the weimar republic Flashcards
political challenges faced by Germany after WW1
Stresses of war led to a revolution in October - November 1918. There was fighting between right-wing groups and left-wing groups
Many ex-soldiers and civilians despised the new democratic leaders and came to believe that the heroic leader Field Marshal Hindenburg had been betrayed by weak politicians
economic challenges faced by Germany after WW1
Industrial production was about two-thirds of what it had been in 1913
There were acute shortages of food. By 1918 Germany was producing only 50 percent of the milk and 60 percent of the butter and meat it had produced before the war. Fuel was short and people were cold. Nearly 300,000 people died from starvation and hypothermia in 1918
National income was about one-third of what it had been in 1913
War left 600,000 widows and 2 million children without fathers - by 1925 the state was spending about one-third of its budget in war pensions
social challenges faced by Germany after WW1
One and a half million demobilised soldiers returned to society, many disillusioned
Many Germans were angry about losing the war. There was a wave of unrest, especially in cities like Berlin. Law and order was breaking down in a country where people were used to order and discipline
There were huge gaps between the living standards of the rich and the poor
Many German workers were bitter at the restrictions placed on their earnings during the war while the factory owners made vast fortunes from the war
when was the kiel mutiny
3rd november 1918
what happened in the kiel mutiny
By Autumn 1918, it was clear that Germany would lose the war, however, the Kaiser still ordered attacks against the allies as he had full control of the army and military
On 3 November at the main German naval base in Kiel frustrated German sailors mutinied instead of following orders to attack the British Royal Navy.
The sailor’s mutiny sparked rebellions all over Germany and in a matter of days led to the collapse of the German government which forced the ruling monarch, Kaiser Wilhelm II, to abdicate on 9 November.
Following his abdication Friedrich Ebert, leader of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) became Chancellor (the equivalent of Prime Minister in Britain) and took power over Germany.
when did Kaiser Wilhelm 2 abdicate
9th novmeber 1918
when was the armistice
11th november 1918
what happened after Kaiser Wilhelm 2 abdicated
Following his abdication Friedrich Ebert, leader of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) became Chancellor (the equivalent of Prime Minister in Britain) and took power over Germany.
who signed the armistice
The armistice was signed by representatives of the new, civilian government, including Ebert and members of the SPD.
This meant that later, their opponents started to call them the ‘November Criminals’ – people who had signed the armistice behind the German army’s back.
when did the weimar republic start
what became known as the Weimar Republic took place in June 1920, electing Ebert as Germany’s new President.
who was the first president of the weimar republic
friedrich ebert
basic rules of the weimar constituition
- all germans (all genders) over the age of 20 could vote
- president elected courts, chancellor and controlled the armed forces
- the german people elected the president every 7 years as well as the reichstag representatives and the local governments
- system of proportional representation
- article 48
advantages and disadvantages of proportional representation
Advantages
All parties get their say
Unifies the government and people of germany
Less conflicts and tensions between political parties
Disadvantages
Parties that have different ideologies will disagree with each other, making it difficult to make decisions
Coalition
In emergency situations, a decision can take time to come to
what is proportional representation
Proportional representation is an electoral system in which the percentage of votes a party receives is reflected directly or proportionally in the number of seats they have in the parliament. This often means that no party gets the majority of the vote and parties have to work together in a coalition
when was the occupation of the ruhr
jan 1923- (aug)1925
what was the ruhr crisis/hyperinflation
The Treaty of Versailles stated that Germany had to pay fines to the victorious countries of World War One.
In 1922, the Weimar Government said that it would not be able to pay the next three years’ instalments.
The French Government believed that the Weimar Government could pay but just didn’t want to.
French and Belgian troops invaded the Ruhr
German Workers were ordered to strike in the Ruhr, but continued to get paid
The German Government printed lots of money to pay striking workers and to pay the money they owed France and Belgium
As workers spent money in the shops, shopkeepers began to put up their prices.
The German Government printed even more money, so shops raised their prices again
Soon prices were inflating so fast that it became known as hyperinflation
what were the effects of hyperinflation
Those who had savings, their savings became worthless
Collapse in businesses
Pensioners’ fixed income becomes worthless
Self-sustainers aren’t affected as much
Extremist groups took advantage of the situation and used it as a scapegoat against the Weimar Government
why did hyperinflation start
war and growing government debt.
The Ruhr Valley was Germany’s most productive industrial centre. Throughout the French and Belgian occupation production fell drastically as German workers were encouraged to passively resist (refuse to work) whilst the factories were under foreign occupation. This loss of productivity hurt the German economy hard as fewer goods were produced.
The government had promised to pay the striking workers, despite not having any money. The government’s solution was to pay the workers by printing more paper currency. Money was being printed without any matching productive economic activity. This led to people losing trust in the German paper currency; the Deutsche mark, which meant its value decreased even more and prices for goods began to increase.
Germany’s problems with foreign policy prestresemann
Other countries did not trust Germany and excluded them from the League of Nations
Germany wasn’t traded with as much as before
germanys economic problems prestresmann
there are few jobs, struggling industries and poor schools, hospitals and housing.
hyperinflation
how did stresemann solve germanys economic problems
New currency. This stabilised prices as only a limited number were printed meaning money rose in value. This helped to restore confidence in the German economy both internally and internationally.
how did Stresemann improve Germany’s foreign policy
As part of his policy of fulfilment, Gustav Stresemann wanted to steer Germany into the League of Nations. This international organisation was set up by the Treaty of Versailles and Germany joined in September 1926. Entry into the League was needed for the Locarno Pact to come into operation.
Germany was given great power status on the Council of the League as a permanent member and as a result had the power to veto decisions.
Due to the military limitations imposed at Versailles, Germany was allowed to not participate in collective action by the League against aggressors. Germany used its position as a permanent member to raise matters of German interest within the League.
what was the young plan
Proposed August 1929, agreed January 1930
Amount of reparations to be paid
Reduced the total amount by 20 per cent. Germany was to pay 2 billion Marks per year, two thirds of which could be postponed each year if necessary
what was the locarno treaty
Stresemann accepted Germany’s western (not eastern) borders.
All countries decided to renounce the use of invasion and force, except in self-defence.
The Pact reassured France about its borders and Germany about any French invasion/occupation, as had happened in 1923.
what was the dawes plan
Proposed April 1924, agreed September 1924
Reparations stayed the same overall (50 billion Marks) but Germany only had to pay 1 billion Marks per year for the first 5 years and 2.5 billion per year after that
Germany was loaned 800 million Marks from the USA
what was the Kellogg-Briand pact
- Germany was one of 62 countries that signed up to this agreement, which committed its signatories to settling disputes between them peacefully.
negatives of stresemanns economy
The economic boom in Weimar Germany was precarious. The US loans could be called in at short notice, which would cause ruin in Germany
The main losers were the peasant farmers and sections of the middle classes. The peasant farmers had increased production during the war. In peacetime, they found themselves overproducing. They had mortgages to pay but not enough demand for the food they produced.
Many small business owners became disillusioned during this period. They saw their businesses threatened by large department stores (many of which were owned by Jews)
negatives of stresemann politics
Even during the stable years there were four different chancellors and it was only the influence of party leaders which held the party coalitions together
More than 30% of the vote regularly went to parties opposing the Republic.
Threatening right-wing organizations were quiet rather than destroyed and began to collaborate more closely and make themselves appear more respectable
In 1926, the German people elected right wing president Paul von Hindenburg, who opposed democracy and wrote to the Kaiser in exile for approval before he took the post
negatives of stresemann culture
While the weimar culture was appreciated in the city, it was frowned upon in more rural and conservative areas, made worse by bigotry towards foreign immigrants and Jewish artists and musicians
Organisations such as the Wandervogel movement were a reaction to Weimar’s culture. The Wandervogel called for a return to simple conservative country values
It was a powerful feeling which the Nazis successfully harnessed in later years
negatives of stresemann foreign policy
Nationalists attacked Stresemann for joining the League of Nations and for signing the Locarno Pact because it meant Germany accepted the Treaty of Versailles.
Communists also attacked the Locarno Pact, seeing it as a part of a plot against the Communist government in the USSR. Germany was still a troubled place.
spartacist putsch
Group : left wing/communists
Individuals involved : Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg
Date: 5-12 Berlin 1919
Reason for rebellion : After their experiences with the SPD and the Independent Social Democratic Party of Germany (USPD), the Spartacists concluded that their goals could be met only in a party of their own, and they founded the Communist Party of Germany (KPD) at the end of 1918. Because of the unhappiness of many workers with the course of the revolution, they were joined by other left-socialist groups.
Ebert ordered 3,000 Freikorps soldiers to attack the Spartacists. These former soldiers still had weapons and military equipment from World War I, which gave them a formidable advantage. They quickly re-conquered the blocked streets and buildings and many of the insurgents surrendered. Between 156 and 196 insurgents and 17 Freikorps soldiers died during the fighting.
kapp putsch
Group : Freikorp/ right wing/ army
Individuals involved : Dr Wolfang Kapp
Date: 13th March 1920
Reason for rebellion: Kapp Putsch, (1920) in Germany, a coup d’état that attempted to overthrow the fledgling Weimar Republic. Its immediate cause was the government’s attempt to demobilize two Freikorps brigades. One of the brigades took Berlin, with the cooperation of the Berlin army district commander.
A general strike across Germany ended the Putsch
red ruhr
Group : Red Ruhr Army, Social Democratic Party, Workers Union, left wing
Individuals involved: workers union
Date: 13 march - 12th april 1920
Reason for rebellion: - first the ruhr uprising helped weimar defeat the kapp putsch
some workers’ organisations attempted to seize state power on a regional scale. Across the Ruhr area, spontaneously formed local “Executive Councils” took over political power. These were dominated mostly by the USPD, with the KPD also participating. The anarcho-syndicalist Free Workers’ Union of Germany (FAUD) was also represented. Worker-soldiers were deployed, who controlled the cities.
Failure -
With the support of the federal government, the uprising was suppressed by General Watter, approaching from the north. Based in Münster, his staff led the civil war in the Ruhr area. Units of the Reichswehr and Freikorps successfully suppressed the Red Ruhr Army
munich putsch date
8-9 november 1923
who was involved in the munich putsch
adolf hitler, general ludendorff
long term causes of the munic putsch
The Nazis built their support around people who were patriotic Germans and who agreed with Hitler that those who had signed the Treaty of Versailles were criminals and had betrayed Germany. Therefore, many of the people who supported the Nazis detested the Weimar Republic and what it stood for. The more problems that the government had such as hyperinflation or unemployment, the more support the Nazis gained. Hatred and resentment had built after the First World War and the Munich Putsch was an outlet for it. The idea of marching on a city and taking power was not new, certainly not in Germany which had seen the Spartacist and Kapp revolts. Hitler drew inspiration (and learned) from these two revolts and also from events in Italy where Mussolini had successfully marched on the Italian capital Rome with his Fascist movement and taken power.
short term causes/triggers of munich putsch
In the months leading up to putsch, Germany was gripped by hyperinflation. Money became worthless and savings were wiped out. The occupation of the Ruhr by French forces also added to the impression that the Weimar Republic was poorly lead and weak. The Nazis and their supporters capitalised on these and launched the putsch, hoping that they could bank on the dislike of the Republic by ordinary people.
how did the munich putsch fail
The Munich Putsch failed for a number of reasons. Hitler was forced to act too quickly and to make a hasty, spontaneous response because of ill-judged and flawed plans that were based on too many assumptions. Hitler assumed that the time was right. The invasion of the Ruhr resulted in the crisis of Hyperinflation which caused disorder in Germany. Hitler believed that the people wanted a weak end to Germany and he thought that he had a lot of supporters. However, Hitler was mistaken because he had left the Putsch too late.
aftermath of the munich putsch
The result of this was that the police killed 16 Nazis and injured over 100 people, including Hitler. However, Hitler and Luddendorff were later arrested and charged with treason. However, it can also be argued that in the long term the Putsch didn’t really fail. He gave Hitler widespread publicity and his name was spread all over Germany. He learnt from his mistakes, and realised that the only way to seize power was through elections. 10 years later, he would be voted leader of Germany.
