Weimar PowerPoints Flashcards
PreWar Germany
Kaiser- King of Prussia, Emperor of Germany.
Chancellor Head of Reichstag and Government served under Kaiser.
States kept some regional powers.
Bundersrat made up of the Lander
Lander- representative of German States.
Reichstag
Creation of Germany
Wilhelm 1 King of Prussia Powerful Northern State.
Bismarck Chancellor of Prussia.
Germany was a collection of independent states.
Split mainly between north and south
Treaty of Versailles (TOV)
Big 3: Britain, France, USA.
Opposed to Germany.
Reperations were over $60 billion.
In September 1926, Germany joined the League of Nations.
German Army limited to 100,000 soldiers, Navy limited to 15,000 sailors.
Abdication of the Kaiser
After war the government was led by Prince Max.
Pushed constitutional reform.
Spartacists wanted a state like Russian where Tsar had been removed.
Prince Max urged Kaiser Wilhelm to abdicate. He refused.
Nov 8th, 1918, Bavaria declared itself a self-independent republic.
Wilhelm II abdicated and fled to the Netherlands.
Exile and death
In 1922, Wilhelm published 1st volume of his memoirs.
Insisted he was not guilty of initiating the Great War.
Defended his conduct throughout his reign
- esp foreign policy.
He hoped the success of the Nazi Party would lead to his grandson’s installation as Kaiser.
Hitler viewed him with contempt.
Occasionally wrote to Hitler congratulating his victories.
Died 4th June 1941- Doorn, Netherlands.
Hitler wished for his body to be buried in Germany- not what Wilhelm wished.
Pre War
Politically strained at the start of 1914 war.
Reochstag parties supported Kaiser.
Military high command under a political truce.
Kaiser Wilhelm II, not an effective war strategist.
Millitary High Command, led by Hindenburg and Ludendorff.
Reichstag ignored by millitary high command.
Faced economic and military near-collapse.
High-rising social unrest + political discontent.
The Council of Peoples Representatives
Nov 10th, 1918, New Gov set up.
Led by Socialists, held power in Reichstag.
SPD (Friedrich Ebert) + USPD (Hugo Haase).
Ebert became chancellor of a cabinet of SPD + USPD.
New gov faced all the problems of the previous one and faced a month of unease and unrest.
Ebert-Groner Pact
Pact with the Army.
Wouldn’t support anymore left-wing parties in the Reichstag.
Haase didn’t want to deal with the army until it had been reformed and become economic.
Ebert wanted to call immediate elections.
Wanted to leave reform to who would lead new Gov.
End of the War
Nov 11th, 1918, WW1 ended- armistice was signed.
Gov passed some reforms to try to deal with unrest- independent trade unions, 8-hour working days, and greater health benefits.
Elections fixed- Jan 19th, 1919.
Grown rift between SPD and USPD- didnt agree on how radical to make policies.
USPD left to join the KPD.
The Spartacist Revolt
Jan 1919
Communist-led uprising against Weimar Republic.
Aimed to establish a communist state by force and overthrowing gov.
Triggered by protests against dismissal of Berlin’s police chief.
General strike and seizure of key Gov buildings.
Freikorps
Parliamentary group after WW1.
Made up mostly of former soldiers.
Anti-communist + right wing.
Significant role in suppressing revolutionary movements.
Contributed to political instability.
The creation of the Weimar Constitution
Still in Weimar for the 19th Jan election.
82.7 percent of electors voted.
SPD did not get majority- could only govern by forming a coalition with other parties.
SPD formed a coalition with DDP.
Other parties had seats but were not part of the Gov.
Challenges to the constitution
Gov was immediately unpopular.
Opposition shown through voting, debate, and violence.
Germany full of soldiers who joined parliamentary groups.
- Due to instability, stayed till 1920.
Political Extremism and Crisis
Weimar Gov came after a violent upheaval.
After war Germany full of many unemployed men trained in war
Private armies formed for political groups.
Added to violence surrounding new Gov.
- forced to leave Berlin in 1919 and 1920- threatened with violent overthrow.
Why the gov opposed for by extremist left and right parties
Involvement in Tov.
Liberalism and democratic principles.
failure to produce a strong decisive government and strong leader
Failure to unite Germany.
The Munich Putsch
Failed coup d’état by the Nazi party.
Beer Hall Putsch, November 8/9th, 1923.
A fight broke out-Nazis, police, and army.
Hitler and key followers arrested.
Adolf Hitler main leader and organiser.
Economic crises and Gov response 1918-23
Period of rising inflation.
Ending of war increased number of unemployment.
The value of wages, savings, and payments dropped.
First Crisis: Social Welfare
Retraining schemes- provided loans to help those leaving the army until they found work
Pension payments for wounded, widows, and orphans.
Gov looked after disabled veterans and survivors with a mix of lump sum payments and pensions.
10% of population receiving welfare payments.
Much more on regional poor relief.
Gov had to go into debt to make the payments.
2nd Crisis: Debt + Reparations
Gov heavily borrowed during the war.
By 1918 owed about 150 billion marks.
The TOV policy added to this debt.
Gov carried on borrowing and printing money.
France felt Germany was trying to avoid any payments.
Consequences: The ruhr
Jan 1923, Germany failed to pay reparations in full.
London Ultimatum of the Allies - payments should be met, or the Allies would occupy the Ruhr.
France did it with aid of Belgian troops.
Gov stopped all payments to France.
Gov told German officials not to obey orders by non-Germans.
Urged workers in Ruhr to passive resistance.
French cut of Rhur from rest of Germany-borders, control over postal and telegraph.
New colation gov stopped passive resistance; negotiations with France began.
Consequences: Hyperinflation
