Wiemar Germany Flashcards
What was the main purpose of the Weimar Constitution?
To make Germany one of the most democratic nations.
What happened to the Kaiser after world war one?
Kaiser Wilhelm the Second abdicated to the Netherlands.
Who became Chancellor of Germany in 1918?
Frederick Ebert became Chancellor.
What system was used to split the seats in the Reichstag?
The system of proportional representation.
What was the name of the upper house?
The reichsrat.
What was the purpose of the reichsrat?
The reichsrat was made up of representatives from each German state and could delay new laws.
How many years were elections held?
Every four years.
What was the minimum voting age in Weimar Germany?
The age to vote was 21.
How many years were between elections for the president?
The President was elected every seven years.
What was the purpose of the president?
To appoint a chancellor, and to be able to run the country through emergency powers if needed.
What was the purpose of the Chancellor?
The Chancellor was responsible for the daily runnings of the country.
What was the far-left political group called?
The Spartacists/
What was the moderate-left political group called?
The moderate-left political group was the Social Democratic Party (SDP)
What communist uprising occurred in November 1918?
The Spartacists attempted to set up an independent socialist state in Bavaria.
Who was the Spartacist leader responsible for the November 1918 uprising?
Kurt Eisner.
What communist uprising occurred in January 1919?
The Spartacists attempted to create a communist revolution by talking over Berlin and the Baltic Ports. Although within weeks the Freikorps and Army had defeated the putsch.
Who were the leaders of the January 1919 communist uprising?
1) Rosa Luxemburg
2) Karl Liebknecht
What communist uprising occurred in March 1920?
A group of communists called the ‘Red Army’ started an uprising in the Ruhr in 1920, in response to the Kapp putsch. It ended in disaster for the communists after they were defeated by the army and police.
When was the Kapp Putsch?
The Kapp Putsch was March 1920.
What was the Kapp Putsch?
The Kapp putsch occurred in march 1920 and was a revolt by the right wing against the government. Dr Wolfgang Kapp lead a group of 5,000 Freikorps to take over Berlin, although the putsch ended in disaster when the workers went on General Strike.
In total how long did the Kapp putsch last before it was called off?
4 days.
Why was the Kapp Putsch a disaster?
The Kapp Putsch ended in disaster as the workers started a general strike in Berlin, causing the city to essentially shut down.
When was the French invasion of the Ruhr?
The invasion of the Ruhr occurred in January 1923.
What was the reason for the French invasion of the Ruhr?
Because Germany stopped paying back reparation payments, the French decided to take back the value owed in Material Goods.
What was the annual value of marks Germany had to pay back in reparations?
132,000 million marks / year.
What caused the German economy to collapse during the Ruhr invasion?
The German Workers went on Passive Resistance, causing German exports to stop as factories shut down. This meant the economy was not taking enough money in.
What year did Hyperinflation occur in?
Hyperinflation occurred in 1923.
What caused Hyperinflation?
The Weimar Government printed more paper money to pay off it’s debts. Although this caused prices to rise (inflation) rapidly and become out of control.
Which groups of people were most affected by Hyper Inflation.
Those who were on fixed incomes or had property/ savings.Such aspensionersor themiddle classes.
What was the value of the mark against the dollar in 1914?
$1 = 4 marks.
When did Gustav Stresseman get power?
He formed a new government in September 1923.
What was the new currency called that Stresemann introduced in November 1923?
In November, he stopped printing the mark and soon after created the rentenmark.
What did Stresemann do about the French troops in the Ruhr.
Stresemann called off the passive resistance, to get the economy moving again. Although the French troops did not leave the Ruhr until 1925.
When did the Munich Putsch occur?
In November 1923.
What was the Munich Putsch also called?
The Munich Putsch was sometimes referred to as the Beer Hall putsch.
What was the Purpose of the Munich Putsch?
The Munich Putsch was an attempt from the early Nazi Party to take over Bavaria and then to take over Berlin. They thought the people would rally with them and join them in taking over the Weimar Government.
Why did the Munich Putsch fail?
The Putsch failed because the people did not support the putsch as Hitler had thought. Also, Hitler was soon arrested along with other leading Nazis which made the party weak.
Who were the two leaders of the Munich Putsch?
1) Adolf Hitler
2) Ludendorff
Where was Hitler imprisoned following the Munich Putsch?
Hitler was imprisoned at Landsberg castle.
How long did Hitler Serve in Prison?
Hitler served only 9 months of his 5 year sentence.
What did Hitlers short imprisonment term say about the courts/judiciary?
It showed how the courts supported the right-wing groups in Germany, and not the Weimar Government.
What was the book called that Hitler wrote while in Jail?
Mein Kampf - (My Struggle)
When was the Dawes Plan signed?
The Dawes Plan was signed in 1924.
What was the value in marks loaned through the Dawes plan?
800 million marks.
What were the benefits of the Dawes Plan?
1) It was easier to pay back reparations.
2) Unemployment decreased.
Which groups of people still struggled despite the Dawes Plan being signed?
Small Business owners, such as shopkeepers and farmers continued to struggle.
In what year was Germany allowed into the League of Nations.
Germany was allowed into the League of Nations in 1926.
What year were the Locarno Treaties signed in?
The Locarno Treaties were signed in 1925.
How many agreements were in the Locarno Treaties?
There were seven agreements.
What was the purpose of the Locarno Treaties?
To secure borders after the first world war, and to improve relations between nations.
What Happened to extreme political groups after 1924?
Groups such as the Nazis started to win fewer seats in the Reichstag, they lost support during these years as many people (such as workers) were happy with the SDP. Although the Nazi0.00s were gaining a group of strong supporters.
In what ways did culture change in Weimar Germany?
1) Bauhaus Design.
2) Freedom of speech.
3) Cinema / Movies became more popular.
