Weimar Germany 1919-1929 Flashcards
Describe problems faced by the Weimar government in 1919
Blamed for defeat in war
Blamed for treaty of Versailles- government had betrayed Germany ( Germany would have won the war)
Democracy was forced by the allies- diktat
Political uprisings- Spartacist Revolt, Munich Putsch 1923- government seemed weak
Political murders- 1920s
Government blamed for shortages- food and supplies
Government blamed for poverty
Explain the events of the Spartacists revolt
Ebert (temporary leader of Germany) made a deal with General Groener (chief of army- ready to deal with revolt
Noske formed Freikorps (volunteer units of anti revolutionary ex- soldiers)
Peaceful demonstration of Spartacists in Berlin turned violent- armed workers occupied public buildings
No organised plans for revolution- workers went home
Freikorps attacked and killed Spartacists- almost 700 captured and executed
Revolt ended in a week- bloody week
Rosa Luxemberg and Karl Liebkbecht killed
Violence used legally against a political party- possible to use methods again
Hostility between 2 major left wing parties
Describe the constitution/ Weimar Republic
Gave power to the people:
Vote to all men + women over 20
People over 35- vote for a president
Proportional representation- political parties gained a number of MPs based on share of votes, small parties gained seats in Reichstag
Fundemental laws- basic rights (personal freedom, freedom of speech, privacy for letters
Article 48- President rule Reichstag in an emergency
Describe the Criticisms of the constitution
Proportional representation- large number of political parties- coalition government
Weak to deal with problems- weimar government
Changing government- democracy weak inconsistent
Article 48- misused 1930s weakening democracy
Describe how the Germans viewed the Treaty of Versailles
They should be treated fairly now the kaiser was gone
Wanted negotiated peace- disliked treaty (diktat) shocked and angry
Blamed new government did not believe Germany had been defeated
Germany had been stabbed in the back by government- myth created by Nazis- Hitler promised to destroy Treaty
Describe the Terms of the Treaty of Versailles
Loss of territory- to France and Poland
Rhineland demilitarised
No union between Germany and Austria
Germany’s colonies taken away
Germany only allows a small army and navy
Had to sign war guilt clause- they were responsible for war
Summarise the Ruhr and Hyperinflation
1923- fell behind with reparations- France and Belgium invaded Ruhur
France and Belgium wanted Germans (in Ruhur) to work under French control- refused and went on strike
Government printed money to pay workers
Economy collapsed and hyperinflation struck- money lost value
Describe the effects of the hyperinflation
Middle class- monthly salaries not keep up with prices + savings worthless
Working class- suffered but paid twice a day, spend instantly
People in fixed incomes- homelessness and starvation
Property owners and businessmen- profited by taking out loans
Describe peoples reactions to the hyperinflation/ how this effected their political view
Upper classes- wished for the return of kaiser, did not like democracy
Working classes- supported communism, not like democracy
Middle classes- lost faith in Weimar Republic, when financial disaster hit later in 1929 fear- listened to Hitler for security
Explain the events of the Munich Putsch
8 November 1923 Nazis wanted action + Hitler wanted to overthrow national government but he needed to establish power in Bavaria
Meeting arranged beer hall in Munich von Kahr, von Seisser and von Lossiemouth - important leaders
Hitler + 600 supporters went into hall Hitler claimed ‘the national revolution has begun’
The important leaders of the meeting promised Ludendorff they would support Hitler
They then planned to fight back
3000 Nazis + Hitler and Ludendorff marched and shooting occurred
Explain the results of the Munich Putsch
16 Nazis and 3 policemen were killed
Hitler escaped and was arrested
He was put on trial- Nazi ideas publicised
Hitler short sentence- released within less than a year, realise he had to get power legally- democracy
Wrote Mein Kampf
What/ who were the Nazis and what was their policy
Nazi party- national organisation used elections to gain power
Policy:
Ignore the Treaty of Versailles
Jews - Germany’s problems
Nazi party total control- opposition not tolerated
Hitler- supreme leader
Germany expand- all German speaking countries
Germans- master race elongation undesirable races
- Convinced people simple ideas answers to difficult questions
Describe the Golden age of Weimar
Chancellor brought hyperinflation under control- issued a new currency
Daws plan- Reparation payments reduced + loans from US
French and Germans left Ruhur- industry got going again
Young plan- reparation payments reduced
Treaty of Locarno- accepted terms of Treaty, Rhineland would be demilitarised. French and Belgians not invade German territory.
Germany entered League of Nations- more relations with countries
Describe the population of the Nazi party in the 1920s
Few people votes for them as the country was recovering. American loans helped create more jobs
Nazis gained 14 seats 1924
1928 less than 3% votes for the Nazis
Life improved, people turned their backs on political groups that wanted to destroy Weimar
Why was the Weimar Government unpopular with Germans?
Blamed by nationalists for agreeing to aromatics- army officers claimed that Germany had not been militarily defeated
Signing Treaty of Versailles
Right wing nationalists- loyal to empire, disliked democracy as power was Hanes to unimportant people
Communists wanted quicker change- betrayed by Social Democrats (Spartacists revolt)
Democracy imposed on by allies, proportional representation weak
Economic problems- hyperinflation
