Weimar Republic Flashcards
What were the terms Imposed upon Germany from the Treaty of Versailles?
Land gained at the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk and areas rich in coal and iron were taken.
Forbidden to unite with Austria
Rhineland became demilitarized
Army was limited to 100,00
132,000 million gold marks in reparations
What was the impact of WW1?
Destroyed world trade networks and exports from Germany had ground to a halt
Immensely costly - led to inflation
Caused the morale of Germans to drop
German people were living in poor standards and conditions due to the terms
What were the crises caused by Political Extremism?
Spartacist Revolt Kapp Putsch Ruhr Uprising Munich Putsch Communist Revolt
What was the Spartacist Revolt?
Spartacists tried to seize power by force to create a social republic, but was put down by the Freikorps.
What was the Kapp Putsch?
Right wing leaders led by Wolfgang Kapp took the Freikorps on a march to seize Berlin and install a new government. The army refused to fire upon troops as Freikorps consisted of ex-soldiers so the government was forced to flee. Kapp set up his government but he was not as popular, so after protests his government fell in 3 days.
What was the Ruhr Uprising?
As a reaction to the Kapp Putsch the left wing took over 50,000 men known as the Red Army to seize the Ruhr. The movement was crushed by the Freikorps after a civil war who acted without any request.
What was the Munich Putsch?
Hitler stormed a large beer rally along with 600 SA men and declared that a national revolution was taking place. Ludendorff and the Bavarian Prime Minister after threatening and intimidation told the men to suport Hitler and the Nazi’s to overthrow Weimar. Hitler let Rahr the PM go and he told the police who then arrested Hitler
What was the Communist Revolt?
Took control of a region in Germany and the Freikorps under request from the Government attacked and crushed them. This emphasises how Left vs Right abolished problems against Weimar, they cancelled each other out.
What was Hyperinflation?
By 1923 the value of the German currency was so devastatingly low. By continuing to print off more money to pay off France the value plummeted/ Germany was unable to produce the cash or resources therefore had to take loans from America.
How did the Great Depression affect Germany?
Germany was hit particularly hard by the depression as it was so dependant on loans from America. The loans stopped and America wanted the money back.
This caused a rise in unemployment for both men and women and hostility towards women. Bruning passed a decree allowing for the dismissal of married women in government.
How was the Wermar Constitution implemented in government?
Article 48 gave emergency power to the President and allowed him to pass laws without the Reichstag. The government used proportional representation which meant that people voted for a party instead of a specific person. This meant that it was hard for parties to have a majority in the Reichstag and meant it was unstable.
How were women treated in Weimar?
During the war women took the place of men in factories, on farms and almost every sphere of life. In 1918 armament company had over 28,000 woman.
Women were now allowed to vote and women took seats in the Reichstag
Women were paid 33% less, married women working was not accepted
Explain the changing roles of Women in Weimar?
Wanted independence. They abandoned female behaviour and wore revealing clothes, cut hair short, smoked and drank.
Tolerant atmosphere, allowed for sexual morality in Germany. There was a greater degree of sexual liberty and could challenge the traditional values of strict Imperial Germany
Explain how Ethnic Minorities were treated in Weimar?
Low-level discrimination, received lower wages, but liberal laws were implemented to stop racism.
The Lander wanted the gypsies to carry identity cards and tried to push for laws to control their movement
Mixed race black kids were described as German shame. Discriminated against due to French colonists invading the Ruhr
