Weimar and Nazi Germany (Weimar Republic) Flashcards
What is a constitution?
A state of basic laws by which a nation, state or other organisation is governed
What is a republic?
A government in which elected representatives possess power
What was the quality of life like after the war?
Germany had experienced a depression during the war du to food shortages and high unemployment and homelessness rates
Who ran Germany during the war?
The Kaiser was pretty useless and left the running of the country to two of his top military generals (Hindenburg and Ludendorff) which meant Germany turned into a military dictatorship
Who formed the first cabinet in 1918?
Prince Max of Baden
How did the first cabinet come about?
Prince Max of Baden set up his own government which included some members of the Reichstag and this formed the first cabinet
What does Dolchtoss mean?
‘Stabbed in the back’
When did the Kaiser abdicate?
November 1918
Who was the first chancellor?
Friedrich Ebert
Who was the first president?
Friedrich Ebert
What does the chancellor do?
He runs the country on a day to day basis
Define the following things:
- Reichsrat
- President
- Chancellor
- Reichstag
- One of the legislative bodies in the Weimar Republic, the other was the Reichstag
- President rules in conjunction with the Reichstag, elected every 7 year
- Is selected by the president and oversees the day to day running of the country
- Was the central legislative body (government)
What did Article 48 say?
That in the event of an emergency the President had absolute power to pass laws without consulting the Reichstag
Who was Ebert’s chancellor?
Scheidmann
What was the nickname given to the men who signed the Armistice?
The November Criminals
Who felt Dolchtoss the most?
The military men who had lost their jobs and been dishonoured after risking their lives in war
Why did the German public feel Dolchtoss?
They had been told they were winning the war and now they were being blamed and oppressed after the war
Who had the vote in Germany?
All men and women over 20 years old
Who elects the President?
The Reichstag
What is the disadvantage of Proportional Representation?
It means that you end up with a coalition government and it is nearly impossible to please everybody
T/F: Germany was included in the negotiations of the Treaty of Versailles
False: they were excluded completely
Who were the three people key in drawing up the Treaty of Versailles?
- Woodrow Wilson - USA - less worried about Germany as they were further away but he wants to avoid another war, he is willing to go to war again is Germany refuse to sign
- David Lloyd George - UK - wants Germany to pay for what they did but is conscious that if the Treaty if too harsh it will backfire, he is also willing to go to war again
- George Clemenceau - France - very harsh and wanted Germany to pay the most, he is very worries about Germany as they share a border, he lost so much during the war, he is also willing to go to war again
Define sovereignty
A nation’s power to rule itself
What was the clause that offended Germany and its people the most?
Article 231 - The War Guilt Clause
What were some of the key terms?
R - reparations (6.6. billion) A - army limited to 100,000 men W - war guilt clause D - demilitarised Rhineland E - end of German/Austrian union A - arms limitation L - land taken away
What was one power that concerned the Weimar Republic?
The military
Who were the Freikorps?
Unemployed military men who still owned guns and uniform (an unofficial army)
What was the Kapp Putsch?
A politician, Kapp, led an uprising when Ebert announced that he was disbanding the Freikorps, the army refused to fight their own army so Ebert asked the people to go on strike to show they did not support the Freikorps and it worked
What was the Spartacist Uprising?
A group of communists led by Liebknecht and Luxemburg rebelled in an attempt to overthrow the Weimar republic and establish a communist state
