Weinmar Republic Flashcards
What was the impact on Germany from WW1
2 million German troops died and 4 million injured, German government went into debt from 50 billion marks to 150 billion marks from money borrowed to fund ww1, over 750,000 German citizens died from food shortages
What was the result of then impacts of ww1 on germany
With the public opinion turned against him, Kaiser Wilhelm 2 of Germany abdicated on the 9TH OF NOVEMBER 1918. He lives the rest of his life in exile in the Netherlands.
What happened after Kaiser Wilhelm abdicated
A new republican government, the Weinmar republic, was formed in Germany.
What was the German revolution
Kaiser Wilhelm’s abdication of the throne and the formation of the Weinmar republic
Why was the Kaiser’s abdication a problem for Germany
No one was leading the country which created chaos and instability
What is a constitution
The set of rules for how a country’s political system works
Describe the president in the Weinmar constitution
-elected every 7 years
-chose who got to be chancellor
-could use article 48 to pass laws without parliament approval
Describe the chancellor in the weinmar constitution
-head of government
-usually came from the largest party in the Reichstag
Describe the cabinet in the Weinmar constitution
The main depiction making body of the government
Describe the parliament in the Weinmar constitution
Reichstag-the more powerful house who we’re directly elected by the people at least once every four years using proportional representation
Reichsrat-represented the regions of Germany
Who was the electorate made up of in the Weinmar constitution
Consisted of all men and woman who we’re over 21
What we’re the strengths of the democratic Weinmar republic
All the people had the same rights in law including the right to vote in democratic elections
What we’re the strengths of a president in the Weinmar republic
A strong president could protect the country in times of crisis
What we’re the strengths of the chancellor in the weinmar republic
The chancellor needed to command a majority in the Reichstag, so their appointment was democratic
What were the strengths of proportional representation in the Weinmar republic
Fair and represented everyone’s views
What we’re the strengths of Article 48 in the Weinmar republic
In times of crisis this could be used to swiftly respond to events to make laws without the reichstag’s consent
What were the strengths of the states rights
Individual states have a degree of independence meaning they are able to stand up to the government
What we’re the weaknesses of the democratic Weinmar republic
The republic faces serious opposition from people who didn’t want democracy to succeed
What we’re the weaknesses of the president in the Weinmar constitution
He may be biased when picking a chancellor and could use article 48 to pass laws without approval
What we’re the weaknesses of the chancellor in the weinmar republic
Hard for him to have a majority in parliament meaning he had to make deals with other parties
What we’re the weaknesses of proportional representation in the weinmar republic
Led to too many small political parties in the reichstag. No single party could get a majority so parties had to form coalitions. This led to a weak and unstable government
What were the weaknesses of article 48 in the Weinmar republic
The president could use it to pass bad laws which may have an affect on the government without approval
Opposite of democracy
What is the weakness of the state’s rights in the Weinmar republic
Individual, states could oppose governments and go against its policies
When was the treaty of Versailles signed
June 1919
What we’re the 6 policies of the treaty of Versailles
The Diktat, article 231, reparations, reduction of military, loss of land and colonies, stab in the back myth
What was the diktat and its effect on Germany
-Germany had no say in the TOV and all requests from them were refused.
-humiliated Germany, damged power and status, led to resentment of victorious countries
What was article 231 and its effect on Germany
-Germany had to accept full responsibility for causing WW1 despite the role that other countries played
-frustrated Germany, felt they we’re being treated unfairly
What we’re the reparations and their effect on Germany
-Germany had to pay 136,000 millions marks too the victorious powers to compensate for war damage + the output of the Saar coalfields we’re to be given to France for 15 years
-placed a huge strain on the German economy making harder to recover from war
What was the reduction of the military and its effect on Germany
-the German army was limited to 100,000 mean down from 4 million, no air force permitted, navy was down to 6 battleships 12 destroyers and 12 torpedo boats, not submarines, the Rhineland was demilitaries and occupied by allied troops
-led to mass employment in Germany, unable to defend themselves
What was the loss of land and colonies and its effect on Germany
-all 11 of Germany’s colonies we’re given to the victorious country’s including Alsace-Lorraine to France and West Prussia to Poland. Overall Germany lost 10% population, 13% of land, 50% iron reserves, 15% coal reserves
-made Germany even weaker by dividing country, no longer an empire, loss of resources made it harder to pay reparations
What was the stab in the back myth and its effect on Germany
-many German citizens believed that their army hadn’t been defeated in ww1 but had been betrayed by politicians
-cause distrust and resentment towards politicians, government became more unstable and unpopular, rebellions launched against government
When was the spartacist revolut
January 1919
Who led the spartacist revolt
Rosa Luxemberg, Karl Liebkneckt
Who was the political alignment of the spartacist revolt
Communist
What we’re the aims of the spartacist revolt
-overthrow government
-replicate 1917 Russian revolt
-turn Germany communist
What happened during the spartacist revolt
50,000 workers went on strike, protestors armed themsekves
How did the Weinmar republic respond to the spartacist revolt
They fled Berlin to Weinmar, freikorps used to kill protestors
What we’re the effects of the spartacist uprising
Instability of government in Germany and divisions on left wing, 100 dead including leaders, hatred of government from communists and working class Germany
When was the Kapp Putsch
March 13th 1920
Who led the Kapp Putsch
Wolfgang Kapp, generals Luttwitz and Luderndorf
What was the political alignment of the Kapp Putsch
Extreme nationalists
What we’re the aims of the Kapp Putsch
Believed stab in the back myth, wanted to make Germany a dictatorship, wanted to destroy communism
What happened during the Kapp Putsch
Luttwitz, Kapp and Freikorps seized Berlin and claimed that a new nationalist government was being established with Kapp as chancellor, Ebert told army to intervene but they did not want to fight Freikorps
How did the Weinmar republic respond ton the Kapp putsch
Ordered army to intervene when they did not they fled to Dresden and left Berlin, leaders ordered a general strike paralysing Berlin, Kapp then fled
What we’re the effects of the Kapp Putsch
Showed that government lacked authority and army support
