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
2
Q
Who promises political reform in 1918 ?
A
- The Kaiser
- 30th September 1918
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
4
Q
What did Prince Max’s new government consist of?
A
- Based on majority parties in the Reichstag
- Included the SPD
5
Q
What did Wilsons Fourteen Points outline?
A
- Possible basis for a peace settlement
- Return of Alsace-Lorraine to France
6
Q
What did Prince Max write to President Wilson asking for ?
A
- An armistice
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
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
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
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
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
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
13
Q
When Prince Max resigned as chancellor who did he hand the position to?
A
-Ebert, the leader of the SPD
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
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
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
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)
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
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
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.
21
Q
Who did the SPD form a coalition with in 1919?
A
The Centre and German Democratic Parties
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”
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
24
Q
How many times did Ebert use Article 48 ?
A
136 times
25
What was Article 54?
- Guaranteed independence of judges
| - They could be bias
26
What were the Territorial losses outlined in the Treaty of Versailles ?
- 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
27
What were the Disarmament terms outlined in the Treaty of Versailles ?
- 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
28
What were the War guilt terms of the Treaty of Versailles ?
- 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
29
What were the Rhineland terms in the Treaty of Versailles?
- Parts were permanently demilitarised
| - An allied army of occupation was based there to ensure Germany fulfilled the treaty obligations
30
What were the Saarland terms in the Treaty of Versailles ?
- 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
31
What were other terms of the Treaty of Versailles ?
- 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
What supports German horror at the Treaty of Versailles ?
- 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
What supports that German horror at the Treaty was based off unrealistic expectations?
- 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
What were the reactions of Pro-republican parties to the Treaty ?
- 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
What were the reactions of the Right to the Treaty?
- 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
What were reactions of soldiers to the Treaty
- 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
What was Frances reaction to the Treaty?
- 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
What was the United States reaction to the Treaty?
- 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
What was Britains reaction to the Treaty?
- 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
Why did government debt rise during the war?
- 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
How did Germany plan to pay off their government debt?
- 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
What was the level of debt in 1919?
1.44 billion marks
43
Why didn't the Weimar republic take measures to reduce the debt ?
- 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
Although debt was high what happened to unemployment by 1921 ?
- It was 1.8%
| - Compared to 17% in Britain
45
Why did the government allow inflation to continue?
- 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
What did the Reparations Committee conclude?
- Germany should pay £6.6 Billion in annual instalments
| - Had to accept the terms within 6 days
47
What were the Political Impacts of the reparations ?
- 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
What were the Economic Impacts of the reparations ?
- 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
Why did the French and Belgians invade the Ruhr in 1923?
- 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
What was the French's aim in invading the Ruhr ?
-Seize coal, steel and manufactured goods as reparations
51
What did the French do when they invaded the Ruhr ?
- Took control of mines, factories, railways
- Demanded food from shops
- Set up machine gun posts in the streets
52
How did Germany respond to the French's invasion of the Ruhr ?
- 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
What were the results of the Ruhr Crisis ?
- 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
What were the Economic effects of the occupation of the Ruhr?
- 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
What was the Hyperinflation Crisis 1923 ?
- 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
What Social Welfare reforms were passed in 1919
1919- Working day limited to 8 hours
1919-State health insurance system
1919- Aid for war veterans, widows and orphans
57
What was the National Youth Welfare Act passed in 1922 as a Social Welfare reform ?
- Required all local authorities to set up youth offices with responsibility for child protection
- All children have a right to education
58
Who were the 'winners' in hyperinflation ?
- 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
Who were the 'losers' of hyperinflation ?
- 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
Who was Hugo Stinnes and how did he benefit from Hyperinflation?
- 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
What were the problems with Coalition governments ?
- 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
How many coalition governments were there between 1919 and 1923 ?
- There were 10 coalition governments between 1919 and 1923 (4 years)
- Undermined confidence in democratic system
63
What were reasons for the Spartcists Uprising ?
- To overthrow Eberts government
| - Set up revolutionary communist regime
64
Why was the Sparticists Uprising poorly supported ?
- Had not secured support of the working class in Berlin
| - Whose name they claimed to be acting in
65
How were the Sparticits dealt with ?
- Relied on army but very few units
| - Had to use Freikorps
66
What were the results of the Sparticist uprising ?
- Leaders were executed
| - Over 100 workers shot
67
What were reasons for the Kapp Putsch?
- 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
Who was the Kapp Putch supported by ?
- The troops that Luttwitz marched to Berlin
| - Right wing civil servant and politician Wolfgang Kapp
69
How was the Kapp Putch dealt with ?
- Called on regular army who said " troops don't fire on other troops"
- Failed to get support
- Putch collapsed
70
What did the Kapp Putsch teach ?
- Army was not to be trusted
- Civil servants could be disloyal
- Weimar was weak without army's support
71
How many political assassinations were there between 1919 and 1923 ?
376 political assassinations
72
Why was Walther Rathenu assassinated ?
- Was Jewish
| - Participated in the signing of the armistice
73
What was the Organisation Consuel ?
-Formed from ex-freikorps members after their units were disbanded following the Kapp Putsch
74
Why was Mattias Erzberger assassinated ?
- Signed the TOV
| - Led delegation for the signing of the armistice
75
What were reasons for the Munich Putsch?
- Hitler wanted to seize power
| - Wanted the support of powerful figures such as Kahr and von Lossow
76
Why did the Munich Putsch fail ?
- The SA were unable to gain control of the Munich army barracks
- Couldnt persuade Kahr and von Lossow
77
What were the results of the Munich Putsch ?
- Army sent in to deal with the Putsch
- Ludendorff allowed himself to be arrested
- Nazis were banned
- Hitler was arrested
