The Weimar Republic, 1918-29 Flashcards
2 impacts of WW1 on Germany
2 million German troops dead
Government debts increased from 50 billion marks to 150 billion marks
What year did WW1 end?
1918
When was the German Republic declared?
November 1918
What was the armistice?
The peace agreement between Germany and the Allies
When was the armistice signed?
November 1918
2 strengths of weimar constitution
Proportional representation (parties had fair share of seats) Women able to vote
Why was the weimar republic unpopular
They signed the Treaty of Versailles with the allies
3 factors of the Treaty of Versailles
Germany to pay £6600 million in annual instalments
German army limited to 100,000 (internal use only) and all air force destroyed
Germany lost 11 colonies and 13% of European territory
What was the ‘stab in the back’ theory?
Germans believed that their army was not defeated and that it was betrayed by Weimar politicians
2 points of the Spartacists
Left-wing
Led by Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht
2 points of the Freikorps
Right-wing
Made of ex-soldiers who kept weapons; 250,000 men in March 1919
Describe the Spartacist Revolt
January 1919, Spartacists took over government’s media to organise a strike in Berlin
The government sent the Freikorps to put this down and Luxemburg and Liebknecht were shot
Describe the Kapp Putsch
March 1920, Freikorp troops marched to Berlin as they feared unemployment
Dr Wolfgang Kapp was put in charge of rebellion
Government, having fled Berlin, ordered the trade unions to strike to put the Kapp Putsch down as it caused chaos so Kapp could not rule
How many political assasinations from 1919-23?
376
Hyperinflation timeline (reasons)
1914-18 - government was bankrupt, so printed money to pay for WW1
1918-22 - Weimar government prints more money for reparations
January 1923 - French troops invade the Ruhr to take reparation payment in materials. Weimar government print more money to make up for this.
By November 1923, the German mark was worthless
2 effects of hyperinflation
Unsuccessful businesses went bankrupt
People could not afford essentials as wages did not rise as quickly as prices
Who was Gustav Stresemann
Chancellor in 1923
Describe the formation of the Rentenmark
In Nov 1923, Stresemann formed the Rentenbank and issued a new currency called the Rentenmark. Supply of this note was controlled, ending hyperinflation.
2 points of the Dawes Plan
1924, Charles Dawes formed plan:
£50 million annually reparations
US banks make loans to German industry
3 weaknesses of the Weimar Constitution
Proportional representation meant unstable coalition governments fell apart
Lack of strong government led to crisis in which the president passed laws without Reichstag consent
It was unpopular
2 points o the Young Plan
1929, Owen Young planned:
Reduce total reparations debt from £6.6 billion to £2 billion (less taxes for Germans)
Had until 1988 to make debt
Describe the Locarno Pact
1925, Germany, Britain, France and Belgium agreed:
Allies and Germany agreed to demilitarise Rhineland
Discussed Germany’s membership in the League of Nations (international body to discuss avoiding war)
What was the Kellogg-Briand pact
Agreement between 62 nations, committing countries to avoid war. Germany was once again a major power
3 changes in living standards, 1924-28
1925-29 saw 101,000 homes built
By 1925, 36% of women worked
Wages rose and hyperinflation made employment secure
