were left printing more and more money

Question 24

What happened in the French occupation of the Ruhr?

Answer 24

Germany had fallen behind in payments of reparations in 1922, asked for 500million gold mark loan off reparations in Nov

French and Belgium sent 60,000 men to occupy the Ruhr, industrial land in western Germany in Jan 1923

Throughout 1923 the number of French and Belgium solders grew to 100,000

chancellor Wilhelm Cuno knew Germany could not fight back, instead instructed the policy of ‘passive resistance’

Question 25

What was the policy of Passive resistance e

Answer 25

German government instructed the local population not to comply with the French

Advised german miners and industrial workers to go on strike and promised that the German government would cover their wages

Question 26

What was the impact of the French occupation of the Ruhr??

Answer 26

paying for wages of miners and industrial workers was another strain on Government finances

tax revenue was lost from closed businesses and unemployed workers

shortage of goods from these areas pushed prices up further

the combined costs amounted to twice the amount of the annual reparation payments

Question 27

The social impact of hyperinflation

Answer 27

winners
some black marketeers bought up food stocks to sell off at vastly inflated prices
people in debt could pay back their loans cheaper
some farmers were thriving as demand was high

losers
those relying on savings and welfare lost out
Pensioners and war widows
The ‘mittelstand’ small business owners, struggled and could not keep up with the hyperinflation prices
those who patriotically lent money to the German wartime government ‘war bonds’ lost out

Question 28

how did political extremism grow?

Answer 28

continuing political violence as parties of the left and right set up armed uniform paramilitary squads to guard meetings

violence against political opponents began becoming more common

Question 29

What was the Spartacus uprising?

Answer 29

5th Jan 1919,

the Spartacus League (spartists)
led by Karl Laibnecht and Rosa Luxembourg

staged armed uprising against Ebert’s government for a communist revolution

the uprising was poorly prepared for and poorly supported

GeneralGrocer had few reliable military units available so had to use Freidkorps to take down uprising

13th Jan - uprising had been crushed
spartisits had been arrested and leaders executed.

Question 30

What was the kapp putsch

Answer 30

Febuary 1920

Following the terms of the Versailles Treaty, defence secretary ordered 2 Freidkorps units to disband

General Walther von Littwitz, commanding general refused to disband one unit
government ordered for his arrest

littwitz marched his troops to Berlin, with the support of sympathisers and the politician Wolfgang Kapp

Ebert’s government retreated and called the help of the regular army but Sect famously told Ebert ‘troops do not fire on troops’

ultimately, support for the putsch was weak, not enough right wing support fr0om bankers etc

putsch collapsed within 4 days

Question 31

how didi violent extremism extend to assassinations

Answer 31

Vaterländische Verbande
(Patriotic leagues0

right-wing nationalists committed to the assassination of political opposition

Question 32

what are prominent political assassinations?

Answer 32

August 1921, Former Finance Minister Ezberger was assassinated, was key in the signing go the Treaty of Versailles

14 June 1922, Foreign minister Walther Rathenau was assassinated on his way to workk

Question 33

What happened at the Beer hall putsch?

Answer 33

November 1923

Hitler lead a putsch in Munich with the support of Ludendorff

8 November, Hitler burst into a beer hall in Munich to rally the support of Ritter Von Kahn and Otto von Lossow and their 2000- men

Along with the SA stormtroopers, the plan was to storm Berlin and install Ludendorff as Commander-In-Cheif.

support evaporated and and SA failed to gain control of the Munich army.

Hitler continued the march into a gun fight against the police, became part of the Nazi folklore

Hitler broke his shoulder and was arrested

Question 34

How was the Weimar currency stabilised

Answer 34

In August 1923, the government of Juno collapsed, led to the formation of a new Government

under the chancellorship of Gustav Stresemann ‘The Great Coalition’ aimed to revive the currency by bringing down inflation with 3 steps

the end of passiveresistance

the issuing of new curren

balancing the budget

Question 35

what was the end of Passive resistance?

Answer 35

passive resistance against the occupation of the Rhur was called off in September

it was unpopular at first, however it was a neccessary expense in order to reduce government expenditure in order to reduce the hyperinflation

Question 36

what was the issuing of new currency

Answer 36

under the direction of Hjalmar Schacht, in November, the government released a new currency called the Retenmark

1 rentenmark was to be worth 1 trillion old marks

the old marks were gradually exchanged

as germanu dd not have sufficient gold reserves, the currency was to be backed by mortgages on industrial and agricultural land

tighter control of currency was observed by the government

in august 1924, the Rentenmark became the reichmark backed by Germanys gold reserve

Germanys fold reserve was to be maintained at 30 percent the value of Reichmarks in circulation

Question 37

how did the government balance the budget

Answer 37

cut expenditure and raised taxes for both individuals and companies

salaries of government employees were cut

some 300,000 government employees lost their jobs

as government debt began to fall, confidence was restored

Question 38

What was the Dawes plan

Answer 38

The stabilisation of Germany’s economy was dependent on relieving the damage of reparations

Nov 1923 Stressemann asked the Allies Reperations Committee to set up committee of financial experts to address Germany’s repayment concerns

Charles Dawes acted as committee chairman

April 1924, Stressemans government had fallen, yet Stresseman remained as Foreign Secretary and was largely responsible for it

the Dawes plan confirmed the 6.6 billion

it declared that the amount each year to be paid by Germany was to be reduced until 1929

proposed that Germany should restart reparations by paying 1000 million marks and that this sum should be raised by annual increments (overall reduced reparations)

Germany should relieve a loan of 800 million marks

Question 39

What was the extent of economic recovery?

Answer 39

industries began to grow such as the car and areoplane industries, however automobiles remained too expensive for the average German

inflation fell close to 1

living standards improved as wages increased

in 1925 there were 178,930 new homes built and a following 200,000 to be built the following year

money was spent on improving welfare and in 1924 new relief schemes were launched

observed a decrease in strikes due to new scheme of Compulsory arbitration

Question 40

limits to the extent of recovery

Answer 40

y 1925 unemployment was at 1 million, by 1926 unemployment was at 3 million

mittlestand and white collar workers did not benefit

agriculture did not improve in the period of economic recovery due to a world wide agricultural depression keeping prices low, making it hard to gain profit

peasant farmers savings were wiped out by hyperinflation

famers became saddled with debt at a time when prices were falling

high taxes to fund welfare was deemed as unfair

there saw an increase in the number of bankruptcies in the late 1920s

farmers launched small scale riots known as the ‘farmers revenge’

Question 41

The reparations issue and the young plans

Answer 41

although the French had left the Rhur in 1925, the Rhineland remained occupied until reparations settlement was agreed

Stressemann ordered the set up of an international committee, headed by Owen Young, met in Paris in 1929

Schacht acted as German advisor

Concluded that Germany were to pay reparations until 1988

to pay £1.8 billion instead of £6.5 billion

in return the French and British were to leave the Rhineland by 1930

Question 42

What was the ‘freedom law’

Answer 42

Alfred Hundemberg collected a group of right-wing political figures such as Adolf Hitler and the Nazis

devised a new ‘freedom law’ which they demanded to have a referendum to withdraw from the ‘war guilt clause and for the ministers involved to be tried for treason

reviewed 4.000,000 signatures and was debated in the Reichstag

nothing came of it