The Weimar Republic Flashcards
What does abdicate mean?
When a monarch gives up the throne
When was the armistice signed?
11th November 1918
When did the Kaiser go into exile in Holland?
9th November 1918
What happened in Germany in January 1919?
First elections were held for Weimar parliament
When did the National Assembly approve a new constitution?
31st July 1919
Who was the Kaiser in Germany during WW1?
Kaiser Wilhelm II
Who took office after the Kaiser fled?
Friedrich Ebert
What is the term given to the head of the German government?
Chancellor
Identify 3 goals Ebert had for the government.
- Keep civil servants from previous government and tell them to work with the new workers. 2.R1. Keep civil servants from previous government and tell them to work with the new workers. 2.Reassure industry leaders the governemtn would allow private industry. 3. promise trade unions the government would aim for 8 hour working day
State 3 reasons the new republic faced opposition.
- Many senior figures did not support it. 2. Many wanted the Kaiser to return. 3. Some people wanted a communist revolution
Identify 2 main problems of the new constitution.
- There was a lack of commitment for people to work together. 2. Germany had no experience of proportional representation
What are the 6 key features of the Weimar constitution?
The president, Article 48, State governments, the German People, The Reichstag, The Chancellor
What is Article 48?
In an emergency the President has the power to pass laws without Reichstag approval.
What is a weakness of proportional representation?
It can allow many small and sometimes extremist parties to win seats
What is the Reichstag?
The elected parliament.
How many chancellors were there between 1919 and 1923?
7
What year was the Treaty of Versailles signed?
1919
What was the War Guilt Clause?
Germany had to accept blame for starting WW1
How much did Germany have to pay in reparations?
136,000 million marks (£6.6 million)
Identify some of the military restrictions placed on Germany after the ToV.
No tanks, no submarines, no air force, army limited to 100,000 men, 6 battleships
Why did Germany suffer economically losing land in the ToV
It lost 50% of iron reserves and 15% of coal reserves
What land did Germany lose to France in the ToV?
Alsace Lorraine
What were the politicians who signed the ToV known as?
November Criminals
When did the Spartacist Uprising begin?
5th January 1919
When was Kapp Putsch?
March 1920
Who led the Spartacist Uprising?
Rosa Luxemburg
How many seats did the Communist party win in November 1932?
100
Why was the Kapp Putsch important?
It showed the government had little military power and could not control its own capital
Who were the Freikorps?
An estimated 250,000 ex soldiers who refused to give up their weapons.
What significant event happened in January 1923 and why?
Invasion of the Ruhr because Germany had missed reparation payments.
What economic crisis happened to Germany in 1923?
Hyperinflation
By November 1923, how many marks were need to buy $1?
4.2 billion
