Weimar Germany

Question 1

Terms of the Treaty of Versailles (4)

Answer 1

• The German army had to be reduced to 100,000 men.
• Germany was required to give their coal fields to France for 15 years.
• They had to pay out 6.6billion in repartition fees.
• No tanks or planes were to be constructed.

Question 2

Formation and Characteristics of Weimar Republic (4) (2+ve) (2-ve)

Answer 2

Positive
- All men and women 20< could vote.
- German citizens were given free speech and religion.

Negative
- The used voting system meant many small parties were elected.
- In an emergency, the president could take control of Germany, (creating a dictatorship)

Question 3

Impact of WW1 on Germany (4)

Answer 3

Finance - having to pay for theirs and others reparations meant they were left in a huge financial crisis.

Coal Fields - the German coal fields (a main income source) had to be given to France for 15 years.

Humiliation - many Germans were embarrassed that they had surrendered and lost the war.

Anger - Germans rightly believed they were not the only ones to blame for the start of the war.

Question 4

Opposition to the Treaty of Versailles (4)

Answer 4

• Leaders of the German military blamed politicians who signed the Tov.
• These politicians were given the name, ‘The November Criminals’.
• German people were filled with hate and embarrassment for being blamed for starting the war.
• Germany did not want to pay the 6.6 billion in reparation fees as it would leave them financially broken.

Question 5

Events of the Spartacist Revolt 1919 (4)

Answer 5

1. Led by Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxembourg, the main aim was to replicate the Russian revolution.
2. The plan was to overthrow central government using violence
3. In 1919, 100,000 workers went on strike with the newspapers being seized.
4. Many people later stopped their protest due to a lack of Spartacist planning.

Question 6

Events of the Munich Putsch (4)

Answer 6

1. 1921 Hitler was the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party.
2. By 1922 they had gained 29,000 members.
3. In November 1923 Hitler and the SA interrupted a Bavarian government meeting threatening the crowds with violence.
4. They then charged into Munich where they were shot at by police and Hitler was sentenced to 5 years in prison for treason.

Question 7

Economic Problems 1919 - 1933 (6)

Answer 7

• The German government said they could not pay reparation fees, but, French did not believe them.
• In January 1923, The French invaded the Ruhr taking control of factories and mines.
• The Weimar Government told workers to go on strike, but this was worse financially for Germany.
• The German government started printing money causing hyperinflation.
• Paper money became worthless and simple items like bread rose from 250 marks to 200 trillion marks.
• Elderly people with savings lost a lot of Money.