The Weimar Republic - Crisis Years Flashcards
What was Article 48 of the Weimar Constitution?
The emergency decree - if there is declared to be a “state of emergency” then the President may enforce law without a vote from the Reichstag.
How was the President chosen and how long did his term last?
By a universal vote (men and women over 20) and it was a 7 year term.
How was the Chancellor chosen and who usually was he in relation to the government system?
Chosen by the President - usually the leader of the largest party in the Reichstag BUT this is not a stated necessity in the constitution.
Who can be removed by a vote of no confidence and who cannot?
The chancellor can, the President cannot.
How long did the Reichstag last per term unless dissolved?
4 years
What was the voting system used in elections called?
Proportional representation.
Who can impose martial law and who has the power to refuse this?
The president, but the Reichstag can refuse it.
When did hyperinflation occur and how much did prices increase per day because of it? (Percentage)
Summer 1923 - prices rose between 20-100% per day.
What currency replaced the Mark to end hyperinflation and when?
The Rentenmark, November 1923.
When was the Treaty of Versailles signed and what were the main things it entailed for the Germans? (Three things)
June 1919 - lost lots of land which held primary resources (such as the polish corridor), made to pay reparations monthly until war balance paid off, and it blamed the Germans for starting the war (article 231 war guilt clause).
Why were the Weimar government in huge debt after World War One? (Two reasons)
The previous government did not meet military expenditure during the War, and they sold war bonds which they had to pay interest on.
What economic policy did the republic use which didn’t work?
Deficit financing
When was the the Ebert-Groener agreement and why was it so controversial?
10th November 1918 - Groener, a rightist army general is supporting a socialist Republic and even more controversially, the socialist Ebert was promising to oppose revolutionary activity in his own wing!
What was the Stinnes-Legien agreement and when was it?
The two leaders of industrial employers and trade unions made a pact - trade unions wouldn’t interfere with private ownership and the industrialists would allow worker communities and 8 hour working days. 15th November 1918.
In the 1919 elections the majority of voters voted for pro-Weimar parties - true or false?
True.
