The Weimar Republic 1919-29 Flashcards
What were the 4 main political threats from the Left against Germany’s government between 1919-23
The Spartacist Uprising
The Bavarian Soviet Republic
The Red Rising
The German October
When and where did the Sparacist Uprising take place
It took place in Berlin, between December 1918 and January 1919
What were Spartacists, and who was the Spartacist Uprising led by
A group of communists led by Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxembourg
Why did the Spartacist Uprising take place
The Spartacists wanted to improve workers conditions and they didn’t support a democratically-elected Parliament
What did the Spartacists want rather than a democratically-elected Parliament
They wanted workers’ council to be set up to run Germany
Who put down the Spartacist Uprising
The Freikorps
Why was the Spartacist Uprising said to have failed
They had no real strategy, and the leaders were badly divided over aims
What was the significance of the Spartacist Uprising
It showed how weak the government, as they were forced to set up a new National Assembly in Weimar in Saxony.
It also proved the Government needed help to stop attacks
Why was it significant that the Government needed the Freikorps help to put down the Spartacist Uprising
The Freikorps despised the New Democratic Republic, just like the Spartacists
What was the Bavarian Soviet Republic, and when did it happen
A siege lasting a number of weeks in Munich, in Bavaria, 1919
What did the Spartacist Uprising and the Bavarian Soviet Republic prove
They proved that Germany was split between extreme left-wing and extreme right-wing groups,
What was the Red Rising, and when did it happen
An uprising involving 50000 industrial workers hoping to exploit the fact that they had helped the government put an end to the Kapp Putsch, 1920
What was so ironic about the Red Rising
The uprising was crushed by the same Freikorps that they had helped to defeat during the Kapp Putsch
What 2 parties were involved in the German October
The Social Democrats (SPD), and the Communist (KPD)
Where did the German October take place, and what was formed, and when did it take place
A coalition government was formed in Saxony, 1923
What events took place in the German October
The Weimar Government sent the army to drive the Communists out of Saxony’s government. Saxony’s Social Democrat Prime Minister resisted. The German Government used Article 48 to remove his government from Office
What did the German October prove for Communists
That the Social Democrats could not be trusted
What was the Significance of the threats from the left
It proved that had Communist Leadership had been better, they would have taken the Government, due to the high support
Give 2 examples of Political threats from the German Right Wing
Kapp Putsch
Munich Putsch
What were the main causes for the Kapp Putsch
The Treaty of Versailles had reduced the size of the army
There was a Government attempt to disband a unit of Freikorps
Wolfgang Kapp (leader) was hostile to the new republic
What and when was the Kapp Putsch
A Freikorps rebellion, with the attempt to seize large buildings in Berlin, March 1920
Why did the Kapp Pustch fail
Workers in Berlin organised a 4-day general strike. This shut off essential supplies such as gas and electricity
What were the results of the Kapp Putsch
705 prosecuted, 1 punished
Kapp was captured, but died before he could face trial
Wasn’t dealt with too harshly, as the Government felt they would lose right-wing support
Give 1 Political Assassination between 1919-1922, and why
Matthias Erzberger was murdered by right-wing extremists in 1921
He had the responsibility of carrying out the terms of the Treaty of Versailles
What was the Nazis’ position in 1923
When Hitler had joined, Nazi membership had gone up from 55 to 20000. However, the Nazis remained largely regional and failed to control all the radical right-wing groups across Germany
What were the Causes of the Munich Putsch
Hitler was inspired by the success of the March on Rome in Italy
By Autumn 1923, Hitler was convinced that it was the right time to strike against his own Government
Hitler was dismayed at how close the Communists came to taking over Saxony
Hitler was sure he could get the support of the Right-wing Bavarian Government
Hitler thought the army and Police would support him
What were the Events of the Munich Putsch
- Nightime on the 8th November 1923, Hitler and the Sa surrounded a Beer Hall in Munich where the Bavarian Government was having a meeting
- Hitler announced that he was taking over the Bavarian government in the Beer Hall
- Kahr and Lossow were forced to support, but escaped
- Kahr ordered the Bavarian police to fire on Hitler and 2000 Nazis
What was the significance of the Munich Putsch
It was put down by those whom Hitler was depending as Allies
Hitler failed to win the expect support of the army
The Nazi party was temporarily banned until 1925 and Hitler was forbidden from speaking in most German states until 1927
How was Hitler able to turn the failure of the Munich Putsch into a success
He used his trial in January 1924 as a huge publicity exercise
Hitler was sentenced to 5 years in prison, but he only served 9 months
Hitler used his time to rethink his ideas and set them out in his book, mein Kampf
The Munich putsch led to decisive changes in Nazi tactics
What was the significance of the threats from the right wing
They gained more support from the authorities
No nationalist leader seemed capable of uniting the German right
What did the National Assembly do
If officially elected Albert as president of the new republic
It accepted the Treaty of Versailles in June 1919
It drew up a constitution for Germany, to be known as the Weimar Constitution in August 1919
What happened in Germany in June 1920
Parliament was restored in Berlin. This Parliament was called the Reichstag
When was the Treaty of Versailles drawn up
June 1919
Why did the Treaty of Versailles weaken the Weimar constitution
Germany’s armed forces were reduced to 100,000 in the army
Germany has to pay reparations of about 136,000 as they were given sole responsibility for the outbreak of WWI
Reparations were so high that it led to the hyperinflation crisis in 1923
Germany lost 13% of its land, 16% of its coal production and 48% of its iron ore to the USA
What was the short term impact of the Treaty of Versailles
Gustav Stresemann proved that the German economy was capable of surviving the effects of the Treaty, and Germany were still in a much better economic state than France
What were some strengths of the Weimar Constitution
Proportional representation was introduced
A bill of rights was drawn up
Leading politicians powers were restricted
What was Proportional Representation
A voting system whereby the percentage of each for each party in the German Parliament would be roughly in proportion to the percentage of votes they received in elections
What did the Bill of Rights include
The right to freedom of speech The right for workers to belong to a trade union Equality of all Germans before the law Limited welfare provision Protection of labour
What was enforced so that there could be a party with a majority in the Reichstag, and was it effective
Coalitions. It worked well at times, but fell apart in times of crisis
What did article 48 allow the president to do
This allowed him to rule by decree, a law passed by the government without consolidating the Reichstag, effectively suspending Germany’s democracy
When was the Hyperinflation crisis
1923
What were the Causes of Hyperinflation
Germany lost key resources including 15% of its agricultural products, and 48% of its iron ore products to the Treaty of Versailles
Reparations were set at 136,000 marks. They managed to pay the first instalment but couldn’t pay the second
What was the French reaction to Germany not being able to pay all the reparations, and how did Germany respond
They decided to invade the Rühr, to take control of its coal
The German Government halted industrial production in the Rühr, but the government still had to pay striking workers
Give an example of Hyperinflation
In 1919 £1 was worth 20 marks
In 1923 £1 was worth 20000 million marks
What were the weaknesses of the Weimar constitution
No one party ever had a majority in the Reichstag
In a crisis only one person could govern effectively- Article 48
The constitution failed to reform Germany’s traditional institutions
Basic political attitudes of traditional Germans hadn’t changed
What were the strengths of the Weimar economy 1924-29
Hyperinflation brought Gustav Stresemann into government
A new currency was formed, ‘Rentenmark’ to replace the old devalued one
Stresemann appointed Hjalmar Schacht, in an attempt to overcome hyperinflation - success
Stresemann promised to pay reparations, as a result, France withdrew their troops from the Rühr
Stresemann secured help from the former Allies in the payment of reparations
Who appointed the Young Plan, when was it introduced, and what did it contain
In 1929, Owen Young produced the Young Plan
The amount of reparations were reduced to just 25% of the 1921 figure
The period for repayment was extended to 58 years
What did the new currency introduced in 1924 provide
It created greater financial stability and helped end the Hyperinflation crisis
What were some signs of economic recovery in 1927 in Germany
Heavy industry revived to almost pre-war levels of production. By 1927, steel production was up to 86% of these levels, and by 1929, Germany was producing 33% more than in 1914
Unemployment fell, in 1928 industrial wages rose by 12%
What were the weaknesses of the German economy 1924-29
As a result of Dawes plan, the economy was now heavily dependant on loans
Unemployment was still over 1 million
Germans trade deficit was still 2.9 million marks in debt by 1928
German agricultural production was at only 75% of pre-war levels
By 1929, the middle-class employees seeking unemployment benefit didn’t qualify
What were the initial steps to the restructuring of the Nazi party in 1924 - 1929
Hitler exploited the opportunity of his trial in January 1924 to gain valuable publicity and establish himself as a nationwide figure for the first time
He used his time in prison to set out his ideas, including his nationalist and anti-Semitic views in a book, Mein Kampf
He decided to change tactics - to take the political path to destroy the Weimar Republic. Hitler was more reluctant to change than some of his colleagues and took several weeks after his trial to be convinced this was the right approach
What was the first key event in the reorganisation of the Nazi Party
The Bamberg conference of 1926, where he re-established his control over the Nazi Party
What were the results of the Hyperinflation crisis
Germany was turned into a barter economy. Middle-class savers were hit badly and were unable to recover their fortunes
Trade unions were hit hard by the collapse of industry and their power went into decline
Those in serious debts saw their debts wiped out
The crisis did not result in a surge of support for radical right wing groups
It inflicted wounds that in the long term contributed to Weimar death
When was the Dawes plan drawn up, and what did it state
1924
Germany would pay what it could over the next 5 years
The USA would provide a loan of 800 million marks
The overall total Germany had to pay was reduced
Germany got more time to pay
How did Hitler continue to restructure the Nazi Party in the mid 1920s
New Nazi organisations sprang up
The SS was set up in 1925
The Hitler Youth was set up in 1926, to tap into the considerable Nazi support from young people
The Nazis Teachers Organisation was also established at this time, to harness support from Germany’s teachers
How was Nazi propaganda increased, and give examples in early 1930s
Josef Goebbels was appointed as chief of Propaganda
Cleverly worded posters of specific Nazi themes
He made best use of newspapers, radio appeals and mass rallies
How had Nazi support risen from 1925 to 1927
They now had 72000 party membership compared to 27000 in 1925
How did Gregor Strasser reorganise the Nazi party structure in the 1920s
He made it a centralised organisation with a clear vertical comman structure
He helped give it a high propaganda capability
The Berlin SA as was set up in 1926
What were some advantages of the appointment of Gregor Strasser in 1921
Nazi party membership rose from 27000 in 1925, to 800000 in 1931
The Nazis had now become firmly established in northern and western Germany
What did Hitler fear about Gregor Strasser in 1931, and how did Hitler react
He was concerned about his socialist ideas and feared Strasser’s strength in northern and western Germany
Hitler had him dismissed from all his posts, and has him murdered in the Night of the Long Knives
What was Combat Publishing
A Nazi publishing organisation founded by Strasser, which published a variety of propaganda journals
How did Nazis appeal to Peasants
The Nazis promised fair prices to farmers who were restricted in how much they could charge for goods
How did Nazis target Farmers with their propaganda, and what did this achieve
Their ‘Blood and Soil’ campaign
As a result, in 1930, the Nazis won 22.6% of the rural vote. In 1933, they won 50.4%
