Weimar Germany 1918-1929 Flashcards
Who became president after WW1 and how did Germany change?
Ebert became President & Germany became a Republic
Who was abdicated?
Kaiser
What bad effects did the war have on Germany?
2 million died, debt increased, and food shortages, strikes, and riots. An armistice-peace agreement signed with the Allies, the terms of the Treaty of Versailles hurt Germany.
When was the new constitution started?
1919
What were the names of the main leaders of the Constitution?
Head of State - President,
Head of Government- Chancellor,
What were the names of the 2 parliament buildings?
Reichstag & Reichsrat.
What were the strengths of the new constitution?
The voting system meant small parties had a fair share of seats in Parliament, women could vote, and no one group/person could have too much power.
What were the weaknesses of the new constitution?
Voting system led to unstable Coalition Governments, lack of strong gov. led to weakness in a crisis which meant President could pass laws without Reichstag (Article 48), unpopular with people
Why didn’t people like the Treaty of Versailles?
It damaged the economy, making the Weimar Republic weak. People blamed leaders for signing T.of V. & called them ‘November Criminals’.
What were the details of the Treaty of Versailles?
Article 231 said Germany was guilty of starting war, Reparations £6,600 million, army limited 100,000, Navy 6 battleships & no submarines, no air force, no troops in Rhineland, Alsace & Lorraine lost to France, Polish corridor lost to Poland.
Why did the German people feel stabbed in the back?
Germans felt they hadn’t lost the war & that the army were betrayed by the politicians who surrendered & signed treaty.
Who were the main 2 challenges of the Weimar Republic?
The Spartacists and the Freikorps.
Who were the Spartacists?
They were left-wing socialists who were led by Rosa Luxemburg & Karl Liebknecht
What was the Spartacist Revolt of 1919?
The Spartacists took over the government’s newspaper & telegraph & tried to organise a general strike in Berlin. Freikorps (ex- soldiers) put down the revolt.
What happened in the Kapp Putsch of 1920?
It was led by Freikorps & Wolfgang Kapp. The Weimar Gov. fled Berlin. It failed because the unions came out on strike.
What were the challenges of 1923?
Hyperinflation made the currency worthless. It happened because of reparations, French troops invaded the Ruhr, German workers went on strike, more money was printed which became worthless.
What effects did the challenges have?
People could not afford essentials, businesses went bankrupt, savings became worthless, people blamed the Weimar Gov.
How was Germany recovered?
Stresemann the new Chancellor played an important role in this. New currency Rentenmark set up, re-named the Reichsmark, International loans helped-Dawes Plan & Young Plan helped reparations payments
How was Stresemann successful?
Most important achievements in economic & foreign policy. Locarno Pact 1925 signed- agreed on a new border with France. Germany joined the League of Nations in 1926, Kellogg-Briand Pact 1928 was signed by countries to avoid war. This showed Germany was being respected again & Germans started to have confidence in the Weimar Republic. Less support for extremists like Nazis.
What were the changes for workers and women?
Living standards improved, and wages rose. Working hours were reduced, and housing improved. Women worked in teaching & medicine, went to university, were more independence younger/single women, less interested in marriage and more in having a good time.
What were some cultural changes?
Artists painted everyday life-style called Expressionism eg Otto Dix. They wanted to confront the disasters of the War. Cinema-Expressionism flourished in cinema. Fewer restrictions.Films were new & exciting, Marlene Dietrich popular actress. Architecture -new ideas challenged traditional ideas. Bauhaus school was set up. Attracted artists/ designers who challenged styles from before War, looked radical.
