Why was the Weimar Republic so unpopular Flashcards
When was the treaty of Versailles signed
June 28, 1919
What did the treaty of Versailles do to Germany
Damage Germany’s economy making the Weimar Republic week from the start as people blame the leaders for signing it
What was the treaty of Versailles
Peace treaty made by their allies Britain France and USA at the Paris peace conference (Germany wasnt invited)
What was Friedrich Ebert’s reaction to the treaty of Versailles
Initially refused but couldn’t take the risk 7 June 1919 he accepted the terms
What was the treaty and the Republic referred to as
The November criminals for surrendering in November 1918 and being traitors to their country
Backstabbers for betraying the army as they thought they could still win
Called the treaty Dicktat which means forced peace
What was article 213
War guilt clause
Germany have to take full responsibility for starting the war
How much money in article 232 did Germany have to pay the allies in reparation
6.6 billion
How many men with the German army limited to
100,000 men
Six battleships
Six cruises
12 destroyers
12 torpedo boats
No submarines
No planes or air force allowed
no military allowed in the Rhineland
What happened to the area of Saar
Was an important industrial area I was put under control of the league of Nations for 15 years
What happened to Germany’s colonies in Africa
They were given to the allies
The league of Nations was formed for who was not allowed to join
Germany
What happened to the city of Danzig
Was taken from Germany and made a free city under the league of Nations
What happened to the Rhineland
It was demilitarised
What happened to Anschluss (Union)
The union between Germany and Austria was forbidden
Who was the Spartacist
Left-wing
came from the independent socialist party
had backing from the Soviet union
led by Rosa Luxemburg and Karl liebknecht
based in Berlin
What did the Spartacist believe in
Communism and wanted Germany to be run by workers and soldiers
Who were the Freikorps
Right-wing
made up of ex soldiers who had kept their weapons
had 250,000 men in March 1919
organised by regular army
What did the Freikorps want
Egg soldiers recently home from World War I hate of the Spartacist because they blame them for stirring up trouble at the end of World War I
Right wing Nazi party beliefs
Hey to the treaty of Versailles and wanted to make Germany great again
Who were the SA
Storm troopers
violent group of ex soldiers
guard Hitler’s meetings and disrupt other parties
When was the spartacist uprising
6th January 1919
What occurred at the spartacist uprising
Spartacist trying to take over Berlin, thousands on the street shooting guns and trying to take over import buildings
Took over government newspaper and telegraph bureau and try to organise a general strike in Berlin 
What did Ebert do in response to to the spartacist uprising
Sent 2000 Freikorps to attack
after three days of fighting the gained back buildings and arrested and beat the leaders (Rosa Luxembourg and Karl liebknecht)
When did the kapp putsch occur
March 1920
Why did many Freikorps decide to march on Berlin
As they feared unemployment as the treaty only allowed 100,000 men in the army and 12,000 men were disbanded
What happened during the kapp putsch
Wolfgang kapp gathered and joined with leader general lutwitz and gathered 5000 me and ex police police officers to take over Berlin
What did ebert do in response to the kapp putsch
Ordered army to stop them but general said ‘troops don’t fire on troops’
Workers went in strike so there was no food/water or electricity and the kapp putsch failed
Kapp fled after 100hrs
Political attacks on the Weimar Republic
Right wing parties in the reichstag
The kapp putsch
Right wing bias in courts
Political assassinations
Left and right wing political armies
The spartacist revolt
Left wing parties in the reichstag
When were politicians in the Weimar Republic worried about being assassinated
From 1919 - 1923
How many political assassinations took place in the early years of the Weimar Republic
376 political assassinations
Reactions to the murders
Right wing extremists used the murders to weaken the new republic
Conservative judges were sympathetic to the conservative cause and gave them light punishments
