Weimar and Nazi Germany Flashcards
What issues did war cause
- German people were suffering sever hardship
- Allies set up naval blockades which prevented imports of food and essential goods. By 1918 people faced starvation
What did the Germans do
They turned against Kaiser Wilhelm II who ruled the German emperor like a king
What did the Germans want
They wanted democracy
Why and when did Kaiser resign
Kaiser resigned on the 9th November 1918 because of a huge protest in Berlin and members of the social Democratic party called for Kaisers resignation
What did Kaisers resignation lead to
- Declared a republic
- The monarchy had been abolished and Germany had the chance to become a democracy
What does republic mean
A country ruled without a monarch
What was signing of the Armistice
- 11th November 1918, a ceasefire to end World war I was agreed
- Allies (Britain, France, USA) signed an armistice(truce) with Germany
- New republic under pressure to sign
- Government didn’t think Germany could continue fighting as its people were starving and military morale was low
- Armistice wasn’t supported by some right-wing Germans, who saw the truce as betrayal, believed Germany could still win war
Who was the first president of the Weimar Republic
Fredrich Ebert
When was the Weimar Republic formed
February 1919
How did the Weimar Republic form
Members of the new Reichstag met at Weimar and created a new constitution for Germany this is called the Weimar Republic
What was the Reichstag
Parliament of Germany
What could German people now do
Men and women over the age of 20 had a right to vote
What were the features of the Reichstag
- Elected every 4 years using proportional representation
- In control of the new laws and budget
Who and what could the chancellor do
The chancellor was the equivalent to the prime minister and had the power to propose new laws
Who and what could the president do
- Elected every 7 years
- Appoints and dismisses army generals
- Head of state
- Equivalent to king