Weimar Germany Flashcards
strengths of Weimar Republic
All Germans could vote
Proportional representation
Each state kept control of some own affairs
Weaknesses of Weimar Republic
Not Sensible to give equal rights To those who wanted to destroy it
Proportional representation meant weak governments
the president had too much power (1923-33) abandoned democracy
army leaders opposed the new republic - wanted Kaiser back
judges also served under Kaiser and had sympathy for those who opposed the republic
When was the Weimar Republic Created?
1919-33
When does kaiser abdicate?
9 November 1918
What does Ebert Do?
Signs armistice
Holds elections
SDP win 40%
Ebert becomes chancellor
Spartacist Aims
Overthrow new republic - wanted rule like Russia
Spartacists leaders
Rosa Luxemburg
Karl Liebknecht
When did Spartacists try to seize power?
5 January 1919
What stopped the success of Spartacist Revolt?
Ebert Groener Pact
Ebert Groener Pact Details
General Groener:
support new republic
offer troops
offer freikorps - 4000 strong
Ebert:
Stop Revolution
Protect status of army
Not reform army
freikorps
hard men
hated communists
-felt they had been stabbed in the back
by signing the armistice
4000 strong
Importance of the Spartacists
Showed opposition was divided:
Spartacists (extreme) left-wing-Communist
republic (moderate) left wing
Showed the republic was unstable:
relied on 4000 strong freikorps
Showed Russia’s influence on Germany of Bolshevik revolution
German Revolution Causes
Faliure in WW1
Hardship caused by war
food shortage
death
Russian revolution’s influence on Germany
Many wanted to overthrow Kaiser
Effects Of German Revolution
Freidrich Ebert Appointed chancellor
Armistice agreed by New German Government
Treaty of Versailles Agreed
When was the treaty of Versailles signed?
June 1919
Who was TOV signed with?
Britain France Japan USA Italy
TOV Military Terms
Army limited to 100 000 volunteered men
No Tanks
No U-boats
No aircraft
6 Battleships
Rhineland demilitarised
TOV War Guilt Clause
6600 Million Pounds to be paid in reparations
TOV Geographical Clause
No union of Germany and Austria
German colonies in Africa given to allies
Effects Of Treaty Of Versailles
Weimar republic immediately associated with humiliating treaty
Opponents of the Republic (especially the army) blamed it for signing the armistice which leads to the treaty
Germany could not afford reparations
lost areas that made lots of money
Kapp Putsch Causes
Dr Kapp led 5000 strong freikorps
The government was weak so Kapp decided to seize power
Freikorps hated treaty of Versailles
hated the government for signing it
hated being ordered to disband
Effects Of Kapp Putsch
Public Supported Government
(they organized a general strike)
Army did not support republic
(Refused to stop kapp in seizing berlin)
Ruhr Invasion Date
January 1923
Ruhr Invasion Key Events
Reparations late
Governments could not use force to fight back
Passive resistance
Sabotaged Equipment
Strikers
Denied key services
Troops shot strikers
ruled with an iron hand
Effects of Ruhr Invasion (Good)
United Germans
Strikers were seen as heroes
German government became popular for backing passive resistance
Effects of Ruhr Invasion (bad)
Money printed to pay workers wages
Money printed to pay reparations
Lead to hyperinflation
Effects Of Hyperinflation (good)
Mortgage holders paid debts
foreigners exchanged currency
people who rented a property with long term rents gained back real value
Rich industrialists who borrowed money paid it back with virtually useless money
Hyperinflation (bad)
Pensions wiped out
Savings Wiped out
Wages could not keep up with inflation
people could not afford necessities
workers wages kept high from the pressure of reparations
When did Gustav Stresemann become chancellor?
August 1923
Stresemann Main Role
Dawes Plan
Rentenmark
Called off passive resistance
Agreed to start paying reparations
Foreign secretary in 1924
Hindenburg Elected president
1925
