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How did Ebert maintain stability and set up the Weimar Republic
Agreement with General Groener- army works with government to keep communists under control
Armistice to end WW1 and accepted TOV
Promised no nationalisation of private industry to keep leaders happy
Promised 8-hour working days to trade unions
6 politicians formed Council of Peopleās Representatives to prevent anarchy and takeovers
What were the main terms of the Treaty of Versailles?
War Guilt Clause- Germany takes all blame for starting war
Reparations- Ā£6.6 billion had to be paid
Territory- Lost 11 colonies and 13% of land,
Army- Limited to 100k soldiers, 6 battleships and cruisers, 12 destroyers and torpedo boats
Why was the TOV so unpopular?
Diktat- Germans assumed Germany would negotiate terms of TOV but couldnāt, forced to agree every term which caused opposition
Dolchstoss- Germans didnāt believe the army lost in war, Critics said army was betrayed by government for accepting terms, even Chancellor of Weimar claimed the army didnāt lose
What was the Spartacist Revolt
Left-wing uprising in Jan 1919 which backed the KPD and were a communist militia
Called for an uprising and 100k workers took part
Seized government newspaper and telephone leader
Freikorps attacked the workers who had no weapons
Leaders eventually killed by the Freikorps which ended the uprising
What was the Kapp Putsch
Freikorp units near Berlin would lose their job due to being disbanded so they rebelled
Ebert ordered General Seecht to resist but he refused
Rebels controlled the city and put Wolfgang Kapp (Nationalist Politician) as figurehead leader
Government fled to Stuttgart as they feared for their lives
Many workers went on strike
Essential services- gas, electricity, water and transport stopped so capital came to a halt
Wolfgang Kapp realised he couldnāt govern and fled and died in prison
How did Hyperinflation occur?
Germany failed to send sufficient coal to France due to the TOV so the French occupied the Ruhr
Led to significant economic decline as 80% of German coal, iron and steel reserves were there
Increased debts, unemployment and shortage of goods led to inflation
Government printed more money in 1923 which made inflation worse.
Printed even more money to combat inflation which rose prices again- cycle continued
Effects of hyperinflation
Constantly worsening economy- Workers had to leave during working hours to spend their income
Worthless income- People had to carry bundles of money in baskets to buy one thing
Food shortages- Imports dried up as foreign suppliers refused to sell Germany goods due to worthless money
What was Stresemannās foreign policies
Accepted into league of nations- solve international disputes peacefully without war
Locarno Pact- Treaty between France, Italy, Belgium, Britain and Germany.
On equal terms with powers, Germany accepted 1918 borders
Rhineland permanently demilitarised
Impact of Stresemannās foreign policies
Support for moderate parties rose and Weimar more stable
No political figures assassinated between 1924-29
Support for extremist parties fell
What was Stressemanās economic policies
Rentenmark- Rentenbank (state-owned bank) issued a new currency and value tied to gold so had real value. Trusted at home and abroad which ended hyperinflation
Dawes plan, 1924- Reparations reduced to Ā£50 million a year, US gave loan to German industry ($25 billion in 1924-30). French left the Ruhr, increased employment, trade and income
Young Plan, 1929- Reparations reduced from Ā£6.6 billion to Ā£2 billion, led to lower taxes, Reparation paying time extended to 1988
What were the changes to living standards in the years 1924-29
Wages- Length of working week shortened and 10% increase in real wages
Employment- only 1.3 million in 1928 compared to 40% of workforce in 1924
Unemployment insurance- workers charged 3% of wages but received average of 60 marks a week when out of work
Housing- 2 million new houses built, 200k renovated, 33% increased spending on housing
What were the basis of of Nazi ideology
Lebensraum- Need for living space so German nation can expand
Strong Germany- TOV abolished and all German-speaking people united
Fuhrer- single leader with complete power rather than democracy
Social Darwinism- Superior Aryan race and Jews subhuman
Autarky- Germany should be economically self-sufficient
Germany in danger- Communists and Jews must be destroyed
Summarise The Munich Putsch
Hitler, General Ludendorf along with 600 SA members in 8th Nov 1923
Burst into a meeting, demanding support for the Putsch at gunpoint
Take control out of Weimar as it was socially and economically crippled
Consequences of the Munich Putsch
Got Nazi views out to a wider audience
Only served 9 months in prison despite being sentenced 5 years
Rethought strategy and wrote Mein Kampf
Hitler got arrested and found guilty of treason
How did Hitler develop the Nazi Party
Personal appeal- Very good public speaking skills, Membership grew from 1000 in June 1920
Party leadership- surrounded himself with supporters, powerful friends such as General Ludendorf
SA- Formed from unemployed, ex-soldiers, students or demobilised soldiers. Paraded in streets to show force and impressed people, subdued all opposition
How was the Nazi Party organised
Different Departments- Treasury, Foreign affairs etc.
Membership- Youth and women memberships, national party
Individuals- Himmler (SS leader), Goebbels (Propaganda), Ernst Rohm (Leader of SA)
Why did Nazi votes decline
Votes went from 6.5% in May 1924 to 2.6% in 1928
Stressmannās economic and foreign policies improved conditions
People didnāt want change
Economy boomed and people were comfortable so didnāt turn to extremes
How did the Wall Street Crash impact Germany?
Unemployment- business make less money so fire workers, led to less sales which decreased employment even more
Taxes- Taxes raised to pay unemployment benefits but benefits were cut
Savings- People who had savings invested in shares which crashed, leaving no savings
Homelessness- Many people couldnāt afford housing so many makeshift houses popped up. 24% increase in theft
How did they try to fix the Wall Street crisis and why did it fail
Bruning proposed higher taxes but a fixed time limit on unemployment benefits
Left wing opposed reduced benefits and right wing opposed higher taxes
Used article 48 to forcefully pass laws which made people less faithful in Weimar as not what people wanted
Why did the Wall Street Crash push people towards extremism?
Communism- People saw them as only party who would defend their jobs and wages (votes grew from 10% to 15% between 1928-32)
Nazis- Communism feared by German upper and middle classes as theyād seize land and companies
Nazis grew as Hitler opposed communism
Why did people support the Nazis?
Appeal of Hitler- People saw Weimar as weak but Hitler as someone who could restore order. SA made them seem organised and reliable
Farmers and Businesses - Hoped Hitler would protect them from Communist Party who would confiscate their land (had 60% of votes in rural areas)
Women- Women would play a traditional role in society so NSDAP would be best for families
Young People- saw rallies as exciting due to the colours and atmosphere, speeches were stirring and promised a lot
Middle class- Saw Hitler as a leader who would help country recover, protect them from communism, wanted a traditional Germany
How did Hitler become Chancellor?
Hindenburg- A monarchist who forcefully passed laws using article 48, No public faith and weakened the Reichstag, leaving Hitler to exploit it
Von Papen and Schleicher- Right wing conservatives who wanted to move towards a āstrongerā government controlled by industrialists and land owners. Used German Army rather than Reichstag to keep power, undermining the Weimar Republic
All 3 underestimated Hitler and believed they could bring Hitler and Nazis into power and control them
Summarise the Reichstag Fire
Feb 27th 1933- Reichstag building burnt down by a communist Marinus Van der Lubbe. Executed but Hitler claimed it was part of a communist conspiracy
Arrested 4000 communists and Hitler gave himself power to imprison political opponents and ban communist newspapers. Had 2/3 of seats in the Reichstag in next election
Summarise the Enabling Act
March 1933- act designed to destroy power of Reichstag. Laws only proposed by Hitler and overrule Weimar. Used Nazi stormtroopers to pressure opposition into signing
Hitler now make his own laws and ended the democratic rule
Summarise the Night of the Long Knives
Hitler worried Ernst Rohm would challenge for power. Arranged a meeting with Rohm and SA leaders but proceeded to arrest, imprison and shoot them. 800 political figures assassinated
Hitler now had full control of the SA and had no worries about others trying to seize power
Summarise the death of Hindenburg and how it helped Hitler
Died 2nd August 1934. Hitler declared himself Fuhrer and now had Chancellor and Presidential powers. Forced oath of loyalty from every soldier in the army
Hitler had 90% of votes in favour of him being Fuhrer
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