The Weimar Republic 1918-29 Flashcards
What years was WW1 and how and when did it end?
1914-1918
Fighting ended with the armistice on November 11 1918
Reasons for general unrest in Germany near the end of WW1
- 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
Rebellion in the army and mass strikes near end of WW1
- 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
Events leading to and directly after the abdication of the kaiser, and the abdication of the kaiser
- 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
The signing of the armistice
- 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
Set up of temporary government
- 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
Elections and formation of the Weimar Republic
- 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
President’s powers, How often and by whom elected
- Elected every 7 years by German People
- Chooses Chancellor and head of army
- Can dissolve Reichstag, call new elections and suspend constitution
Reichstag, how often and by whom elected
- New German Parliament
- Members elected every 4 years by German People through proportional representation
Reichsrat, powers and members
- Second (less powerful) house of parliament
- Consists of members from each local region
- Can delay measures passed by Reichstag
Ways the Weimar constitution was made as fair as possible
- 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
Weaknesses in the Weimar Constitution
- 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
The writing and signing of the Treaty of Versailles
- 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
Terms of the Treaty of Versailles
- 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
German Public response to terms
- 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
How Treaty of Versailles affected Weimar Government
- 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
Discontent 1919-23
- 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
The Spartacist revolt
- 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
The Kapp Putsch
- 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
The occupation of the Ruhr and hyperinflation
- 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
Consequences of Hyperinflation
- German currency worthless. nobody wants to trade with Germany so food shortages worsen
- Bank savings become worthless. hardest hit were middle class
Gustav Stresemann’s actions as Chancellor
- 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
Stresemann’s actions as Foreign Minister
- 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
The Dawes Plan
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
The Locarno Pact
October 1925
Germany, France and Belgium agreed to respect joint borders- even those created by Treaty of Versailles
The League of Nations
organisation which aimed to settle international disputes peacefully
allowed Germany to join 1926. Germany re-established as international power.
The Kellog-Briand Pact
1928
Signed by Germany and 65 other countries. promised not to use violence to settle disputes
The Young Plan
1929
Allies reduce reperations to quarter of original amount, Germany given 59 years to pay them
The death of Stresemann and the wall street crash
- 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
How unemployment improved in the ‘Golden Years’ of the Weimar Republic
Unemployed more protected. 1927, government introduced unemployment insurance. Workers could pay into scheme and receive cash benefits if they became unemployed
How wages improved in the ‘Golden Years’ of the Weimar Republic
Working classes became more prosperous. Wages for industrial workers rose quickly in late 1920s
How housing improved in the ‘Golden Years’ of the Weimar Republic
Government launched mass housing projects. More than 2 million new homes built 1924-31. also provided extra employment
Remaining problems despite improvements made by Weimar Republic
- 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
Freedoms gained by women under Weimar Republic
- 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
Cultural advancement in Weimar Republic
- 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.
