Weimar Republic and its early problems Flashcards
1
Q
What was Ebert’s approach?
A
- Keeping civil servants for previous government and telling them to work with new workers’ and solders’ councils.
- Reassured industry leaders that the new gov. would not take state control over private industries
- Promised trade unions that the new republic to reduce work hours to 8- hours a day
2
Q
What were the main problem of this approach?
A
- Germany was politically divided and economically divided
- There was a lack of commitment
- The system of proportional representation gave many political views and Germany had no experience of running a political system in this way.
3
Q
Article 48…
A
- Article 48 stated that in an emergency, President could make laws without consulting the Reichstag first
BUT
What was considered an emergency?
4
Q
Strengths of the Weimar Rep.
A
- German people got a lot of say
- Proportional Rep, meant that all parties that revived votes had representation
- Liberal framework for Germany to operate
5
Q
Weaknesses of Weimar Rep.
A
- Majority gov. was unachievable due to Proportional Rep meant that the gov. was weak and many small and sometimes extremist parties won seats
- The President now had huge amounts of power
6
Q
Treaty of Versailles
A
- Lost 13% of its European territory
- Article 213 -> War Guilt
- Reparations of £6,600 million to Allies
7
Q
Treaty of Versailles- Military Restrictions
A
- No Tanks
- No Air force
- No Submarines
- 100,00 men in the army, used internally only.
- 6 battleships
8
Q
German Reaction to the Treaty
A
- Article 231 was humiliating, German public strongly resented this
- German people were angry at gov. for signing the treaty -> “November Criminals”
- > Stab in the back
9
Q
Challenges from Left ; Sparticus uprising Jan 1919
A
- After abdication of Kaiser, the Sparticus League tried setting up a communist gov. in Berlin
- 5 Jan 1919 a revolt was organised
- Occupied headquarters of gov. newspaper and telephone offices and attempted a general strike.
- Gov. turned to units of volunteer soldiers - Freikorps who hated communists
- Rosa Luxenburg and Karl Liebknecht were shot
10
Q
Challenges from Right ; Kapp Putch March 1920
A
- Freikorps were strongly against terms of Treaty
- ex- soldiers( due to Treaty’s terms of German military) felt unable to adjust to civilian life after the war.
- in 1920, Ebert tried disbanding two Freikorp groups-> revolted
- Declared Dr Wolfgang Kapp as Germany’s new leader.
- German army refused to stop them beacuse they felt sympathy for aims of Kapp Putch.
- Ebert moved gov. out of city and encouraged a general strike. He fled to Sweden…
- Shoed gov. had little military power and couldn’t control its capital.
11
Q
French occupation of Ruhr
A
- In 1922, Germany said that they couldn’t afford to pay reparations
- Jan 1923, Belgian and French troops occupied Ruhr ( Germany’s industrial heartland)
- German gov. encouraged passive resistance and would continue paying the workers.
- Germany was left with no goods to treade -> gov. started to print more money
12
Q
Causes of Hyperinflation, 1923
A
- Banknotes, gov. printed more bank notes so it would have enough money -> 1923 had 300 paper mills and 200 printing shops printing $
- More banknotes in circulation -> value dropping + price rising
- After WW1 and reparations for TofV Germany printed more money.
- Post- invasion of Ruhr, printed more money for striking workers.
- > > Value of Mark dropped dramatically
13
Q
Effects of Hyperinflation, 1923
A
- Fall in value -> massive price increase
- Millions of Germans went into poverty. pensioners who’s income was soon worthless. Savings/ insurance was wiped over night
14
Q
Who were the few who benefited from hyperinflation?
A
- People with loans/ mortgages eg. bushiness loans
- People who owned buildings/ land-> value rose in line with inflation
- Most farmers who could put their food at higher prices.
