The Impact of the First World War Flashcards
When was the Weimar Constitution drawn up?
After the abdication of Kaiser Wilhelm II, August 1919
Who could vote in the first election, January 1919?
All men and women over the age of 20
What did the head of the government (the chancellor) have to have the support of?
- The majority of the Reichstag
What does proportional representation mean?
Number of seats per party, dependant on number of votes
What was Article 48?
Gave powers to the president to suspend the Constitution in an emergency.
When was the Treaty of Versailles signed?
June 1919
What were terms of the Treaty of Versailles?
- Germany lost 13% of land
- 48% of iron lost
- 6 million + citizens absorbed into other countries
- Army limited to 100,000 men
What was Article 231?
War guilt clause, Germany had to accept blame for starting the war in 1914
How much was the reparations bill?
£6.6 billion
What is it meant by diktat?
Dictated peace
What does Dolchstoss mean?
Stabbed in the back
Who were the November criminals?
Those who signed the Treaty of Versailles
What weakened the Weimar?
Reliant on army against uprisings
When was the Spartacist uprising?
6th January 1919
Who led the spartacist league?
- Karl Liebknecht
- Rosa Luxemburg
What was the aim of the spartacist uprising?
To establish a communist state by overthrowing the Weimar government
When was the Kapp putsch?
1920
What was the result of the spartacist uprising?
Shut down by the Freikorps
What was the result of the Kapp Putsch?
- Seized control for a short period of time
- Ebert encouraged people of Berlin to go on strike
- Trade Unionists supported government and Putsch collapsed
When was the French occupation of the Ruhr?
January 1923
Why did the French decide to take control of the Ruhr?
- Germany failed to pay reparations to France and Belgium in January 1923
Where was the Ruhr situated?
The demilitarised area of the Rhineland so no military personnel
How did the Germans react to the French occupation of the Ruhr?
- Passive resistance
- Industrial sabotage
- German workers went on strike but many shot by French military
How did the German government back strikers?
By printing more money to pay them
What was the consequence of printing more money?
Hyperinflation
Who did hyperinflation not benefit?
- Those on a fixed income
- Those with savings
- Retired
Who did hyperinflation benefit?
- Businessmen with debts
- Farmers
- Foreigners travelling to Germany
How much did £1 equate to in November 1923?
1,680,800,000,000,000 marks
