Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Germany Flashcards > Unit 1- The Establishment And Early Years of the Weimar 1918-24 > Flashcards

Unit 1- The Establishment And Early Years of the Weimar 1918-24 Flashcards

1
Q

Who calls for armistice negotiations and why ?

A
  • Ludendorff calls for an armistice
  • Germany were on the brink of defeat in the war
  • Attempt at reform by autocrats
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Who promises political reform in 1918 ?

A
  • The Kaiser

- 30th September 1918

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Who replaces the Kaisers autocratic rule?

A
  • REVOLUTION FROM ABOVE
  • Prince Max is appointed chancellor by the Kaiser
  • Chancellor was to be responsible for the Reichstag
  • Civil government are in control of the armed forces
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What did Prince Max’s new government consist of?

A
  • Based on majority parties in the Reichstag

- Included the SPD

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What did Wilsons Fourteen Points outline?

A
  • Possible basis for a peace settlement

- Return of Alsace-Lorraine to France

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What did Prince Max write to President Wilson asking for ?

A
  • An armistice
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What did President Wilson requests and demands when he replied to Prince Max?

A
  • Germany must evacuate all occupied territory
  • Call an end to submarine warfare
  • Fully democratise its political system
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Why does Ludendorff flee after Wilson’s demands?

A
  • Wilsons demands meant a German surrender and the abdication of the Kaiser
  • Too much for him to accept
  • Failed attempt at reform
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Why is the morale of German people shattered in 1918 ?

A
  • Government asked for an armistice

- Learnt about the country hopeless military situation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What are people’s reactions to the armistice?

A
  • Undermined their respect for the Kaiser
  • Soldiers and sailers lost respect for their officers
  • Kaiser seen as an obstacle to peace
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What are examples of revolutions from below ?

A
  • Crews refusing to attack British ships
  • Sailors at Kiel mutinied against their officers and took control of the base
  • Workers and Soldiers councils are established, similar to soviets in Russia- on the brink of a communist revolution
  • SPD calls on workers to strike in Berlin to force Kaiser to abdicate
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Why did Prince Max abdicate on behalf of the Kaiser?

A
  • SPD and workers threatened to withdraw support from Prince Max’s government
  • Needs SPD to govern (majority of the Reichstag)
  • Kaiser refused so Prince Max does it on his behalf
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

When Prince Max resigned as chancellor who did he hand the position to?

A

-Ebert, the leader of the SPD

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Why did the Kaiser eventually abdicate?

A
  • Army told him they would no longer fight for him

- Had no choice but to abdicate

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What was the Ebert-Groner Pact ?

A
  • Army would support the new democracy as long as they did not have to democratise
  • Ebert assured heads of army he was keen to avoid further revolution
  • Defend Germany against communist revolution
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What pressures did Ebert face from the left?

A
  • Pressure for more radical changes on the left
  • Workers and soldiers councils had established a foothold, starting a revolution
  • Wanted the army, civil service and judiciary to be democratised
  • Betraying the revolution by compromising with army
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What pressures did Ebert face from the army

A
  • Ebert-Groner- Didn’t want to be democratised
  • Most army officers came from aristocratic backgrounds
  • Army have a bitterness at their unexpected defeat
  • Demobilisation of solders (1.5 million returned to society)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What pressures did Ebert face from the right and nationalists?

A
  • Want to keep the rich in their roles
  • Freikorps (mainly demobilised soldiers, armed)
  • Separatist movements in Bavaria
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What economic and social pressures did Ebert face?

A
  • Flu epidemic
  • 750,000 dead from starvation
  • Allied blockade means shortages of essential goods
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Who secured the largest share of votes in the Elections to the Constituent Assembly?

A
  • The SPD secures the largest share of votes and the largest number of seats in the assembly
  • Still didn’t have an overall majority
  • Had to compromise with other parties to establish a new constitution.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Who did the SPD form a coalition with in 1919?

A

The Centre and German Democratic Parties

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Strengths of the Weimar Constitution…

A
  • Women could vote on the same terms as men. All men and women over the age of 20 could vote. Wider right to vote compared to Britain
  • Proportional representation enabled even smaller parties to win seats in the Reichstag (fewer votes wasted)
  • Full democracy in local government as-well as in central government
  • Referendums could be called by the president, the Reichstrat or by the people if a tenth of the electorate applied for one
  • Set out clear rights of the individual- “All Germans equal before law”
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Weaknesses of the Weimar Constitution …

A
  • PR means smaller parties can gain representation in the Reichstag. Allows smaller, extreme parties to gain publicity
  • Difficult to gain majority due to large number of different parties with different agendas
  • Article 48 gives the president powers to rule by decree(often to override opposition in the Reichstag)
  • Smaller parties meant a majority couldn’t be reached which led to more collations which were short lived
  • Judges and civil servants are from the old order
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

How many times did Ebert use Article 48 ?

A

136 times

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

What was Article 54?

A
  • Guaranteed independence of judges

- They could be bias

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

What were the Territorial losses outlined in the Treaty of Versailles ?

A
  • 13% of German territory
  • Alsace-Lorraine returned to France
  • 75% of iron ore
  • 26% of coal
  • German overseas colonies placed under League of Nations control
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

What were the Disarmament terms outlined in the Treaty of Versailles ?

A
  • Had to surrender all heavy weapons
  • Conscription to German armed forces was forbidden
  • Army limited to 100,000 men
  • Army forbidden to use tanks or gas
  • No submarines or air force
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

What were the War guilt terms of the Treaty of Versailles ?

A
  • Germany had to accept responsibility for starting the war
  • Pay reparations of £6.6 billion
  • Had to hand over to the allied most of its merchant shipping fleet, railway locomotives and overseas investments
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

What were the Rhineland terms in the Treaty of Versailles?

A
  • Parts were permanently demilitarised

- An allied army of occupation was based there to ensure Germany fulfilled the treaty obligations

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

What were the Saarland terms in the Treaty of Versailles ?

A
  • Was separated from Germany
  • Placed under League of Nations control for 15 yrs
  • Germany would supply France, Belgium and Italy with free coal
  • France could exploit coal mines in the area
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

What were other terms of the Treaty of Versailles ?

A
  • Austria was forbidden from uniting with Germany
  • Germany couldn’t join the League of Nations
  • The Kaiser and other Germans would be put on trial for their war crimes
32
Q

What supports German horror at the Treaty of Versailles ?

A
  • Reparations were high and would cripple the economy, especially as everything had been taken off them (26% of coal)
  • Germans believed they were forced into war with the allies, who had attempted to encircle Germany
  • Disarming of Germany and its exclusion from the League of Nations was seen as unjust discrimination against a proud and once powerful nation
33
Q

What supports that German horror at the Treaty was based off unrealistic expectations?

A
  • Wilsons 14 points made it clear that Alsace-Lorraine would be returned to France and that this would happen
  • If Germany had won the war they would’ve done the same to their defeated allies like they punished Russia in the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
  • Treaty wasn’t as harsh as when they punished Russia
34
Q

What were the reactions of Pro-republican parties to the Treaty ?

A
  • Scheidmann resigns (new cabinet bows to deal)
  • SPD knew that signing would rebound on them
  • Took the view to comply with the terms of the treaty whilst negotiating modifications to it (policy of fulfilment)
  • Turned some against the Weimar republic (even former supporters)
  • Caused political demoralisation at the very centre of the government- associated republic with weakness and failure
35
Q

What were the reactions of the Right to the Treaty?

A
  • Resented signing of the treaty, couldn’t accept Germanys military defeat
  • Many joined groups to overthrow the republic
  • Extreme nationalists saw politicians acts of betrayal as “stab in the back” for betraying the fatherland and signing the treaty
36
Q

What were reactions of soldiers to the Treaty

A
  • Some ex-soldiers believed stab in the back (angry fighting for a noble cause)
  • Led to them joining Freikorps and right wing nationals groups (struggled adjusting to civilian life)
  • Many working class soldiers supported the new democracy
37
Q

What was Frances reaction to the Treaty?

A
  • Determined to seek revenge out of treaty
  • Return of Alsace-Lorraine was a key demand that had been met
  • Still thought treaty was too lenient on Germany
38
Q

What was the United States reaction to the Treaty?

A
  • Believed treaty was unfair on Germany
  • Britain and France used it to enrich themselves at Germanys expense
  • Refused to join the League of Nations
  • Retreated from involvement in European affairs
39
Q

What was Britains reaction to the Treaty?

A
  • Saw France as being greedy and vindictive
  • Germany had been treated unfairly
  • Though level of reparations was too high
  • Wanted Germany to be strong against USSR
  • Wanted to be strong trading partners withe Germany again
40
Q

Why did government debt rise during the war?

A
  • The war effort required levels of government spending
  • In Germany this was financed through increased borrowing and by printing more money
  • This meant debt grew, currency fell
41
Q

How did Germany plan to pay off their government debt?

A
  • Plan was based off Germany winning the war

- They would annex the industrial areas of its defeated allies and force them to pay heavy financial reparations

42
Q

What was the level of debt in 1919?

A

1.44 billion marks

43
Q

Why didn’t the Weimar republic take measures to reduce the debt ?

A
  • Raising taxes would risk alienating support for the new republic as anti-republic parties could claim taxes were being raised to pay reparations
  • Reducing spending would be difficult: civil servants needed to be paid , wanted to keep support
44
Q

Although debt was high what happened to unemployment by 1921 ?

A
  • It was 1.8%

- Compared to 17% in Britain

45
Q

Why did the government allow inflation to continue?

A
  • 1920 coalition was dominated by the Centre Party
  • Was supported by rich industrialists
  • They could take out short term loans from Germany’s Central Bank to expand their businesses
  • Could repay loans when the value of currency fell
46
Q

What did the Reparations Committee conclude?

A
  • Germany should pay £6.6 Billion in annual instalments

- Had to accept the terms within 6 days

47
Q

What were the Political Impacts of the reparations ?

A
  • Fehrenbach cabinet resigns
  • New government signs acceptance unwillingly
  • Granted a postponement of the January and February instalments of reparations
  • Given loan of 500 million gold marks
  • Ask to be released from its obligations for 3/4 years to stabilise its currency
48
Q

What were the Economic Impacts of the reparations ?

A
  • Made repayment of government debt worse
  • Germany’s gold reserves were inadequate for the part that had to be paid in gold
  • Lost 26% of coal in TOV but still had to pay coal in reparations
  • Allies hamper Germany’s export trade:
  • Confiscated merchant fleet
  • Imposed high tariffs
49
Q

Why did the French and Belgians invade the Ruhr in 1923?

A
  • Germany had fallen seriously behind on its reparations payment in the form of coal
  • Sent 60,000 men to occupy the Ruhr in order to force them to comply with the TOV
50
Q

What was the French’s aim in invading the Ruhr ?

A

-Seize coal, steel and manufactured goods as reparations

51
Q

What did the French do when they invaded the Ruhr ?

A
  • Took control of mines, factories, railways
  • Demanded food from shops
  • Set up machine gun posts in the streets
52
Q

How did Germany respond to the French’s invasion of the Ruhr ?

A
  • Stopped all reparations payment
  • Ordered a policy of passive resistance (nobody would cooperate with French)
  • German workers promised their wages will continue if they went on strike while troops and the army organised an act of sabotage against the French
  • Crossed the border secretly and blew up railways and destroyed bridges to disrupt the French effort
53
Q

What were the results of the Ruhr Crisis ?

A
  • French set up military courts
  • Punished mine owners and civil servants who wouldn’t cooperate
  • 150,000 Germans expelled from the area
  • 132 Germans shot
  • Brought in their own workers to operate the railway and get coal out of the Ruhr
54
Q

What were the Economic effects of the occupation of the Ruhr?

A
  • Paying wages of striking workers was a further drain on the governments finances
  • Tax revenue was lost from businesses that closes and workers who became unemployed
  • Germany had to import coal and pay for it with limited foreign currency reserves
  • Output in the Ruhr had fallen to 1/5 of its pre-occupation output
  • Combined costs of this was x2 the annual reparations payment (print more money)
55
Q

What was the Hyperinflation Crisis 1923 ?

A
  • Money lost its meaning as prices increased
  • Printing presses supplied banks with worthless money
  • Workers collected salaries in wheelbarrows
  • Food ran short
  • Increase in convictions of theft
56
Q

What Social Welfare reforms were passed in 1919

A

1919- Working day limited to 8 hours
1919-State health insurance system
1919- Aid for war veterans, widows and orphans

57
Q

What was the National Youth Welfare Act passed in 1922 as a Social Welfare reform ?

A
  • Required all local authorities to set up youth offices with responsibility for child protection
  • All children have a right to education
58
Q

Who were the ‘winners’ in hyperinflation ?

A
  • People who had debts, mortgages and loans, could pay it off in worthless currency
  • Owners of foreign exchange and foreigners living in Germany
  • Farmers, food was in demand and money was less important in rural communities
  • Business people who took out loans and repaid them when the currency devalued further
59
Q

Who were the ‘losers’ of hyperinflation ?

A
  • Pensioners and War Widows living on state pension
  • Those who purchased war bonds as the value of interest decreased
  • Unskilled works (not in trade unions)- wage increases didn’t keep up with rising prices, standard of living declined
  • The sick, costs of medical care increased and food prices led to malnutrition, death rate went up
60
Q

Who was Hugo Stinnes and how did he benefit from Hyperinflation?

A
  • Owned businesses in coal, iron and electrical industries
  • Used ties with Reichbank to gain cheap credit to buy up struggling competitors
  • Converted foreign currency gained from selling his products abroad into millions of marks
  • Paid off loans in valueless marks
  • By 1924 owned 20% of Germany’s industries
61
Q

What were the problems with Coalition governments ?

A
  • More parties large and small were dedicated to overthrow the republic
  • Placed pressure on moderate centre parties to work together and form stable coalitions to make difficult decisions
  • In times of crisis support for moderate parties went away
  • Extreme parties gained more support and they wouldn’t join coalitions - harder to gain Reichstag majority
62
Q

How many coalition governments were there between 1919 and 1923 ?

A
  • There were 10 coalition governments between 1919 and 1923 (4 years)
  • Undermined confidence in democratic system
63
Q

What were reasons for the Spartcists Uprising ?

A
  • To overthrow Eberts government

- Set up revolutionary communist regime

64
Q

Why was the Sparticists Uprising poorly supported ?

A
  • Had not secured support of the working class in Berlin

- Whose name they claimed to be acting in

65
Q

How were the Sparticits dealt with ?

A
  • Relied on army but very few units

- Had to use Freikorps

66
Q

What were the results of the Sparticist uprising ?

A
  • Leaders were executed

- Over 100 workers shot

67
Q

What were reasons for the Kapp Putsch?

A
  • Under the TOV the size of the army and Freikorps units needed to be reduced
  • 2 Freikorps units ordered to be disbanded
  • Luttwitz refused to disband one of them and was arrested
68
Q

Who was the Kapp Putch supported by ?

A
  • The troops that Luttwitz marched to Berlin

- Right wing civil servant and politician Wolfgang Kapp

69
Q

How was the Kapp Putch dealt with ?

A
  • Called on regular army who said “ troops don’t fire on other troops”
  • Failed to get support
  • Putch collapsed
70
Q

What did the Kapp Putsch teach ?

A
  • Army was not to be trusted
  • Civil servants could be disloyal
  • Weimar was weak without army’s support
71
Q

How many political assassinations were there between 1919 and 1923 ?

A

376 political assassinations

72
Q

Why was Walther Rathenu assassinated ?

A
  • Was Jewish

- Participated in the signing of the armistice

73
Q

What was the Organisation Consuel ?

A

-Formed from ex-freikorps members after their units were disbanded following the Kapp Putsch

74
Q

Why was Mattias Erzberger assassinated ?

A
  • Signed the TOV

- Led delegation for the signing of the armistice

75
Q

What were reasons for the Munich Putsch?

A
  • Hitler wanted to seize power

- Wanted the support of powerful figures such as Kahr and von Lossow

76
Q

Why did the Munich Putsch fail ?

A
  • The SA were unable to gain control of the Munich army barracks
  • Couldnt persuade Kahr and von Lossow
77
Q

What were the results of the Munich Putsch ?

A
  • Army sent in to deal with the Putsch
  • Ludendorff allowed himself to be arrested
  • Nazis were banned
  • Hitler was arrested

Germany Flashcards (6 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions