Weimar 1919 - 1933 Flashcards
What were Ebert’s priorities?
- Signing the armistice to end the war
- Restoring order and peace in Germany to avoid full scale revolution
- Change the way that Germany was governed, instead making it a democratic republic.
On what date was the armistice signed?
11th November 1918
On what date was the Treaty of Versailles signed?
28th June 1919
How much did Germany have to pay in reparations?
6.6 billion
How much of Germany’s land was taken under the Treaty of Versailles?
13%
How many men were left in the German army after the Treaty of Versailles?
100,000
What was Article 231?
‘The war guilt clause’ (Germany had to accept sole responsibility for starting the war)
What was the ‘stab in the back’ myth?
People blamed the government, felt betrayed, army believed they were winning e.t.c
Who were the ‘November Criminals’?
Politicians who signed the treaty. The Wiemar Government.
What was hyperinflation?
The printing of more money, and no cut in expenditure or cut in taxes, meaning a decrease in the value of money.
In what year was hyperinflation at its worse?
1923
When was the reparations bill set?
May 1921
In what year did the Munich Putsch take place?
1923
Who led the Munich Putsch and briefly outline the events?
Hitler and Ludendorff, wanted an independent Bavaria, 603 SA march to Munich. Met by armed police. 4 police killed. 16 Nazis killed and Hitler arrested.
In what year did the Kapp Putsch take place?
1920
Who led the Kapp Putsch and briefly outline the events?
Wolfgang Kapp led it. 12,000 Friekorp’s marched to Berlin, govt forced to flee, Eberts govt. returned after only 4 days.
In what year did the Spartacist uprising take place?
1919
Who led the Spartacist uprising and briefly outline the events?
Revolt made of communists who wanted Germany to be run by the working class. 50,000 workers on strike and demonstrating in centre of Berlin. Rosa Luxemberg and Karl Lebicneck led it, workers took over newspaper/telegraph. Army called to suppress and put down by freikorp. But many protesters had returned home after they were frustrated by the lack of planning.
In what year did the Red Rising in the Rhur take place?
1920
Who led the Red Rising in the Rhur and briefly outline the events?
Communist party, 50,000 workers occupied Rhur and took control of raw materials. Crushed - 10,000 killed.
In what year did Stresemann become chancellor?
1923
How did Stresemann combat hyperinflation?
Introduced the Rentenmark. (schact also helped introduce it)
What was article 48?
Rule by decree, emergency powers given to president which bypass the Reichstag.
What were the strengths of the Weimar constitution?
All Germans over 20 years of age can vote
Proportional representation
The fundamental laws
Article 48 can get the country out of crisis
Reichstag filter laws
What were the limitations of the Weimar constitution?
Article 48 can be misused and only can be used by the president
The president is only elected every 7 years
Lots of coalition parties
Presidents appoint court and the Reichstag - biased.
Proportional representation.
What book did Hitler write during his imprisonment and what did it outline?
Mein Kampf which outlined his political ideology and future plans for Germany.
Which month did the Kaiser abdicate? and who was government then under?
November 1918 - ended WW1.
Under temporary government of Friedrich Ebert
What is proportional representation?
The percentage of votes you got was the number of seats you were given - any political party could therefore get seats in government.
What were the strengths of the Wiemar constitution in providing a base for democracy in Germany?
Emphasised human rights and free speech
All Germans over age of 20 could vote (inc women)
President elected every 7 yrs (give public more control)
Proportional representation
Trade Unions
What was known as the ‘diktat’?
Dictated peace - treaty terms less moderate than Germans expected - given 21 days to sign and forced into signing on 28th July 1919.
When was the Treaty of Versailles signed?
28th June 1919.
What were the terms of the treaty in terms of land?
Land
- Alsace Lorraine returned to France
- Germany split into two (Poland access to Baltic sea)
- Saar (coalfield and industrial area) governed under league of nations
- Upper Silesia Coal and steel works given to Poland.
- Danzig made a free city
What were the economic consequences of the war and the treaty of Versailles?
GB naval blockade ruined German export trade
Govt was 250.7 billion marks in debt by Nov 1918
War expenditure financed by loans + printing money (not tax)
Inflation increased - prices rose 250%
What were the political consequences of the war and the treaty of Versailles?
Wiemar republic blamed for signing treaty.
Wiemar republic became known as ‘November Criminals’
Germany forever associated with hated treaty
Reinforced ‘stab in back’ myth
What were the social consequences of war and the treaty of Versailles?
Middle class and those on fixed incomes (pensions) lost out on interest on savings
Owners of war industries made + money
People looked to extremist groups for solution
What did Far left parties stand for and who did they appeal to?
Stood for equality, social change and distribution of wealth
Appealed to lower classes
What did Far right parties stand for and who did they appeal to?
Stood for personal liberty, capitalism and private property
Appealed to Rich or Nationalistic
Were the Nazi party far right or far left?
Far right.
Who were the SPD?
Social Democratic Party of Germany.
They were modern socialists committed to parliamentary democracy (left wing) opposed to the revolutionary demands of left wing socialists. Led by Ebert and Scheidemann.
Who were the KPD?
General communist party - pressed for workers revolution. They were formed Jan 1919 by far left wing Spartacists. It opposed Wiemar style democracy and supported revolutionary overthrow of society. Most of its supporters were working class. They had multiple uprisings.