Weimar Republic 1918-29 Flashcards
What was the impact of the First World War on Germany
2 million German troops died and over 4 million were wounded
Allies set up naval blockades which prevented imports of food and essential foods so many people faced starvation
More than 750 000 Germans died because of food shortages
How was the Weimar Republic formed
Done on 31 July in 1919 in Weimar not berlin where there was still social unrest
Freidrich Ebert became the first president with Phillip Schiedsmann as chancellor
February 1919 the members of the new reichstag met at Weimar to create a new constitution for germany
What we’re the strengths of the Weimar constitution
Promotional representation-all political parties who received votes won seats in the reichstag. This means there was a broad range of political opinions represented
Article 22-all German citizens over 20 could vote. This was reduced from 25 to 20. And all women could vote too
Strength of Weimar constitution
Article 48-In the event of an Emergancy the president could rule without consulting the reichstag. And the Reichrat could regulate the power of the reichstag by delaying new laws.
Election for president was every seven years
What we’re the weaknesses of the Weimar constitution
Proportional representation- meant that smaller more extreme parties could get seats into the government. It also led to many disagreements and not much action as there were many different perspectives
This led to coalition governments that were unstable or found it difficult to have strong policies and often fell apart
Weaknesses of the Weimar constitution (2)
Article 48-when a desicion couldn’t be reached tje president could suspend the constitution and pass laws without the reichstags consent. The d could be abused in the wrong hands and give too much power to the president, undermining the new democracy
What was the treaty of Versailles
In early 1919 the victorious Allies met to discuss how to punish Germany and on 28 June 1919 the new German government was forced to sign a peace settlement called the Treaty of Versailles. The treaty punished Germany militarily, territorially and financially
What was the Dolchstoss theory
The “stabbed in the back” myth was the theory that the Weimar government had betrayed the German people by surrendering in WW1 and signing the treaty of Versailles. They were named tbe november criminals.
What we’re the terms of the treaty of Versailles
Blame-article 231stated that germany had to accept blame for the war. The war guilt clause
Reparations-as the war guilt clause made germany accept the blame for the war, the allies stated they were entitled to reparations. 6.6 billion was to be paid in yearly instalments to the allies . This caused lasting damage to Germanys economy
Terms of the TOV (2)
Armed forces- Germany’s army and navy were significantly reduced in size and its air force abolished. This meant that a maximum of 100,000 troops were allowed in the army and conscription (compulsory service) and tanks were banned. Germany’s navy was reduced to 15,000 personnel, allowed only 6 battleships and no submarines.
All planes were destroyed and no Air Force
Territory- Germany lost land on all sides of its borders as well as its overseas colonies (other countries under Germany’s control). Alsace-Lorraine went back to France.
Eupen-Malmedy was recognised as Belgian.
France also took the coal from the Saar region, which became a League of Nations protectorate for 15 years. Eventually the Ruhr would also be occupied by the French. Germany lost 13% of its European territory. And 11 colonies
The Rhineland was demilitarise between France and Germany as a buffer zone
What we’re the consequences of the treaty of Versailles
Germany felt betrayed by the Weimar Republic-caused resentment
Germans called the treaty a Diktat (a treaty forced upon germany)
And many blamed Ebert for accepting its terms
Who were the Spartiscists
Left wing communists. It was led by Karl lie nicht and Rosa Luxemburg
To establish a communist government in germantb
What we’re the events of the spartiscist uprising
During 5 – 12 January 1919, 50,000 members of the post-World War One Communist Party, known as the Spartacists, rebelled in Berlin, led by Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht.
The government was saved when, through the army, it armed bands of ex-soldiers, known as the Freikorps, who defeated the Spartacist rebels.
In the aftermath, communist workers’ councils seized power all over Germany, and a Communist People’s Government took power in Bavaria.
Who were the FREIKORPS and what was the aftermath of the spartiscist uprising
FREIKORPS we’re right wing nationalist and anti communist. Ebert asked them to defeat the spartiacists which the agreed to
Liebknecht and Luxemburg were killed by the Freikorps after being arrested on the 15th. Luxemburg’s body was dumped in a canal.
By May 1919 the Freikorps had crushed all of these uprisings.
What we’re the events of the Kapp putsch
In crushing the communists the Freikorps had saved the government, but the terms of the Treaty of Versailles meant Germany’s army had to be significantly reduced and the Freikorps had to be disbanded.
During 13 - 17 March 1920, as a reaction to this, the right-wing nationalist, Dr Wolfgang Kapp led a Freikorps takeover in Berlin
In order to put down the Kapp putsch the government organised trade unions to go on strike. The national strike caused so much chaos that Kapp couldn’t rule germany and was forced to flee
Why was there hyperinflation
1914-1918- the government printed more money (reparations) but it was bankrupt
1918-1922-Weimar government printed more money for post war shortages and asked for longer to pay the first reparations instalment
Jan 1934- french troops invaded the ruhr to take reparations payments in goods and raw materials. German workers went on strike as instructed to do so by the Weimar government. 80% of German coal, iron and steel reserves were in the ruhr and many of its factories. The occupation was a disaster for the German economy
