Weimar Germany Flashcards
What were the names of the 4 uprisings in Weimar?
Kapp Putsch, Red Rising, Spartacists & Munich Putsch
What is the stab in the back myth?
The German people felt that the new Weimar government had been wrong to accept the armistice and end WW1 in November 1918. It is also known as Dolchstoss.
What was the Spartacist rebellion?
Jan 1919 - Communists in Germany led by Karl Liebknect and Rosa Luxemburg, seized control of Berlin. The Weimar Government stopped the rebellion by using the Freikorps.
What was the Munich Putsch?
Nazi revolution in Munich led by Hitler in November 1923.
What was the Red Rising?
1920 - Communist uprising in the Ruhr region of Germany, stopped by Weimar government using the Freikorps.
What was the Kapp Putsch?
1920- Wolfgang Kapp seized control of Berlin for a right wing rebellion. The Weimar government were unable to respond. However the rebellion failed due to lack of communication and support.
What was hyperinflation?
When the government prints too much money, causing the value to drop. (Think a glass of squash with too much water).
When did hyperinflation occur in Germany?
1923- after Germany did not pay reparations in 1922 or 1923.
What happened once Germany stopped paying reparations?
Jan 1923- French invaded the Ruhr region to claim resources to the value of outstanding reparations. Germany workers responded with passive resistance.
Who was in charge of Weimar after WW1?
Ebert- leader of the Social Democrats who became President once Germany turned democratic.
Who fled Germany at the end of WW1 and where did he go?
Kaiser Wilhelm fled to the Netherlands.
What did Stresemann do to solve hyperinflation in 1923?
Introduced a new currency in November - known as the Rentenmark.
What problems did Ebert have after 1918?
He was seen by many as the person who stabbed Germany in the back (Dolchstoss), this led to a lack of support from the German people.
The Weimar Constitution gave voting rights to who?
Men and Women over the age of 20 were given the right to vote.
The Weimar Constitution- what was Article 48?
Article 48 gave the President the power to change laws without the Reichstag in an emergency.
What did people blame the new Weimar government for in the beginning?
The armistice being signed in November 1918.
The punishment of the Treaty of Versailles in 1919.
The loss of land.
The reparations payments that had to be made to the Allies.
The huge reduction in Germany’s armed forces.
Germany’s inability to rebuild itself after WW1.
Weimar was created as a result of what?
It was created as a result of the Kaiser fleeing Germany to Holland and the fact that the Allies wanted Germany to become a democracy in order for the Armistice to be signed.
The Weimar Constitution - what is proportional representation and why was it a weakness for Weimar?
Proportional Representation allowed all votes to be totalled across Germany and seats allocated based on the % of the votes gained. In Weimar this enabled smaller political parties to gain seats if they gained enough votes across the country. This could weaken Germany as it would result in a Reichstag with a variety of people from different political backgrounds, making decision making slow.
Treaty of Versailles - what happened to Germany’s military?
Reduced to 100,000 men 6 battleships No aeroplanes No submarines No conscription
Treaty of Versailles - what was the value of reparations set at for Germany in 1919?
£6,600 million or £6.6 billion