Weimar Flashcards
Who led the Weimar government?
Friedrich Ebert
What was the democratic system in Weimar Germany and what were the issues with it?
Proportional representation
Lots of parties in the reichstag
No decisions made
Extremist parties had better chance of getting seats
When did the kaiser abdicate?
November 1918
Why did the German people blame the government for losing ww1?
They believed they were in a strong position in 1918
- breakthrough on eastern front
- Russia defeated
- Bolshevik government forced to sign treaty - 1/4 of its best land and 3/4 of its iron ore
What were the problems within Germany after ww1?
In the grips of a major food crisis Blockade of German ports led to lack of food Navy mutinied against kaiser 1916-17 potatoes ran out People questioned the benefit of the war
What happened in October 1918?
Sailors at Kiel mutinied against the kaiser setting off a chain reaction of mutinied and uprisings by workers and the German people
When did the kaiser abdicate?
9th November 1918
What happened in 1919?
Sparticist uprising in January
28th June treaty of Versailles signed
How was the sparticist revolution defeated?
Ebert made an agreement with the freckles who crushed it
Rosa Luxembourg and Karl liebknecht were murdered ending the revolution
What did the sparticists do?
Revolted against ebert
Captures the HQ of the governments newspaper and telegraph bureau
Who were the sparticists?
Left wing communists
Led by rosa Luxembourg and Karl liebknecht
Mainly civilians
Why did the sparticists attempt revolution in 1919?
Blamed the government for treaty of Versailles
Who were the allied leaders at the treaty of Versailles and what did they want?
Clemenceau - revenge and punishment , Germany stripped of its wealth and resources
David Lloyd George - Germany to remain stable and regain strength
Wilson - just and lasting peace
What were the conditions of the Treaty of Versailles?
£6.6 billion reparations France mine in the Saar No submarines Reduced army - 100 000 men No airforce Lose the polish corridor Lost 13% of its land Conscription banned Rhineland demilitarised
What was article 231?
Said that Germany was to blame for starting the war
Why did the German people resent the Treaty of Versailles?
Believed they didn’t start the war
Can’t afford the reparations
Damaged pride
Want compensation for their bombing damage