Weimar Germany Flashcards
Why was the Weimar Republic set up?
Because Kaiser Wilhelm had abdicated and a new democracy was needed to rule Germany.
Who became chancellor in 1924?
Gustav Stresemann
What year did Adolf Hitler become chancellor?
1933
What was the ‘Stab in the Back’?
When the Weimer Republic announced armistice, the German soldiers felt betrayed.
Why did the German soldiers feel betrayed in 1918?
Because they had been told that Germany was winning the War, but then in 1918 Germany was told to surrender.
Why was the Communists(socialists) a threat to the Weimar Republic in 1919-1923?
- The Communists wanted workers to control Germany and to share their wealth
- Against the Democratic government
- Popular with workers.
Why was the Social Democrats a threat to the Weimar Republic in 1919-1923?
- Were the new government.
- Anti-communist
- Wanted to prevent revolution and help German businesses recover.
Why was the Nationalists a threat to the Weimar Republic in 1919-1923?
- Wanted a strong Germany and a strong leader.
- Against the democratic government.
- Anti-communists.
- Popular with the army and middle classes.
How did Gustav Stresemann help Germany (French occupation of the Ruhr)?
-Stresemann called off passive resistance, because it had not forced the French to withdraw from the Ruhr and it had created serious economic problems.
-He promised to keep up reparation payments to France.
RESULT:
-The French left the Ruhr
HOWEVER:
-This was a very unpopular policy in Germany. There was a lot of opposition to it, especially from right-wing extremists.
How did Gustav Stresemann help Germany (New Currency)?
Stresemann acted quickly to deal with the hyperinflation. The old money was replaced with a new currency called the Rentenmark. One Rentenmark replaced 1000 billion marks. Old notes were recalled and burned.
RESULT:
-The new currency was quickly accepted by the German people. Inflation was brought under control.
HOWEVER:
-The German people never forgot hyperinflation. People who had lost their savings were not compensated. The felt cheated and they blamed the Weimar Republic.
How did Gustav Stresemann help Germany (Massive reparations)?
-Stresemann realised that he could not force the Allies to change the Treaty of Versailles, so he promised to pay reparations. He hoped that the Allies would lower the payments in the future.
RESULT:
-The Dawes Plan of 1924, reorganised the way Germans had to pay reparations. Germany was given a longer period to pay the Allies.
-in 1929 the Young Plan lowered the amount of mooney Germany had to pay in reparations from 132,000 million marks to 37,000 million.
HOWEVER:
-The Dawes Plan did not reduce the amount Germany had to pay in reparations. Opponents of the Weimar Republic called the Dawes Plan a second Versailles.
