The Weimar Republic

Question 1

Name 5 problems in the Weimar

Answer 1

• Defeat in the First World War-the “stab in the back”, 1918
• The Treaty of Versailles, 1919
• Political Violence;Left VS Right Wing, 1919-1923
• Invasion of the Ruhr, 1923
• Hyperinflation, 1923

Question 2

what was the “stab in the back”, 1918?

Answer 2

• Within days of the new government taking over, they had to sign an armistice that ended the fighting in the First World War.
• Just months earlier the war had been going well. The German army had been advancing and victory seemed possible.
• People grew bitter about the withdrawal and they began looking for someone to blame.
• A simple explanation of the defeat quickly spread. The grey German army had been “stabbed in the back” by the new government.

Question 3

What were the results of the treaty of Versailles?

Answer 3

• Germany lost 13% of land, and all oversea colonies were removed.
• German army had resulted to 100,000 men. The navy was cut to 15,000 sailors and 6 battleships. Germany was allowed no submarines, tanks or an air force.
• Germany had to sign the ‘war guilt clause’; which they had to except full blame for the war.
• Germany had to pay reparations to the Allies for damage on their soils. At Versailles no sum was fixed. But in 1921, the Allies fixed the total amount of £6600 million.

Question 4

What does “LAMB” stand for in relation to the Treaty of Versailles?

Answer 4

Land, Army, Money, Blame

Question 5

When was the Spartacist Uprising?

Answer 5

January, 1919

Question 6

Who was the Spartacist Uprising led by?

Answer 6

Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht.

Question 7

Why did the Spartacist Uprising take place?

Answer 7

Did not trust the new government. Wanted a full scale revolution like the one in Russia in 1917.

Question 8

Was the Spartacist uprising a success?

Answer 8

The uprising was badly planned. Both Luxemburg and Liebknecht were killed.

Question 9

When was the Red Rising in the Ruhr?

Answer 9

1920

Question 10

Who did the Red Rising?

Answer 10

Group of workers led by the Communist Party

Question 11

Why did the Red Rising take place?

Answer 11

Many workers were angry about the bad wages and bad working conditions.

Question 12

Was the Red Rising a success?

Answer 12

The Communist Party had weak leadership. They did not have a clear plan. Protests did not have widespread, committed support.

Question 13

When did the Kapp Putsch take place?

Answer 13

1920

Question 14

Who did the Kapp Putsch involve?

Answer 14

Freikorps units, led by Wolfgang Kapp

Question 15

Why did the Kapp Putsch take place?

Answer 15

In 1920 the government ordered that the Freikorps brigades be disbanded.

Question 16

Was the Kapp Putsch a success?

Answer 16

Kapp and the Freikorps failed to win much support. In Berlin workers went on strike in protest at the putsch. This made it impossible for Kapp to rule.

Question 17

When did the Munich Putsch take place?

Answer 17

1923

Question 18

Who did the Munich Putsch involve?

Answer 18

The Nazi Party, led by Adolf Hitler and General Ludendorff.

Question 19

Why did the Munich Putsch take place?

Answer 19

Hitler and the Nazi Party believed that democracy only led to weak government. Instead, they thought there should one political party, with one leader.

Question 20

Was the Munich Putsch a successs?

Answer 20

The putsch had not been properly planned. Kahr was allowed to leave the beer hall, and the following day he withdrew his support. The German government responded quickly. They ordered the army to crush the revolt; 14 Nazis were killed.