Weimar Germany and the Great Depression

Question 1

weakness of the Weimar government

Answer 1

• government would be decided through the process of proportional representation = number of votes you get as a % of total vote -> number of seats you get in the Reichstag
• development of article 48 = emergency decree powers to protect the republic from crises ( BUT no clear definition of what a crisis was)

Question 2

punishments of Treaty of Versailles

Answer 2

• article 231 = full responsibility for the war and the losses and devastation caused
• reparations worth 6.6 billion
• lost 10% of territory -> 12.5% of population now living in other countries
• army limited to 100,000 men and conscription was banned
• x submarines or airplanes allowed
• only 6 battleships

Question 3

impact the ToV had on the Weimar government

Answer 3

the new government had no choice but to accept these punishments -> huge amounts of unpopularity aimed at the new Weimar Republic -> ‘November Criminals’

Question 4

reasons for instability of Weimar republic by 1923

Answer 4

POLITICAL:
- Jan 1919=spartacist uprising (communist led rebellion in Berlin + want to bring communist style govt to Gr)
- Mar 1920=Kapp Putsch (right-wing nationalist inc former members of military attempts to set up new govt)
- Mar 1923=Munich Putsch (attempt by Nazi Party to overthrow the Gr govt)

FINANCIAL:
- failure to make reparation payments to french-> Fr occupies Ruhr region
- govt prints more $ = hyperinflation and currency became worthless

Question 5

reasons for recovery of the Weimar govt throughout the ‘Golden Years’

Answer 5

• Chancellor Gustav Stresemann (aug-Nov1923) bought stability back to govt and economy = end of hyperinflation
• American provides 800 mil gold marks to kick-start economy
  -reparation payments and reduced while time to pay increased (Young Plan)

Question 6

limitations of recovery of the Weimar Republic

Answer 6

• Gr = still suspicious of democracy -> frequent changes of govt
• continuing to pay rep and deal with punishments
• eco recovery = dependent on USA loans
• extremist parties still have influence
• some views cultural changes as threat to traditional Gr values
• Stresemann died in 1929

Question 7

impact of the Great Depression on Germany

Answer 7

• US (Wall street crash) gave 90 days to repay loans
• tariffs in US -> less Gr goods exported to USA which decrease profit
• Gr industrial production decreased by 58% in comparison to 1928 levels
• unemployment grew rapidly (6.1mil in 1933) =mass poverty
• unity with govt breaks
• extremist political parties began to increase in popularity ( Nazi + Communist)