the weimar republic 1918-29

Question 1

When did WW1 end?

Answer 1

1918

Question 2

Who was the first German president and what party was he the leader of?

Answer 2

Friedrich Ebert, who was the leader of the Social Democratic Party (SDP)?

Question 3

What type of constitution did Ebert declare Germany?

Answer 3

A republic.

Question 4

How many German troops died in WW1?

Answer 4

2 million

Question 5

How many German troops were wounded in WW1?

Answer 5

Over 4 million.

Question 6

How many German troops in total fought in the war?

Answer 6

11 million

Question 7

What did government debts increase to after the war?

Answer 7

150 million marks.

Question 8

How many Germans died because of food shortages after the war?

Answer 8

Over 750,000.

Question 9

Because of the devastating effects of the war, what did many people begin to do?

Answer 9

Striking and rioting in the streets of Berlin.

Question 10

Who did many civilians and soldiers become angry at for the failures and problems caused by the war?

Answer 10

Kaiser Wilhelm II

Question 11

What recent event were the Berlin riots influenced by?

Answer 11

The Russian Revolution.

Question 12

What dates did Government rule break down all over Germany, causing strikes and riots?

Answer 12

5th - 7th November 1918

Question 13

When and what was the Kiel Mutiny?

Answer 13

On the 29th October 1918 Germany soldiers refused to follow orders and so unrest spread.

Question 14

When did Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicate?

Answer 14

9th November 1918

Question 15

Why did Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicate?

Answer 15

He lost support from his army and ministers and so was left with no option.

Question 16

Which country did Kaiser Wilhelm II flee to?

Answer 16

Holland.

Question 17

Who set up the Weimar Republic?

Answer 17

Friedrich Ebert.

Question 18

Why was the Weimar republic set up?

Answer 18

Ebert feared a Communist takeover.

Question 19

Who declared the new Weimar Republic to the crowds in Berlin?

Answer 19

Phillip Schiedemman.

Question 20

What was the armistice?

Answer 20

The peace agreement between Germany and the allies.

Question 21

What date was the armistice signed?

Answer 21

11th November 1918.

Question 22

What date was the Weimar Constitution introduced?

Answer 22

31st July 1919?

Question 23

What town was the Weimar Constitution drawn up in?

Answer 23

Weimar.

Question 24

Why was the Weimar Constitution not drawn up in Berlin?

Answer 24

Because there was still unrest there.

Question 25

Who was the head of state in the Weimar Constitution?

Answer 25

The President.

Question 26

How often was the President elected?

Answer 26

Every 7 years.

Question 27

What did Article 48 state?

Answer 27

That the President could overrule the Consititution and pass laws by decree.

Question 28

How was the Chancellor elected?

Answer 28

Chosen by the President.

Question 29

What was the role of the Chancellor?

Answer 29

Head of government.

Question 30

What was the Cabinet?

Answer 30

The main decision making body in the government.

Question 31

What two houses was Parliament made up of?

Answer 31

The Reichstag and the Reichsrat.

Question 32

What voting system did the Weimar Republic use?

Answer 32

Proportional representation.

Question 33

How did proportional representation work?

Answer 33

Each party gets a percentage of seats which corresponds to the total percentage of the vote they got.

Question 34

How often was the Reichstag elected?

Answer 34

At least every 4 years.

Question 35

Which parliamentary house was more powerful?

Answer 35

The Reichstag.

Question 36

What did the Reichstag control?

Answer 36

Taxation.

Question 37

How often was the Reichsrat elected?

Answer 37

Every 4 years.

Question 38

How did the Reichsrat represent the regions of Germany?

Answer 38

Each region sent a certain number of representatives depending on its size.

Question 39

Who could vote in the Weimar Republic?

Answer 39

Men and women over 20.

Question 40

Give one strength of proportional representation.

Answer 40

It made sure smaller partier had a fair share of seats.

Question 41

Give one weakness of proportional representation.

Answer 41

It was hard for parties to gain a majority, so weak coalition governments had to be formed which had weak policies and often fell apart.

Question 42

How was the power of the Reichstag regulated?

Answer 42

The Reichsrat could delay new laws.

Question 43

When did Germany surrender in the war?

Answer 43

11th November 1918.

Question 44

When was the Treaty of Versailles signed?

Answer 44

28th November 1918.

Question 45

What was the nickname given to the German leaders who surrendered the war?

Answer 45

The November Criminals.

Question 46

What was the nickname given to the Treaty of versailles by the German people?

Answer 46

Diktat (meaning dictated peace).

Question 47

ToV: What did Article 231 state?

Answer 47

It was the War Guilt Clause - Germany had to accept full responsibility for starting the war.

Question 48

ToV: How many men was the Germany army limited to?

Answer 48

100,000 men.

Question 49

What did the reduction in German soldiers mean for them?

Answer 49

They formerly had a very large military so the restrictions meant lots of jobs were lost.

Question 50

ToV: How many battleships were the German Navy allowed?

Answer 50

6

Question 51

ToV: What new naval weapon was banned?

Answer 51

Submarines.

Question 52

ToV: How many sailors were allowed in the Navy?

Answer 52

15,000 sailors.

Question 53

ToV: What area of germany was demilitarised?

Answer 53

The Rhineland.

Question 54

ToV: What percentage of land did Germany lose?

Answer 54

13%

Question 55

ToV: How many Germans did the population decrease by?

Answer 55

6 million people.

Question 56

ToV: How much of German's coal production was lost?

Answer 56

48%

Question 57

ToV: What coalfields did Germany lose?

Answer 57

The Saar Coalfields.

Question 58

ToV: Which German port became a free city?

Answer 58

Danzig.

Question 59

ToV: Which country was West Prussia and Posen given to?

Answer 59

Poland.

Question 60

ToV: Which country were Germany forbidden to unite with?

Answer 60

Austria.

Question 61

ToV: What organisation were Germany banned from joining?

Answer 61

The League of Nations.

Question 62

ToV: How much did Germany have to pay in reparations?

Answer 62

£6.6 billion

Question 63

ToV: Which 3 countries did Germany have to pay reparations to?

Answer 63

Britain, France and Belgium.

Question 64

ToV: What country were the Saar coalfields given to and for how long?

Answer 64

France, for 15 years.

Question 65

ToV: What country were Alsace and Lorraine lost to?

Answer 65

France.

Question 66

ToV: What country were Eupen and Malmedy lost to?

Answer 66

Belgium.

Question 67

ToV: What theory did those who believed that the army had been betrayed by politicians signing the treaty believe?

Answer 67

The 'stab in the back' theory.

Question 68

Were the Spartacists a left or right wing party?

Answer 68

Left wing.