Weimar Germany Flashcards
1
Q
What is referred to as Imperial Germany?
A
Germany from 1871 to 1918 and the end of the First World War
2
Q
What is referred to as the Weimar Republic?
A
The regime which governed Germany between the end of the First World War and the election of Adolf Hitler in January 1933
3
Q
What is the Reichstag?
A
The German Parliament
4
Q
What was the “stab in the back” myth?
A
WW1 General Hindenburg declared that the German army could have won the war but they were stabbed in the back by the government that replaced the Kaiser and signed the Armistice
5
Q
Who were the SPD?
A
The Social Democratic Party. They were a left-leaning political party that had the largest majority in the Reichstag from 1919 to 1929.
6
Q
What was the social impact of WW1 on Germany? (4)
A
- 2 million soldiers killed
- 6.3 million soldiers injured
- Spanish flu caused disease and starvation
- Living standards fell by 20-30%
7
Q
What was the political impact of WW1 on Germany? (4)
A
- By 1918 politics was a lot more polarised
- Spartacist League agitated for social revolution
- General Hindenburg was running a silent dictatorship
- discontent with the political and social situation with huge strikes occurring in 1917 and 1918
8
Q
What was the economic impact of WW1 on Germany? (2)
A
- Food shortages because German agriculture was not mobilised
- Printing money led to inflation so notes became worthless
9
Q
Why did Imperial Germany collapse?
A
- The working class started to become unhappy with the conservative political system
- World war one led to inflation and political polarisation so by the end of the war the nation was even more divided
- The German army was becoming exhausted and overstretched
- Germany’s impending defeat was shifted onto a new government
- German sailors mutinied
- Kaiser abdicated and the SPD took over and ended the war
10
Q
What were the main points of the new Weimar constitution?
A
- President elected every 7 years and could dismiss the chancellor who was head of the government
- The President was supreme commander of the armed forces
- The President could dissolve the Reichstag
- The Reichstag was elected every 4 years
- Proportional representation was used to conduct elections
11
Q
What was the Bill of Rights?
A
The Bill of Rights allowed for freedom is speech and religion, the right to work and the right to own property
12
Q
What was Article 48?
A
Article 48 allowed the President to rule by decree in the event of an emergency which made him quite powerful
13
Q
What was good about the Weimar Constitution?
A
It was very democratic and contained checks and balance to try and ensure no part of the political system became too powerful. It protected basic civil rights and there was universal suffrage
14
Q
What were the criticisms of the Weimar Constitution?
A
Article 48 gave The President too much power. Proportional representation made it difficult to form coalition governments
15
Q
How often was a new President elected ?
A
Every 7 years
16
Q
Who had the vote in Weimar Germany?
A
There was universal suffrage- both men and women over the age of 20 could vote
17
Q
Why might proportional representation have caused issues ?
A
It makes it difficult to form a stable majority government- parties have to form unstable coalitions. It also allowed for the rise of radical parties
18
Q
Why was the relationship between the President and Reichstag a potential issue?
A
The President was given too much power under 48 (almost like a dictator) and he could dismiss the elected Reichstag
19
Q
Why was the continuity of traditional institutions a problem?
A
Conservatives influenced the running of the republic and worked to undermine democracy (e.g. the army didn’t support the government)
20
Q
Who were the German communists (KPD) ?
A
- Extreme left- wing party
- Anti-republican
- Supported a revolutionary overthrow
- Most we’re working class
- The leader was Ernst Thalmann
21
Q
Who were the Social Democrats (SPD) ?
A
- Party of the working class and trade unions
- Supported parliamentary democracy
- Opposed revolutionary demands of left wing socialists
- Leader were Friedrick Ebert and Philipp Scheidemann
22
Q
What was the National Socialist German Workers’ Party (Nazis)?
A
- Extreme right wing
- Anti-republican, anti-Semitic and strongly nationalist
- Support from lower middle classes
- Leader was Adolf Hitler
23
Q
What is a diktat?
A
A “dictated peace”- a harsh settlement imposed on a defeated nation
24
Q
Who were the “November Criminals”?
A
The Weimar politicians who signed the Armistice agreement in November 1918
25
What were some of the terms of the Treaty of Versailles?
- Germany lost territory
- Germany had to accept liability for the war
- An Air Force was not permitted and the army was restricted to 100,000 men and the Navy was reduced to 6 battleships
- Germany had to pay £6600 million in reparations
- The Rhineland was demilitarised
- Saarland was under League of Nations control
- Union with Austria (Anschluss) was banned
26
What political problems resulted from the Treaty of Versailles?
- Government was unstable and unpopular
- There was a displacement of people
- The Weimar government was blamed for signing the diktat
- It adds fuel to the stab in the back myth
- The blame for the loss of WW1 was shifted to the politicians who signed the treaty
27
Name three reasons why 1923 was a year of crisis for Weimar Germany?
- Inflation had spiralled out of control (hyperinflation)
- French and Belgian troops invade the Ruhr
- The Munich Putsch
28
In what ways is WW1 to blame for hyperinflation? (3)
- High inflation due to food shortages
- Loans had to be paid back
- The government expenditure was high because they had to pay for war widows
29
How are reparation payments to blame for hyperinflation? (2)
- Had to pay £6600 million in reparations
| - Hard to pay due to inflation
30
How is the Weimar Constitution to blame for hyperinflation? (3)
- Pay for unemployed
- Support war veterans
- Made social security a right
31
How can the Weimar government be blamed for hyperinflation? (2)
-Printing more money during WW1 and the invasion of the Ruhr
Passive resistance
32
How can the allies be blamed for hyperinflation? (3)
- Wanted harsh reparations
- Invaded the Ruhr
- In 1922 the government tried to suspend reparations but allies refused
33
How can the invasion of the Ruhr be blamed for hyperinflation? (2)
- Hatred of French
| - Government paid Germans during passive resistance
34
What was the Spartacist Uprising?
A left wing uprising in January 1919. Thousands of armed workers poured into the centre of Berlin to demonstrate. Important buildings were taken over and the leaders of the KPD and USPD called for a general strike. The uprising was a result of the power struggle between the KPD and SPD
35
How did the government overcome the Spartacist uprising?
Hired the Freikorps (personal army) to put down the rebellion. 156 civilians and 17 Freikorps soldiers died.
36
What was the Kapp Putsch?
A right wing attempt to overthrow the Weimar government in March 1920. They took over Berlin on March 12 1920, causing the Weimar government to flee. They wanted to restore the empire and overturn the Treaty of Versailles
37
How did the government overcome the Kapp Putsch ?
The Stinnes-Legien Agteement offered legislation in working hours and union representation. Kapp’s opposition movement failed because the trade unions called a general strike which brought Berlin to a standstill
38
What were the Communist uprisings?
Communists governments set up in Bavaria and Saxony in order to try and take over those regions.
39
How did the government deal with communist uprisings ?
The communist governments didn’t have enough support and were put down by the Reichswehr (German army) using Reichsexekution. The Ebert-Groener Pact ensured the army supported the government as it opposed left wing ideas too
40
How many political assassinations were there between 1919 and 1922?
A total of 376 political assassinations. Right wing extremist organisations carried out 354 political assassinations
41
How did the government deal with political assassinations?
Those involved were trialled under the judicial system. Out of the right wing sympathisers, one life sentence and a total of 90 years imprisonment were handed out. For the left wing sympathisers, 10 death sentences, 3 life sentences and a total of 250 years in prison were handed out
42
What was the Munich Putsch?
A right wing uprising in November 1923 by the Nazis. They took advantage of the using unpopularity of the Weimar government and hyperinflation to try and take over Munich
43
How did the government deal with the Munich Putsch?
Someone informed the government about the uprising so the Nazis were defeated and captured by the police immediately. Hitler was trialled for treason and received 5 years in prison.
44
What were the three groups needed on side of the government to overcome opposition movements?
- Army
- Trade unions
- Judiciary system
45
What caused hyperinflation in Weimar Germany? Outline the 6 reasons
- Impact of the war (Germany had dealt with the cost of the war by printing more money)
- The Treaty of Versailles (Germany had to pay 6,600 pounds in reparations. This had to be paid for in gold and as the value of the mark decreased, they became harder to pay)
- The response of the government (The German government tried to pay reparations by printing more money. This made inflation even worse and the mark declined further)
- French invasion of the Ruhr (As a result of the Germans not paying their reparations, French and Belgian troops invaded the Ruhr which was a key German industrial region)
- The response of the government (The government started a policy of passive resistance. Then they paid the workers who went on strike and compensated lost revenue. To meet spending obligations, they printed more money)
- Hyperinflation crisis (The problem of inflation spiralled out of control. The mark became worthless and Germany had to resort to the black market and barter)
46
Who were the Friekorps?
Private, paramilitary groups made of former World War One soldiers.
47
What was the Stinnes- Legien Agreement?
An agreement between Ebert and Germany's trade unions. The government offered legislation on hours of work and union representation.
48
What was the Ebert-Groener Pact?
An agreement between Ebert and the army (Reichswehr). The army agreed to support the government as long as it opposed left-wing ideas of parties in the Reichstag.
49
What was Reichsexekution?
The removal of a local government which was a threat to the Weimar Republic which meant putting in place a military government to restore order.
50
How did the Weimar government get the judiciary on their side?
They didn't need to get them on their side as they were already very right wing
51
What suggests that there was a level of support for democracy during the years of Weimar Germany?
There was a very high voting turnout (around 80%) which shows people were eager to participate in democracy. The pro-constitution parties received more votes than the anti-constitution parties in every single election.
52
Why didn't the Weimar Government need to deal with more opposition from 1919-1929?
People disliked the government but they were generally supportive of the constitution and most didn't want to get rid of the democratic system.
53
What is some of the evidence that showed Germany was recovering by 1928?
- Germany was one of the world's leading exporters of manufactured goods
- By 1928, industrial production had surpassed pre-First World War levels.
- The USA had lent Germany 800 million marks to invest in industry and commerce
- Reparations were being paid and exports were increasing
- Government was increasing welfare benefits and wages
54
What is the evidence for continuing problems in Germany in 1928?
- Income from agriculture went down. Farmers' wages were half the national average
- Unemployment was a serious problem, the economy wasn't creating jobs fast enough for Germany's rising population
- There were still huge extremes of poverty and wealth, power and wealth concentrated only in a few men who ran Germany's industry
- The economic boom was unstable and loans could be turned in at any time which could ruin Germany
55
What was the economic impact of the Great Depression on Germany?
- Unemployment rose to 6 million
- 50,000 banks went bankrupt
- Industrial production declined by 40%
- 8.5% of the workforce was unemployed
- 5 major banks collapsed in 1931
- 1/3 of people were out of work
56
What was the political impact of the Great Depression?
- Grand Coalition fell apart because the parties disagreed over unemployment benefits
- 44 Emergency decrees were issued in 1931
- The German public lost faith in their political system due to political instability
- There were 461 riots dying the 1932 election campaign
57
How did Stresemann solve the problem of worthless currency?
He withdrew the worthless mark and replaced it with Rentenmark. It was later replaced with the Reichsmark. Old bank notes were recalled and destroyed
58
What is the evidence that Stresemann was successful in dealing with worthless currency?
- Inflation was brought under control
- Restored faith in German currency
- Prices settles
59
What is the evidence Stresemann failed in fixing the problem of worthless currency?
-People who had lost savings were not compensated. They were angry and blamed the government for their loss
60
How did Stresemann solve the issue of Germany being internationally isolated?
- Negotiated the Dawes Plan and Young Plan
- Called off passive resistance
- Admitted Germany into the League of Nations
61
How was Stresemann successful in making Germany less internationally isolated?
- Made reparations more manageable
- German exports back up to their 1913 levels of 10 billion marks by 1926
- By 1929 exports were 34% higher than in 1919
62
What is the evidence that Stresemann failed to solve the problem of international isolation?
- The economy remained fragile and became subject to changes in the US economy
- Unemployment remained around 1 million and began to rise after 1928
63
How did Stresemann solve the problem of small businesses going bankrupt?
He encouraged cartels (businesses joining together to try and control the market)
64
How was Stresemann successful in presenting small businesses from going bankrupt?
- Fixed prices helped to stabilise the economy
- By 1925, the chemical; industry was producing 1/3 more than in 1913 and 2/3 more by 1930
- Assembly lines
- There were 2500 cartels
65
In what ways did Stresemann fail to prevent small businesses going bankrupt?
- There were significant levels of dispute between business owners and workers
- Strikes and lockouts were common
66
How did Stresemann solve the problem of high tariffs on German goods? Was he successful?
- He admitted Germany into the League of Nations
- International agreements set up to restore Germany's status e.g. Locarno Pact said Germany would accept her new borders
As a result, German exports rose by 40% between 1925-29
67
What evidence is there that Stresemann didn't solve the problem of high tariffs?
- The value of imports always exceeded that of exports and Germany's balance of trade was in red.
- German exports continued to be hindered by tariffs
68
What is the evidence for success and failure in the attempt to solve the problem of small farmers being in debt?
Success:
- 1918 Reich Settlement law made landowners sell land to the government
- Farming remained a significant employer
Failure:
-Income per head in agriculture was 44% below the national average
69
How did Stresemann solve the problem of high government spending? How was he successful?
- Germany had to borrow money so was dependent on loans
- Heavy spending on social welfare
He was successful in providing housing and benefits for the poorest
He was developed good relations with the US- 25.5 billion marks were loaned between 1924 and 1930
70
How did Stresemann fail in fixing high government spending?
- Germany had to borrow more money when Germans refused to accept tax rises
- Industrial disputes between workers and business owners common which drove down wages and productivity
- Economic recovery was built on foreign borrowing and government support
71
Evidence that Stresemann achieved political stability 1924-28
- There were no putsches or political assassinations
- Support for extremist and anti-constitution parties declined
- Grand coalition commanded a secure 60% of the Reichstag
- President Hindenburg upheld the new constitution
72
Evidence that Stresemann did not achieve political stability 1924-28
- Forming stable coalition governments was difficult
- Some political parties did not work together well
- Support for extremist parties declined but still remained extremely high
- The turn-out to elections declined
73
How did Stresemann improve foreign policy 1924-28?
- Began reparation payments which allowed him to gain foreign loans through the Dawes and Young Plan
- The Dawes Plan helped to improve relations with France and led the French to promise to evacuate the Ruhr
- Germany was admitted into the League of Nations
74
What is the evidence that Stresemann failed to improve foreign policy?
- Nationalist right-wingers were opposed to the acceptance of the Treaty of Versailles
- The Dawes Plan was dependent on the continuation of American loans. Stresemann had linked Germany's future to forces beyond its control.
75
Name four reasons as to why the Weimar Republic collapsed.
- Weimar Constitution
- Hatred of ToV/ impact of ww1
- Economic problems
- Political opposition
76
How did the Weimar Consitution lead to the collapse of the Weimar Constitution?
- People could openly criticise it
- Too much power was given to the President (Article 48). 44 emergency decrees issued in 1931
- Proportional representation led to unstable coalition governments - there were 7 governments between 1923 and 1929
77
How did hatred of the Treaty of Versailles/impact of WW1 lead to the collapse of the Weimar Constitution?
- Germans resented the harsh terms
- Stab in the back myth
- Treaty of Versailles contributed to economic and political instability
- Lack of support for the Weimar Republic
78
How did economic problems lead to the collapse of the Weimar Republic?
- Had to pay harsh reparations of 6.6 billion pounds
- Invasion of the Ruhr
- Hyperinflation crisis of 1923
- 4.2 trillion marks needed to buy $1
- Stresemann and reliance on US loans
- Depression 1929
79
How did policial opposition lead to the collapse of the Weimar Republic?
- Early putsches e.g. Kapp, Munich
- Growth of Nazis
- Spartacist uprising
- Political assassinations
- Extreme right-wing undermined the Weimar Republic and made Weimar Germany look weak
80
How did the roles of women change in Weimar Germany compared to the years beforehand?
- women were more emancipated in terms of fashion and culture (fashion etc)
- more represented in politics
- more educated and more professions were open to them (although inequality in the workplace and traditional attitudes remained)
81
Traditionally a woman's role was defined by three words, what were they?
'Kinder, kurche, kirche'
82
By 1918 what percentage of women were in employment?
75%
83
What evidence of change is there for women in terms of politics and the law?
- women granted the vote in 1918
| - 112 women elected to the Reichstag between 1919 and 1932
84
What evidence of continuity is there for women in terms of politics and the law?
- legal status of women under the German Civil Code remained
| - no change in abortion laws
85
What evidence of change is there for women in terms of work and employment?
- female employment was rising
| - idea of single women working was more acceptable
86
How many female doctors were there by 1925?
2,500
87
What evidence of continuity is there for women in terms of work and employment?
- women expected to give up jobs done by men
- women paid less than their male counterparts
- number of women in professions still very low
- working in low paid jobs
88
How much less were women paid compared to their male counterparts?
33% less
89
What evidence of change is there for women in terms of culture and society?
- women abandoned traditional female behaviours
- flappers behaved with the freedom of a man
- advertisements and film glorified 'new women'
90
What evidence of continuity is there for women in terms of culture and society?
- politicians and the media criticised new women
- images criticised for seducing girls away from home and into cities
- criticised for being selfish
91
What evidence of change is there for women in terms of The Great Depression (positive)?
-female unemployment not hit as hard as male unemployment because they were cheaper to employ
92
What evidence of continuity is there for women in terms of The Great Depression (negative)?
- led to more hostility towards women
| - Chancellor Bruning passed a decree in 1932 allowing the dismissal of married women in government services
93
What was art like in Weimar Germany?
- New objectivity movement
- Artists wanted to understand ordinary people
- Artists like Georg Grosz and Otto Dix
- Strong political and social messages
94
What was architecture and design like in Weimar Germany?
- Bauhaus design school
- Bauhaus movement became a new style of architecture and design
- Functional and simple
- "Art and technology- a new unity"
95
What was theatre like in Weimar Germany?
- New objectivity developed into the Zeittheater
- New dramatic methods
- Playwrights like Bertolt Brecht
- Innovative techniques
- Controversial methods
96
What was literature like in Weimar Germany?
- Range of writing styles
- Some authors explored social issues
- "All Quiet On the Western Front" (1928)
- Berlin Alexandraplatz (1929)
97
How did mass culture in Weimar Germany reach out to people?
- Influenced by international developments
- Advertising as a communication method
- Jazz music from the USA
98
How did film in Weimar Germany reach out to people?
- Most advanced in Europe
- Encouraged by the Weimar government
- UFA- government organised film company
- Alfred Hugenburg ran it
- American movies made an impact
- International mass culture
99
How did cabaret in Weimar Germany reach out to people?
- Cabaret clubs opened in cities
- Mocked conventions of old Germany
- Satirical comedy, jazz, female dancers
- Allowed to showcase social themes and political developments
100
How did radio in Weimar Germany reach out to people?
- Medium for mass communication
- German radio company founded in 1923
- 1 in 4 Germans owned a radio by 1932
101
What was the German response like to cultural experimentation?
- most Germans were horrified by the decline in moral and cultural standards
- Allowed critics of both cultural developments and the government to express their views
- Right-wing supporters worried about the increase in Jewish artists
- Weimar society polarised
- Older generation
102
Overall, how did culture in Weimar Germany develop?
- cultural experimentation
- international influence
- society could be criticised
- decadent
- more modern and liberal
103
What were the Weimar government's aims for primary education?
- more equality in education (no fee-paying primary schools)
- want a more centralised education system
- lessen religious influence (secular education)
104
What was the Grandschule?
The compulsory and free education system set up for children aged 6 to 10 years
105
What were Confessional schools?
Faith-based schools which could run privately in Weimar Germany. These were mainly Protestant, Catholic and Jewish
106
What were Common schools?
A school that took children of all religious faiths and have them a separate religious education
107
What were Secular schools?
A school with no religious education
108
What was the Hauptschule?
A school that students attended for 5 years in order to go on to do apprenticeships or trade
109
What was the Realschule?
A school that students attended for 6 years in order to go into business or technical training
110
What was the Gymnasium?
A school that students attended for 9 years to secure the qualifications to go to University
111
Why was a federal law on education not introduced in Weimar Germany?
Political parties disagreed on how the education system should be run. Centre party wanted more faith schools. Education remained diverse under control of Lander
112
What were the similarities of the education systems of the Weimar Republic and the Second Reich?
- Class based system
- Fee paying secondary schools
- Still numerous faith schools
- Primary education was education
113
What were the differences of the education systems of the Weimar Republic and the Second Reich?
- Abolished fee paying primary schools
- Compulsory schooling goes onto 14 in the Second Reich
- More secular schools n Weimar Republic
114
What does the evidence about Universities in the Weimar Republic suggest about German society at the time?
- Upper class traditions upheld
- Favoured the rich
- Teachers more respected
115
In what ways were ethnic minorities treated equally in Weimar Germany?
- Article 113 of the constitution said that groups who spoke a different language could not be legally prevented from using their language, or preserving their national identity
- Jews had a huge influence on culture and some became politicians. 5 Jews held cabinet posts in the Weimar Republic
- Black musicians and writers were accepted in the cities
- In 1915, one-third of all married Jews were married to non-Jews
- 85,000 Jewish soldiers had fought for the German army in WW1 and 12,000 had died
- In 1925, there were over 200,000 Polish speakers in Germany
- The government banned a number of anti-semitic organisations (after Walter Rathenau's assassination)
116
In what ways were Jews unequal in Weimar society?
- Jews for blamed for the collapse of the economy and society's hardships
- The government was criticised for appointing Jews in high positions in government
- Walter Rathenau assassinated
- Some traditional members of the judiciary were anti-semitic and made racist remarks in their judgments
- More and more people began to support extreme right-wing and left-wing parties. Many of these were extremely anti-semitic
- German Peoples Offensive and Defensive Alliance was an aggressive, anti-semitic organisation and between 1919 and 1932 its membership rose to 170,000 members
117
In what ways were other ethnic minorities unequal in Weimar society?
- ethnic minorities faced low-level discrimination
- The lander did not always adhere to active 113
- Gypsies were discriminated against because they moved around as a community and did not contribute to the economy
- Several Lander attempted to pass laws to try and control the movement of Gypsies
- After 1923 black people faced rising hostility and when black units from French colonies were mobilised in Germany and 500 mixed raced children were born they were denounced "Germany's shame"
- After WW1 the border between Poland and Germany was redrawn which left people on the wrong side of the border, leading to significant hostility. 30,000 Poles left the country
- From 1871, with German nationalism and the idea of Volk ethnic minorities were not regarded as equal
