Section B: the early challenges to the Weimar Republic 1919-23

Why was the Treaty of Versailles called a diktat?

Because Germany had no say in its terms.

What nickname did Germans give to the officials who signed the treaty?

The “November Criminals.”

What myth claimed the army hadn’t really lost but was betrayed by politicians?

The “stab in the back” (Dolchstoss) myth.

What was Article 231 of the Treaty of Versailles?

The War Guilt Clause — Germany was held solely responsible for WW1.

How much were reparations fixed at in 1921?

£6.6 billion.

For how many years would France receive coal from the Saar?

15 years.

What happened to the Rhineland under the Treaty?

It was demilitarised.

Key military terms of the treaty of versailles

• The army was limited to 100,000 men. 

• The navy was limited to six battleships. 

How much European territory and population did Germany lose?

13% of land and 10% of its people.

How much of its raw materials did Germany lose?

50% of iron reserves and 15% of coal reserves.

What did extreme right-wing groups want?

A strong government, army, and leader (like the Kaiser).

What did extreme left-wing groups want?

Germany controlled by the people and opposed capitalism.

What percentage of seats did moderate parties hold in 1919?

77%.

What percentage of seats did moderates hold after the June 1920 election?

45%.

What problem did this drop in moderate seats cause?

Coalition governments struggled, while extremists gained strength.

Who led the Spartacist uprising?

Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht.

What triggered the uprising on 4th January 1919?

Ebert sacked Emil Eichhorn, the police chief in Berlin.

How many workers went on strike in Berlin on 6th January 1919?

100,000.

Who crushed the Spartacist revolt?

A: The Freikorps.

Why did the Spartacist revolt fail?

It lacked widespread popular support.

What happened to Luxemburg and Liebknecht?

They were captured and killed.

What caused the Kapp Putsch?

The government tried to shut down the Freikorps.

How many Freikorps took part in the march on Berlin?

5,000.

What did General Seeckt say about the army’s refusal to stop the rebels?

“Reichswehr does not fire on Reichswehr.”

Who led the rebels in Berlin?

Wolfgang Kapp, a right-wing politician.

How was the Kapp Putsch defeated?

Workers went on strike, stopping essential services.

What did the Putsch reveal about the government?

It was weak and depended on workers to survive.

What happened to Kapp afterwards?

He fled abroad with a false passport.

How many political assassinations occurred between 1919–22?

376.

Name two politicians assassinated in this period.

Matthias Erzberger (1921) and Walther Rathenau (1922).

Why were right-wing murderers rarely punished?

Judges were sympathetic to the right.

Q: What were the armed men hired by the KPD called?

A: Red Front Fighters.

Why did France and Belgium occupy the Ruhr in 1923?

Germany stopped paying reparations.

What was passive resistance?

Ruhr workers went on strike, refusing to produce goods for the French/Belgians.

How did passive resistance trigger hyperinflation?

The government printed money to pay striking workers and cover lost income.

When was hyper inflation

1923

How bad did prices get during hyperinflation?

a loaf of bread cost 200,000 billion marks; people carried money in wheelbarrows and were paid twice a day.

What happened to trade and goods in Germany during hyperinflation?

Foreign suppliers refused German marks, so imports stopped and shortages of food and essentials occurred. People began bartering instead of using money.

Which groups were most affected by hyperinflation?

The middle class lost their savings, and pensioners on fixed incomes struggled to survive.

What were the social and political effects of hyperinflation?

 Many lost faith in the Weimar Government, unemployment rose, and extremist parties gained support.