weimar and nazi germany

kaiser wilhelm

last German Emperor and King of Prussia until 1918

Weimar Republic

historical period of Germany from 9th November 1918 to 23rd March 1933. it was a constitutional federal republic for first time in history

SPD

social democratic party, largest party during first 13 years of the republic

Freidrich Ebert

Leader of SPD in 1918 and became first ever chancellor (equivalent to PM) of Weimar Republic

Reichstag

German parliament building

directly elected by the people at least once every 4 years

diktat

imposed upon Germany, not negotiated by them

Freikorps

soldiers demobilized after WW1 that help put down German communist revolts, still had army weapons, mostly extreme right wing, 250,000 by March 1919

how many died due to ww1 food shortages in Germany

750,000

why did conditions get worse quickly in ww1 Germany

British naval blockade stopped supplies entering Germany

government debt in 1918

150 billion marks

examples of poverty in post ww1 Germany

• no warm clothes because mills making army uniform

• miners drafted so no fuel to heat homes

• ration supplies fell eg no fish by 1917, no potatoes in winter of 1917-18 (turnip winter)

how many German soldiers killed/wounded in ww1

2 million killed

4 million wounded

political state at end of ww1

workers fighting against gov, strikes, wanted communist government, fighting on streets, government lost control

7th November 1918- Kurt Eisner in Bavaria declared a communist government

Abdication of the Kaiser

9th November 1918

refused until army officers at HQ refused to support him

went into exile in Holland

declaration of republic

• 9th November 1918

• Sheidemann (leading member of SPD) was told about armed rioters and communist gov preparing to take over

• he declared from a window in the Reichstag that Kaiser had gone and there was a new republic

take over of new government

• 9th-10th November 1918

• on 9th November Kaiser's chancellor handed over to Ebert (leader of SPD)

• on 10th November Ebert made agreement with general of army to keep out communists and suspended old Reichstag

• 6 moderate politicians appointed to dorm Council of the People's Representatives to run government until new constitution

Armistice

11th November 1918, ceasefire of ww1

how long to establish new republic

9 months - Nov 1918 to July 1919

how did Ebert increase confidence in republic during formation

• kept old civil servants from Kaiser who collected taxes, ran public services etc

• told General Groener that army would not be reformed at all so Kaiser's officers kept ranks

• told industry leaders that unlike communist threats they wouldn't confiscate land or businesses

• won support of trade unions with promises of better conditions for workers

Elections for National Assembly

19 January 1919

82% of electorate had voted - showed that people were convinced by ideas of republic

moderate parties were biggest winners - SPD 40%, centre party 20%

first national assembly meeting

February 1919

Met in Weimar due to violence in Berlin

Ebert said it was job of newly elected national assembly to create constitution

when was treaty of Versailles signed

28th June 1919

impact of republic signing treaty of Versailles

treaty unpopular with German people as it was a diktat made by the allies and was harsh on the republic eg war guilt and reparations

republic looked weak and as if it had betrayed army

Positives of new constitution

• proportional representation so fair representation including of smaller parties

• all men and women aged 21+ given the vote

• relatively frequent elections

• Reichsrat could stop Reichstag passing laws if necessary

Negatives of new constitution

• coalition governments who disagree more likely so difficulty forming strong policies especially during crisis

• led to riots which had to be put down by army as hated by the left and right

• PR means more extreme views represented

• president could dismiss Reichstag

proportional representation

• used to elect the Reichstag

• eg 20% of vote = 20 seats in Reichstag

• smaller parties represented with fair share of seats

issues with PR

• over 29 parties in Reichstag in 1929 - coalition governments likely

• meant no clear accountability in government, lack of strong policies, an inherently unstable government

• 1919-1923 - 9 different coalition governments

article 48 of constitution

in a crisis Chancellor could ask president to pass a law by decree and not go through the Reichstag

by 1930 chancellor regularly used to push laws without Reichstag approval

local government

although central gov held most power, some traditional powers retained by local governments in each of 18 regions of Germany eg controlled police and schools

meant central gov couldn't become too powerful

Reichsrat

also elected every 4 years

represented regions of Germany

could delay any new laws passed by Reichstag as a counter-balance if necessary

president

head of Weimar republic

elected by the people every 7 years

no part in day to day politics

important powers eg chose chancellor

could dismiss Reichstag, call new elections and assume control of army

chancellor

head of gov in republic

chose all gov ministers

(equivalent to UK pm)

USA Woodrow Wilson aims on TOV

• end war by creating league of nations

• ensure Germany not destroyed

• not to blame Germany for war

• no more secret alliances

• no more empires

Britain David Lloyd George aims on TOV

• a 'just' peace - tough enough to please those who wanted to make Germany pay but leave Germany strong enough to trade

• land for empire

• ensure their naval supremacy

• protect international trade

France Georges Clemenceau aims on TOV

• punish Germany and seek revenge

• return Alsace-Lorraine to France

• no league of nations

• huge reparations

• disband German army

Land - TOV

• Eupen and Malmedy given to Belgium

• Germany lost 13% of total European land

• Posen and West Prussia given to Poland (Germany divided in half)

• Alsace and Lorraine Given to France

• Germany's overseas colonies given to allies

Armaments - TOV

• German army limited to 100,000 troops

• not allowed submarines, tanks or air force

• navy cut to 6 battleships and 15,000 men

Rhineland demilitarised (no German troops in area next to France)

money - TOV

• CLAUDE 232 reparations fixed at 136,000 marks (£6.6 billion)

• lost 50% of iron mines and 15% of coal reserves

clause 231 - TOV

• war guilt clause - Germany must accept entire blame for the war