TOPIC 1 The Impact Of The First World War Flashcards
When was WW1 armistice signed?
November 1918
When was the Weimar Constitution drawn up + finalised
August 1919
Why was the Weimar Constitution created?
The Kaiser abdicated
What did the Weimar Constitution mark in Germany?
First time they experienced democracy
Under Weimar Republic who could vote?
Men and women who were 20+
Who was head of the government in Weimar Germany
The chancellor
How was chancellor picked?
They had the support of most of the politicians in the reichstag
How did they decide how many seats each party had in Reichstag
Proportional representation
Number of seats of each party = percentage of votes they received
What was Article 48
Gave powers to the president to suspend the constitution in an emergency
When was treaty of Versailles signed
June 1919
What did Germany think about the terms of the Treaty of Versailles?
They were extremely harsh
Treaty of Versailles terms
- lost 13% of its land
- lost 48% of its iron
- lost 6 million citizens absorbed into other countries
- reparations at £6.6 billion
- Rhineland demilitarised
- army not to exceed 100,000
- no union (Anschluss) with Austria
Treaty of Versailles - Article 231
The War Guilt Clause
Stating that Germany had to accept full blame for starting the war in 1914
Diktat meaning
Dictated peace
In terms of treaty of Versailles, Germany had no say in these terms
Dolchtoss
Stabbed in the back
Term used by many to describe the politicians who signed the armistice (known as the November Criminals)
