Weimar Constitution - Chapter 1 - Challenges of Weimar Constitution Flashcards
1) How many members of SDP in 1919?
1 million
1) What was Ebert’s fear for new Germany?
Germany would follow Russia’s route into a revolution
1) Economic Impact of War
fall of industrial production, national income was 1/3 of what it was in 1913, 2 million children without fathers (war pensions costly) and war bonds eroded by inflation
1) Social Impact of War
huge gap between rich and poor, continued food shortages due to British naval blockade, women working “damaged traditional values”, Dolchstoss Theory harmed reputation
1) How did Ebert attempt to maintain stability?
Defended democratic system from bolshevism, cooperated with both working class and social elite, made a deal with Groener to ensure army’s loyalty
1) How many KPD members in 1919?
5,000
2) When was the Treaty of Versailles?
28 June 1919
1) How many USPD members in 1919?
300,000
2) When was the armistice?
11 November 1918
2) What did Germany expect from the Treaty?
Only pay reparations for France and Belgium and be allowed to join the League of Nations
2) Why were Germany forced to sign the Treaty?
Naval blockade still in place and Allied troops in Rhineland threatened to invade
2) What did a lot of Germans call the Treaty?
diktat - new government lost further respect and support
2) Why did millions of Germans lose their national rights?
Fourteen Points applied selectively and self determination not given to Germany (many people forced into different states)
2) In what ways was Germany still powerful?
Successor states and collapse of Austro - Hungarian Empire
2) Land Lost
13% territory lost, Alsace-Lorraine (rich in iron ore and agriculture), Polish corridor, Memel, Rhineland demilitarised, occupation of Ruhr
2) Reparations
pay for physical damage (mostly toward France) and for war pensions, April 1921 - total amount was 132,000 million gold marks over 30 years
2) War Guilt
Article 231 - 4 million French wounded, 1 million British dead
2) Loss Of Empire
12% of population lost, lost 48% of iron ore, 1.5 million became part of new Polish states
2) Disarmament
Section V - military reduced to 100,000 and navy not allowed to have submarines, no tanks no aircrafts
3) Germany went from an authoritarian state to what?
A democracy/republic where sovereignty lies with the people
3) Who was part of coalition government?
SDP, Centre, German Democratic Party with Ebert as president (75% voted for them)
3) Ebert’s SDP party progress
largest party, won 38% of the vote
3) Features of the constitution
Republic, sovereignty based on people, federal state, central government controlled tax, armed forces, foreign affairs