The Weimar Republic 1918-29

Question 1

What years was WW1 and how and when did it end?

Answer 1

1914-1918
Fighting ended with the armistice on November 11 1918

Question 2

Reasons for general unrest in Germany near the end of WW1

Answer 2

• The German people were experiencing severe hardship
• Allies set up naval blockades preventing imports of food and essentials, 1918 many faced starvation
• Public opinion turned against Kaiser Wilhelm II ruled German empire like a king. Many wanted democracy and an end to war

Question 3

Rebellion in the army and mass strikes near end of WW1

Answer 3

• Early November 1918 some of German navy refused to board ships
• In Hanover German troops refused to control riot
• Kurt Eisner, Jewish Communist, encouraged general uprising sparking mass strikes in Munich

Question 4

Events leading to and directly after the abdication of the kaiser, and the abdication of the kaiser

Answer 4

• November 1918 situation verged on civil war. Huge public protest held Berlin, members of SPD (Social democratic party) called for Kaiser’s abdication
• Kaiser abdicated 9th November 1918. same day 2 different socialist parties SPD and Independent Social Democratic Party (USPD) declared republic
• November 10th, all state leaders appointed by monarchy left posts. New revolutionary state governments took over. Monarchy abolished and Germany had chance at democracy

Question 5

The signing of the armistice

Answer 5

• 11th november 1918 ceasefire to end WW1 agreed. Allies signed armistice with Germany
• New republic under pressure to sign. Didn’t think Germany could keep fighting- people starving and military morale low
• not supported by some right-wing Germans, seen as betrayal. believed Germany could still win

Question 6

Set up of temporary government

Answer 6

• After abdication of Kaiser, Germany disorganised. Different political parties claimed control over different towns
• Temporary national government established made of SPD and USPD. called council of people’s representatives
• controlled until January 1919 when elections held for new Reichstag

Question 7

Elections and formation of the Weimar Republic

Answer 7

• Council of People’s representatives organised elections January 1919 to create new parliament, Germany democracy
• Friedrich Ebert first president, Phillip Scheidemann Chancellor. Ebert leader of SPD, moderate party of socialists
• February 1919 members of new Reichstag met at Weimar to create new constitution. Historians call this period of Germany’s history the Weimar Republic

Question 8

President’s powers, How often and by whom elected

Answer 8

• Elected every 7 years by German People
• Chooses Chancellor and head of army
• Can dissolve Reichstag, call new elections and suspend constitution

Question 9

Reichstag, how often and by whom elected

Answer 9

• New German Parliament
• Members elected every 4 years by German People through proportional representation

Question 10

Reichsrat, powers and members

Answer 10

• Second (less powerful) house of parliament
• Consists of members from each local region
• Can delay measures passed by Reichstag

Question 11

Ways the Weimar constitution was made as fair as possible

Answer 11

• even small parties given seats in Reichstag if they got 0.4% of vote
• Allowed women to vote, lowered voting age meaning more Germans could vote and German public had greater power

Question 12

Weaknesses in the Weimar Constitution

Answer 12

• Proportional represenation meant even small parties with very small amount of votes guaranteed seats. made it difficult to make decisions because of all the parties with different points of view
• When a decision couldn’t be reached President could suspend constitution and pass laws without Reichstag consent
• Only supposed to be used in emergencies but became useful to get around disagreements, undermined democracy

Question 13

The writing and signing of the Treaty of Versailles

Answer 13

• After armistice Treaty of Versailles imposed on Germany
• Terms mostly decided by Allied leaders- David LLoyd George (UK), Georges Clemenceau (France), and Woodrow Wilson (USA)
• German government not invited to conference 1919, no say in ToV. At Fist Ebert refused to sign but had little choice since Germany too weak to restart conflict. June 1919 Ebert accepted terms and signed

Question 14

Terms of the Treaty of Versailles

Answer 14

• Article 231- Germany take blame for war
• Armed forces reduced to 100000 men. weren’t allowed armoured vehicles, aircraft or submarines, could have 6 warships
• Forced to pay £6600 million in reperations for damage caused by German troops, decided 1921 but later changed
• Lost empire- areas that belonged to Germany now mandates controlled by winners of War, decided by League of Nations
• German military banned from Rhineland- area on western border with France. Left Germany open to attack from West

Question 15

German Public response to terms

Answer 15

• War-Guilt- Many didn’t agree and humiliated by this
• Army- felt vulnerable
• Reperations- felt unfair and would cause lasting damage
• Loss of empire- opposed losses especially when those in German colonies forced to become part of new nation

Question 16

How Treaty of Versailles affected Weimar Government

Answer 16

• caused resentment towards it
• Germans felt ToV a ‘Diktat’ blaming Ebert for accepting Terms
• Some believed Armistice mistake and Germans could win War felt ‘Stabbed in the back’ (Dolchstoss) by Weimar Politicians, who brought ToV on them unecessarily
• Important part of failure of Weimar harming its popularity and creating political and economic unrest

Question 17

Discontent 1919-23

Answer 17

• By 1919, thousands of Germans poor and starving, and influenza epidemic killed thousands
• Many denied they lost war and blamed ‘November Criminals’ who agreed to Armistice and ToV
• Communists and Jews also blamed for losing war
• Government seen as weak and ineffective- ToV made living conditions worse

Question 18

The Spartacist revolt

Answer 18

• January 1919, communists led by Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg tried to take over Berlin
• Took control of important building such as newspaper headquarters, 50000 workers went on strike in support
• Ebert asked for help from right-wing Freikorps (Ex-soldiers) to stop rebellion
• Over 100 workers killed, Freikorps’ use of violence caused split on left between SPD and communists

Question 19

The Kapp Putsch

Answer 19

• March 1920, some Freikorps took part in Kapp Putsch led by Wolfgang Kapp. Wanted to create right-wing government
• Freikorps marched into Berlin to overthrow Weimar regime. But German workers opposed Putsch and staged general strike. Berlin paralysed Kapp forced to give up. Even after Putsch threats from right remained. 1922 former Freikorps assassinated Walter Rathenau- been foreign minister and Jewish

Question 20

The occupation of the Ruhr and hyperinflation

Answer 20

• 1923, Germany couldn’t pay reperations set out by Tov
• France and Belgium decided to take Germany’s resources instead so occupied Ruhr - richest industrial part of Germany. Gave access to Germany’s iron and coal reserves. Occupation led to fury in Germany causing a huge strike in the Ruhr
• German industry devastated again. Germany tried to solve debt problem by printing more money, but plunged economy into hyperinflation
• 1918 an egg cost 1/4 mark. November 1923, it cost 80 million marks

Question 21

Consequences of Hyperinflation

Answer 21

• German currency worthless. nobody wants to trade with Germany so food shortages worsen
• Bank savings become worthless. hardest hit were middle class

Question 22

Gustav Stresemann’s actions as Chancellor

Answer 22

• Chancellor between August and November 1923
• September 1923, ended strike in Ruhr. Reduced tension between Germany, France and Belgium, meant govetnment could stop paying compensation payments to strikers
• November 1923, replaced German mark with Rentenmark to stabilise German Currency
• Created the ‘Great coalition’- group of moderate, pro-democratic socialist parties in Reichstag who agreed to work together, allowed parliament to make faster decisions

Question 23

Stresemann’s actions as Foreign Minister

Answer 23

• November 1923 became foreign minister, tried to cooperate with other countries and build better international relationships
• These cooperations included:
• The Dawes Plan
• The Locarno Pact
• The League of Nations
• The Kellog-Briand Pact
• The Young Plan

Question 24

The Dawes Plan

Answer 24

1924
Stresemann secured France and Belgium’s withdrawal from Ruhr and agreed more realistic payment dates for reperations. USA lent Germany £40 million to help pay off other debts.
Structure of Dawes Plan:
US could afford to lend money to other countries -> US lent Germany money to help pay off its debts -> Germany able to pay reperations to Britain and France -> Britain and France used money to pay off on debts to USA -> back to beginning

Question 25

The Locarno Pact

Answer 25

October 1925
Germany, France and Belgium agreed to respect joint borders- even those created by Treaty of Versailles

Question 26

The League of Nations

Answer 26

organisation which aimed to settle international disputes peacefully
allowed Germany to join 1926. Germany re-established as international power.

Question 27

The Kellog-Briand Pact

Answer 27

1928
Signed by Germany and 65 other countries. promised not to use violence to settle disputes

Question 28

The Young Plan

Answer 28

1929
Allies reduce reperations to quarter of original amount, Germany given 59 years to pay them

Question 29

The death of Stresemann and the wall street crash

Answer 29

• Life beginning to look better for Germany thanks to Stresemann
• But he died October 1929 just before Wall Street Crash, massive stock crash in USA which started global economic depression.
• Plans he agreed would only work if USA had enough to keep lending- but after crash, it didn’t. Things were suddenly going to get worse again

Question 30

How unemployment improved in the ‘Golden Years’ of the Weimar Republic

Answer 30

Unemployed more protected. 1927, government introduced unemployment insurance. Workers could pay into scheme and receive cash benefits if they became unemployed

Question 31

How wages improved in the ‘Golden Years’ of the Weimar Republic

Answer 31

Working classes became more prosperous. Wages for industrial workers rose quickly in late 1920s

Question 32

How housing improved in the ‘Golden Years’ of the Weimar Republic

Answer 32

Government launched mass housing projects. More than 2 million new homes built 1924-31. also provided extra employment

Question 33

Remaining problems despite improvements made by Weimar Republic

Answer 33

• Higher living standards could only be maintained with strong economy, Germany’s fragile
• Changes mainly helped working classes- middle classes couldn’t access welfare benefits
• Middle classes felt ingnored by Weimar government and their resentment made it easier for government’s political opponents to gain support

Question 34

Freedoms gained by women under Weimar Republic

Answer 34

• Politically, Women given more representation: allowed to vote and could enter politics easier, 1919-32 112 women elected in Reichstag
• Women showed they were capable workers during war, number of young women working increases
• traditional role of women began changing, new female sports clubs and societies started and women had more opportuities
• Divorce made easier, number of divorces rose
• changes fuelled right-wing criticism- nationalists thought giving women power threatened traditional family values

Question 35

Cultural advancement in Weimar Republic

Answer 35

• period of creativity and innovation, Freedom of expression generated new ideas. Artists began to question traditional forms and styles, especially ones focused on authority and militarism
• advancement in arts- some developments bold and new such as drama of Bertolt Brecht. Bauhaus school of design highly influential, especially in fine arts and architecture
• Important changes in music, literature and cinema. German films successful, e.g. ‘Metropolis’ directed by Fritz Lang
• Encouraged new ways of critical thinking at places like Frankfurst University, and a cabaret culture developed in Berlin
• However not all Germans liked the rejection of tradition, mainly the right.