♡ DS1 - Was Weimar doomed from the start?

Spartacist Uprising:

Jan 1919

Held by Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebnecht

Aim: Overthrow Weimar government

Result: Freikorps stop uprising → leaders arrested and murdered

Kapp Putsch:

1920

Held by Wolfgang Kapp (Freikorps)

Aim: Declare a new national government

Result: Failure due to general strike in Berlin

Munich Putsch:

Nov 1923

Nazi party revolution

Against Reich government (due to them ending passive resistance)

Result: Easily crushed by army and police, Hitler sent to jail, 16 Nazis and 3 policemen killed

Aftermath of Munich Putsch:

Hitler allowed a speech in his trial → makes him and Nazi party well-known

Hitler writes Mein Kampf in jail → Democratic plans for Nazi party in the future

Cause: Hyperinflation

Ruhr invasion → Passive resistance (workers go on strike) → The Weimar government prints money to pay for the passive resistance → Hyperinflation

Effect: Hyperinflation

Unemployment

Loss of savings and pensions

Debts for loans decreased

Increased support in extremist parties

Weimar constitution:

Article 48: President can make emergency laws

Proportional representation: proportion of votes = proportion of seats

Advantages: Proportional representation

All people have equal rights

Fair distribution

Strong president to keep control

Disadvantages: Proportional representation

Extremist parties can also vote

No majority government → no strong government

President has too much power, can easily become dictator

Golden years of Berlin:

Arts (paintings, theatre, cinema)

Architecture

Cabaret and nightlife

Why did Berlin receive backlash during its Golden Years?

Berlin was seen as sleazy, corrupt and sex-obsessed