The Weimar Republic + The Rise of the Nazi Party Flashcards
What were the three main problems faced by the leaders of the Weimar Republic?
Blame for defeat in WW1
Treaty of Versailles
Proportional Representation
Political Violence
What was the ‘stab in the back’ myth?
The Armistice that ended WW1 was signed by Weimar leaders. This shocked many Germans as they didn’t know they were losing the war, and the Kaiser hadn’t told them. They felt betrayed and wanted someone to blame/ a scapegoat. They thought that Germany could’ve won the war but politicians were too weak to keep on fighting. This was known as the ‘stab in the back’ myth.
Why was the Treaty of Versailles a problem for the Weimar government?
German people blamed the government for signing the Treaty, which was very unpopular for a number of reasons… Gov. also seen as weak for signing.
LAND - Germany had to give up 13% of its land + colonies. These places contained valuable materials like coal.
ARMY - Was reduced to 100,000 (had been 1.75 million). No conscription or aircraft. Navy size reduced.
MONEY - Reparations paid to countries like France and Belgium which had been devastated by trench warfare.
BLAME - ‘War Guilt’ Clause blamed Germany for starting WW1.
Why was Proportional Representation (PR) a problem for the Weimar government?
Old government run by Kaiser who chose ministers to help run the country. Democracy new idea + seen as ineffective because government was ineffective. New constitution mean all Germans over the age of 20 could vote. Also, all adults had right to free speech. The main problem with PR was that it meant minority/ extremist parties could gain seats easier, and therefore could influence decisions more easily. It also meant that the government was made up of lots of smaller parties. This made it hard for anyone to have a majority in order to make new laws / reforms. Major parties were often forced to make deals with smaller parties in order to get their support.
Why was political violence a problem for the Weimar government?
Many Germans disagreed with the way the country was run. Several groups wanted to seize power and run Germany their own way. Because Germany had just transitioned to a new form of government, many parties saw this as a good time to seize power, especially as the government was seen as weak. The main extremist groups were ‘extreme left-wing’ and ‘extreme right-wing’.
What were the two extreme left-wing protests?
The Spartacist Rising - 1919
Organised by members of the Spartacist League who were communists, led by Rosa Luxembourg + Karl Liebkerneckt. They wanted a revolution in Germany like the one in Russia in 1917. In Berlin they took control of the gov. newspaper + telegraph. Tried to lead striking workers in a revolution, but workers didn’t join them. Gov. ordered army and Freikorps (ex-army, anti-communist) to stop rising. Leaders executed for part in uprising.
The Red Rising in the Ruhr - 1920
Workers angry about low pay + poor working conditions. Had been protesting throughout 1919. Communist Red Army of 50,000 workers occupied Ruhr + took control of raw materials. Army + Freikorps crushed them, killing around 1000 communists.
What were the two extreme right-wing protests?
The Kapp Putsch - 1920
Freikorps disbanded in 1920 after left-wing protests crushed as they weren’t needed any more. Leader of Freikorps, Wolfgang Kapp, attempted to seize power with help of Freikorps. 12,00 Freikorps marched into Berlin and gov. forced to flea. Workers went on general strike to protest, which stopped uprising as he couldn’t rule. After 4 days, he fled + gov. returned.
The Munich Putsch - 1923
Adolf Hitler, General Ludendorff (WW1 hero), and private army (SA) of 50,000 members attempted to take over gov. + establish new one in Munich. Hitler + 600 SA members burst into beer hall in Munich where leader of Bavaria was (Kahr). Held him hostage + forced him to support their plans. However, not planned well. Kahr allowed to leave and following day he withdrew his support. Gov. responded quickly + army stopped revolt. Hitler + other Nazi leaders sent to prison for 5 years, however Hitler released after 9 months. Nazi Party nearly disbanded due to lack of leadership.
Describe how Hitler became leader of the Nazis.
1918 - Hitler had been a soldier fighting in the trenches during WW1. When the Gov. surrendered, he felt betrayed.
1919 - When he went back to Germany, he was asked by army to spy on extremist groups. Whilst attending meeting of German Worker’s Party, he was so impressed he joined instead. At the time it only had 55 members.
1920 - Had become more involved with party, renamed National Socialist German Worker’s Party (Nazi Party). They believed democracy led to weak gov. and believed in dictatorship with only one party. Hitler created 25 point plan detailing his beliefs.
1921 - Began to show natural public speaking ability. Became leader of the party.
1923 - Nazis had 55,000 members but still seen as minor party.
What were the main points from Hitler’s 25 point programme?
UNITE all German-speaking people.
ABOLISH Treaty of Versailles + end reparations
Share all PROFITS made by profiteers during WW1
Form a STRONG central gov. with unrestricted authority
Take over LAND in Eastern Europe to feed Germany’s population
Why was 1923 such a crucial year?
Treaty of Versailles
Hyperinflation
Unrest
Ruhr
Defeat (Germany not trusted after WW1)
(N.B. Turd is actually spelled without an ‘h’)
What caused hyperinflation?
In 1922, Germany missed a reparations payment (T).
1923, French + Belgian troops responded by invading Ruhr (R), a border region of Germany rich in raw materials. They intended to take raw materials and goods as a form of payment. The Weimar gov. told workers to go on strike as an act of passive resistance. However, gov. still had to pay the workers, and soon they began to run out of money. They printed more money to pay the workers, but this devalued the currency. Shops put up prices, so people had to be paid more. This soon spiraled out of control and led to hyperinflation (H).
Who benefited from hyperinflation?
People with loans could pay back their debts because their loans weren’t worth as much.
Some businessmen could pay back the loans they used to set up companies.
Who lost out due to hyperinflation?
People’s savings reduced in value and became worthless.
People died during the crisis in the Ruhr.
People with fixed incomes (e.g. pensioners + workers) suffered because their incomes did not increase as prices did.
The government! People lost trust in them and turned to more extremist parties like the Nazis.
Was the Munich Putsch a success or a disaster?
Defeat? Tell Me Something! (Unrest)
Disaster - Nazis defeated + leaders arrested. Hitler imprisoned for 9 months + banned from public speaking. During this time, Nazis nearly disbanded due to lack of leadership.
Trial - Hitler turned trial into public opportunity. Gave long speeches. Before Putsch he was unknown, after he was a right-wing hero. Also only served 9 months, not 5 years.
Mein Kampf - While in prison he wrote ‘Mein Kampf’ which persuasively set out his key beliefs + how he wanted to achieve them. Sold millions.
Strategy - Realised he couldn’t gain power by rebellion. Decided to gain power via election.
When were the ‘Golden Years’ of the Weimar Republic?
1924-1929 under the leadership of Gustaf Stresemann.
How did Stresemann stop hyperinflation?
Recalled old currency + replaced it with new one called Rentenmark.
However, many still lost savings. It was hard for Germans to forget how devastating hyperinflation was.
How did Stresemann help ease the terms of the Treaty of Versailles? (R)
in 1924 he negotiated the Dawes Plan which gave Germany longer to pay reparations + brought in US loans. Gov. used this money to invest in new infrastructure such as factories + railways.
However, some people thought this made Germany too dependent on the US economy (‘dancing on a volcano’)
How did Stresemann help ease the terms of the Treaty of Versailles? (D)
In 1925, Germany signed the Locarno Pact with countries like Britain, France, and Belgium to guarantee borders. This improved relations with these countries. In 1926, Germany joined the League of Nations, meaning it became involved in key international decisions.
However, some Germans felt that Stresemann hadn’t done enough to win back land lost in the Treaty of Versailles.
How did Stresemann further help the economic recovery of Germany + further ease the terms of the Treaty of Versailles?
In 1929, signed the Young Plan which gave Germany even more time to pay off reparations.
However, some people still felt that the country shouldn’t have to pay reparations at all and that all the plan did was extend the time they had to pay, not lower the amount!
Summarise how Stresemann helped the recovery of Germany from 1924-1929.
Replaced currency - stopped hyperinflation.
1924 Dawes Plan - lowered reparations + more time.
1925 Locarno Pact - Guaranteed borders + improved relations.
1926 League of Nations - International importance + more trusted.
1929 Young Plan - Even more time to pay reparations.
How had the Nazis tried to gain support before 1928?
Change of tactics - Munich Putsch showed rebellion didn’t work. Instead decided to gain power by being elected.
Appeal of ideas - Appealed to those who hated Treaty of Versailles. The way he delivered these ideas was his true strength, however.
Propaganda - Joseph Goebbels was in charge of propaganda. Used posters, political meetings, + newspapers to spread ideas.
The SA - Set up by Hitler in 1921 to stop Nazi meetings being interupted by other parties. However, SA often did this to other parties. Used violence + intimidation. Some put off by this, others praised organisation.
Nazi Organisations - Wanted to increase support amongst different groups in Germany. Did this by creating different organisations such as Hitler Youth and League of German Maidens.
Why had the Nazis not succeeded in gaining power by 1928?
Lacked support of working class - Had failed to get support of majorty, who instead prefered to vote Social Democratic or Communist. (i.e More left-wing parties.)
Hitler was banned from public speaking - Was unable to persuade people to follow Nazi ideals through speaches, something that he was very good at.
1924-1928 was a time of prosperity - Stresemann had successfully led the country out of its problems. Unemployment was low and Germany had good relations with other countries. 1924-1929 ‘Golden Years’ of Weimar.
Nazi ideas were too extreme - Anti-semetic ideas, using violence as a form of control (espeically in other countries), and invading other countries seen as too extreme for many. Put people off.
What happened to the Nazi’s electoral results after 1929? (How well did they do in the elections?)
1930, 18% of vote and got 107 seats in Reichstag.
July 1932, 37% of vote and got 207 seats. Largest party but no overall majority.
Why did support for the Nazis increase after 1929?
- Wall Street Crash + Great Depression
- Nazi Promises
- Fear of communism
- Hitler’s leadership
- Nazi propaganda
- Local organisations
- Weak opposition
- Political problems
- The von Pappen deal
