Weimar republic (1924-29 ) Flashcards
when was the Weimar republic established and what were its strengths and weaknesses.
July 1919
Strengths:
proportional representation good for small parties.
Women able to vote
no one could hold too much power
weaknesses:
weakness in crisis as lack of unity, causing the president to pass laws using article 48.
very unpopular as it was not the choice of the people
proportional representation led to many small governments.
what was the treaty of Versailles and when was it signed?
signed June 1919 the terms are: Germany had to accept full blame for the war( article 231) Pay £6.6 billion in reparations Only 100,000 soldiers, no tanks and no air force The Rhineland to be demilitarised lose all overseas colonies Alsace-Lorraine given back to France.
What was the “stab in the back” theory
Many German people believed Germany would have won the war but due to the the politicians who betrayed Germany by signing the treaty they were humiliated.
This lead to 376 political assassinations between 1919[-1923.
what was the spartacist uprising and when did it occur.
In January 1919 communist separatists led by Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht took over the governments newspaper and telegraph bureau, and organised a general strike leading to the government sending Freikorps to put down the revolt.
what was the Kapp Putsch and when did it happen?
In 1920 right wing ex-soldiers led by Wolfgang Kapp marched into Berlin and took charge of Berlin. In order to put down the revolt the government ordered a mass strike of trade unions which caused massive chaos and the fall of the Kapp Putsch.
What was the hyperinflation crisis and when did it happen?
Germany didn’t pay reparations in 1923.
French and Belgian soldiers invaded the Ruhr to take reparations in forms of Raw materials.
Weimar government organised passive resistance by ordering a strike.
Weimar government printed more money to pay strikers and for loss of steel, coal and iron.
This caused the value of the mark to decline rapidly and make it worthless.
How did the hyperinflation crisis both benefit and hurt different people?
benefit: Farmers benefitted as food was worth more people could pay off loans and mortgages fixed rents became much more cheap visitors could buy more for their money
negatives:
people could not afford essentials like bread.
many businesses went bankrupt
savings became worthless
made the Weimar government even more unpopular.
How and when did the hyperinflation crisis end?
In 1923 Stresemann introduced a new currency called the Rentenmark which was tied to the value of gold, and replaced the old currency
what was the Dawes plan?
In 1924 reparation payments were decreased to £50 million a year and US banks made loans to Germany, this was helped by Stresemann’s policies which were more welcoming and friendly to the allies.
What was the Young plan?
In 1929 total reparations were decreased from £6.6 billion to £2 billion.
Reparation payment could be made over a much longer period of time.
However this was opposed by parties such as the Nazis as they believed it carried the burden to future generations.
what were strengths and weaknesses of the German economy?
pros:
industrial output doubled by 1928
employment and international trade increased
cons:
The economy was dependant on foreign loans which could be called back at any time.
Extreme political parties were against Germany paying any reparations at all.
Stresemann’s success nationally and internationally
Germany joined the Locarno pact in 1925 which respected the borders of other countries and permanent demilitarisation of the Rhineland.
Germany joined the League of nations in 1926, which aimed for world peace
Germany joined the Kellog-briand pact in 1928, which aimed to prevent militaristic disputes between countries.
How were women affected in the Lean years (1924-1928)?
Work:
More women went to university and were employed in jobs like teaching and medicine
Leisure:
Women were less interested in marriage and family and more on a “good time” and adopted American values.
Politics:
Women earned the vote in 1918 and had equal rights with men.
What were some cultural changes in art, cinema and architecture?
Art:
New “expressionism” style where aspects of like were drawn, decrease in traditional art.
Cinema:
American cinema spread in Germany and acting flourished
Architecture:
New building designs such as the Bauhaus type which were more modern and artistic.
how did Hitler become chancellor and what were the roles of Von Papen, Von schlicher
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