Weimar Germany (1918-1929) Flashcards
What tactics was used by the Allies during WW1 to cause food shortages in Germany?
A Naval blockade
Why did many Germans not understand why Germany surrendered in 1918?
Because some parts of the army had seen little action in the war and did not understand the military situation
Because Germany had not been invaded by the Allies- there was only fighting in France
Who was the Kaiser?
Germany’s monarch and leader, he abdicated on November 9th 1918 giving power to the Social Democrats
When was the armistice signed?
November 11th 1918- this ended fighting on the Western Front
What was the name of the treaty that ended WW1?
The Treaty of Versailles- signed on June 28th 1919
What were the main terms of the Treaty of Versailles?
GUILT- Article 231 Germany had to accept War Guilt (blame for starting the war.)
ARMY- The army was limited to 100,000 men and conscription was banned. They were also allowed no submarines and only 6 battleships and no air force.
REPARATIONS- Germany had to pay £6,600 million in compensation to Britain, France and Belgium
GERMANY LOST LAND- Germany lost around 10% of its territory
LEAGUE OF NATIONS-Germany was not allowed to join until it could prove it was a peaceful country
EXTRA POINTS- It forbade the Anschluss (uniting of Germany and Austria) and created Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania as independent countries
Which electoral system was the Weimar Constitution based on?
Proportional Representation
This is where parties receive a number of seats based on their percentage of the vote.
What were the problems with Proportional Representation?
It made it difficult for one party to form a majority government in the Reichstag this led to coalition governments being formed.
Coalitions were weak and often unable to make important decisions.
What was Article 48 of the Weimar Constitution?
It gave the President the ability to take over the ruling of the country in an emergency. He did not need the support of the Reichstag in order to pass laws.
What were the politicians who signed the Treaty of Versailles known as?
The November Criminals
What was the stabbed in the back myth?
The belief that the army could have won WW1 but were betrayed by the politicians and groups at home in Germany
Who were the Spartacists?
A German communist group led by Karl Liebknecht and Roso Luxebourg who tried to take control of Germany in January 1919.
How was the Spartacist Revolt defeated?
The government was too weak to defeat them so had to use a right wing group of ex soldiers known as the Frei Korps to regain control.
What happened to Rosa Luxembourg and Karl Liebknecht?
They were both executed without trial.
What was the Kapp Putsch?
An attempt by the leader of the Frei Korps, Wolfgang Kapp to take control of Germany in March 1920 because of the weakness of the Weimar Government.
How was the Kapp Putsch defeated?
The government was too weak to defeat them on its own and relied on the Trade Unions calling a general strike and refusing to work with the Frei Korps.
What were the consequences of the political rebellions?
There was increased violence on the streets
The Weimar Government was seen as weak and the German people did not respect it.
Support for extremist Political Parties began to increase.
Why did the French and Belgian governments send soldiers to occupy the Ruhr in 1923?
Because Germany did not pay its reparations because it could not afford them.
How did the Weimar Government want the workers to resist the occupation?
By using passive resistance (the workers were told to go on strike)
How did the government pay for the workers to go on strike?
By printing more money
What economic problem was caused by the government quickly printing more money?
Hyperinflation
What is hyperinflation?
When the value of money decreases at an uncontrollable rate.
How did hyperinflation impact on Germany in 1923?
Prices increased by 400% every day
People with savings lost everything
By summer 1923 a loaf of bread cost 428,000,000,000 marks
Who benefited from hyperinflation?
Anyone who had taken out a loan could now repay it very easily
Foreigners flocked to Germany to buy up works of art as Germans desperately tried to raise money.
How did hyperinflation affect the Weimar Government?
The Weimar Government became popular because of its support for the striking workers, hyperinflation was blamed on foreign governments.
Who was Gustav Stresemann?
He became Chancellor in August 1923 and ruled for 3 months
How did Stresemann solve hyperinflation?
He created a new currency, the Rentenmark, that was linked to German land rather than gold which ended hyperinflation.
How did Stresemann help to create economic recovery in Germany?
He persuaded the Allies to agree to the Dawes Plan
This was where US bankers loaned Germany 25 million marks to rebuild the economy.
It also cut the amount of reparations Germany had to pay and gave them longer to pay
What was the Locarno Pact?
These were treaties signed in October 1925 where Germany recognised its post WW1 borders
Why were the Locarno Pact’s important?
It improved relations between Germany and other European nations
In 1926 Germany was admitted into the League of Nations
What was the Young Plan (1929)?
An agreement that further reduced the amount of reparations that Germany had to pay.
What were the positive impacts of Stresemann?
Support for democracy increased while support for extremist parties decreased.
Workers wages improved.
Businesses prospered and new industries like radio, aircraft and telephones did well.
People had more personal freedom than when the Kaiser ruled Germany.
What were the problems with Stresemann’s reforms?
German governments were still unstable and there was a new Chancellor on average every 12 months.
The economic recovery was reliant on loans from the USA that could be recalled at any time.
The Locarno Pact was unpopular with the German people as they saw it as Germany giving up on land that belonged to them.
Calling off passive resistance made Germany look weak.
When did Hitler become leader of the Nazi Party?
1921
What the official name of the Nazi Party?
National Socialist German Workers Party
Who were the SA?
The Sturm Abteilung (Stormtroopers) a private army used by Hitler and Nazis to attack their political enemies particularly the communists.
Where did the Beer Hall Putsch take place?
Munich on November 8th 1923
Why did Hitler believe that his attempt to take control of Germany would succeed?
Because the Weimar Government was seen as weak
Because of hyperinflation
How did the Beer Hall Putsch begin?
Hitler stormed into a meeting that contained members of the Bavarian government and demanded that they join his attempt to take over Germany.
Which famous WW1 general agreed to support Hitler during the Munich Putsch?
General Eric Ludendorff
What happened to the members of the Bavarian government on the night of the 8th November 1923?
They were able to return home and alert the German government to Hitlers plan.
What happened on the 9th November 1923 during the Munich Putsch?
The SA led by Ernst Roehm seized control of the Post Office and waited for support from Hitler.
Hitler and the SA then marched into the centre of Munich where they were met by the German Police who opened fire.
16 Nazis were killed and Hitler and the SA fled in panic
What happened to Hitler after the Munich Putsch?
He was arrested and put on trial for treason where he was sentenced to 5 years in prison.
He used his trial as platform to spread his ideas and beliefs across Germany.
He only served 11 months of his sentence
What was the name of the book written by Hitler in prison?
Mein Kampf (My Struggle)
What was the main change that Hitler decided on while he was in prison?
That the Nazis would have to come to power by being legally elected not through violence
What other changes were made to the Nazi Party by Hitler after 1923?
Joseph Goebbels was appointed as head of propaganda
Sections were set up for women, children and teachers
He changed the party to national movement to gain more support
In 1926 the SS were set up as Hitlers personal bodyguard
