Weimar's Political Crisis

Question 1

body of the consitution

Answer 1

proportional representation
federal structure
was declared a ‘democratic state’ although held title of Reich
President- had powers to dissolve reichstag
appointment of chancellor
The Supreme Commander of the Armed forces
Article 48- use in emergency
Bill of Rights introduced- welfare state

Question 2

issues of controversy

Answer 2

proportional representation
relationship of president, reichstag and emergency powers under Article 48
judiciary were biased - only 28/354 right-wing assassins found guilty 10/22 left wing assassins sentenced to death
army had great status

Question 3

what was the significance of Weimar Constitution

Answer 3

the spirit of constitution was democratic and progressive but institutions were dedicated to values of imperial Germany

Question 4

Treaty of Versailles

Answer 4

28th June 1919
Woodrow wilson
George Clemenceau
David Lloyd George

Question 5

what were the terms of TOV

Answer 5

territorial agreements - Alsace Lorraine
anschluss
war guilt- article 231
reparations- 1921 IRAC £6600 million
the saar be under control of the League of Nations
Disarmament- reduce army 100,000 and abolish conscription. Rhineland had to be demilitarised
Maintaining peace- covenant of League of Nations
seen as a Diktat

Question 6

significance of ToV

Answer 6

economic - consequences of reparations
allowed build stab in the back myth

Question 7

threat from the extreme left

Answer 7

KPD opposition- 10-15% of support
bad co-ordination
poor leadership- friekorps
concessions- forced split such as Kapp Putsch
repression

Question 8

threat from extreme right

Answer 8

DNVP- landowners and industrialists
Friekorps- 200 parliamentary units 1919
political murders 376- 22 by left and 354 by the right - Matthias Erzberger Finance Minister- signed armistice

Question 9

extreme right uprisisngs- Kapp Putsch

Answer 9

march 1920
Wolfgang Kapp and General Luttwiz- 12000 Freikorps to march on Berlin and seize main buildings with little resistance
army failed to provide support for Ebert
called for general strike and putsch collasped
emphasises support of the German people for weimar but also lack of control over army which resulted in its reorganisation and remodelled - strict military discipline under General Seeckt
only 1 of 705 prosecuted was actually found guilty and sentenced to 5 years imprisonment

Question 10

extreme right uprisings- Munich Putsch

Answer 10

8-9th November 1923
Hitler and Nazi supporters stormed beer hall where von Kahr addressing and declared a ‘national revolution’
Bavarian police and Seeckt used army to crush putsch
14 nazis killed and Hitler charged on treason
but hitler received only 5 years and released after less than 10 months