Studied by 13 people
Kaiser Wilhelm II
Emperor of Germany during World War I, resigned 9 Nov 1919 after giving more power to Reichstag
What French President George Clemenceau wanted from the treaty
Revenge, prevent Germany invading again, land like Alsace-Lorraine, reparations
what US President Woodrow Wilson wanted from the treaty
no more wars in Europe fought by US
what UK prime minister David Lloyd George wanted from the treaty
no more wars, german demilitarisation, reparations
Weimar Republic
Democratic Germany 1919-1933
Reichstag
German Parliament
President of Weimar Republic's role
Head of state
Chancellor of Weimar Republic's role
Head of government
Friedrich Ebert
Leader of Social Democrat Party and Weimar Republic who succeeded the German Empire
Proportional representation
Number of votes directly proportional to number of seats, very hard to gain majority
Article 48
allowed the president of Germany to rule by decree in an emergency
Treaty of Versailles 1919
Harsh treaty Germany had to sign following their loss in WWI
Diktat
'Dictated peace', weimar had no input on treaty and had to sign it
Clause 231
War guilt clause, allowed other clauses to be put in place
Reparations
$6.6 billion fine to be paid by Germany to allies for war damages, Germany in debt, had to take out loans
Territorial losses
Lost land such as Alsace-Lorraine and the Gdansk corridor
Demilitarisation of the Rhineland
the area on the border with France was demilitarised
Military reduction
Military was just enough to defend (100,000 soldiers, 15,000 sailors, 6 battleships, no planes, armour or conscription), many left without jobs
loss of overseas territories
All their overseas empire and colonies were lost, reducing resources
who benefited from hyperinflation
Farmers (food prices rose), Foreigners (exchange rate), those who had loans (debt fell)
Hyperinflation
inflation that is out of control, £1=M20 in 1914, =M1,680,600 trillion in 1923
Gustav Stresemann
Foreign minister who solved economic crisis and foreign relations
Stresemann's actions
called off passive resistance in Ruhr
introduced rentenmark
didn't print more money
cut government money and salaries
increased taxes
Stresemann's impact
solved hyperinflation
allowed germany to enter foreign relations to make it easier to pay reparations
allowed germany to join the league of nations
Rentenmark
interim currency introduced by Stresemann to solve hyperinflation by replacing Papiermark in 1923, was tied to price of mortgages not gold, replaced by Reichsmark in 1924
Ruhr Crisis 1923
French & Belgian occupation of industrial area in response to Germany stopping payment of reparations
Ruhr workers' response
they went on strike, no income from ruhr for Germany
How was the Ruhr Crisis solved?
In Aug 1924 US helped payments with Dawes plan and troops were removed Aug 1925
The Spartacist Uprising 1919
100,000 workers went on strike in support of the communist KDP. 100 were killed by the ex-army Freikorps. working class grew to hate social democrats and supported the russian revolution.
Karl Liebknecht & Rosa Luxemburg
Communists who led the KDP and Spartacist Uprising, killed by Friekorps
Kapp Putsch 1920
Nationalist Dr. Wolfgang Kapp and the Freikorps revolted when Ebert demobilised two brigades due to the Treaty of Versailles. Berlin was taken as regular army refused to fight Freikorps but workers went on strike in opposition which ended the coup. Rebels were given light sentences
Anton Drexler
Founded extremist German workers' party and recognised Hitler's talents in 1919, helped him with the 25 point plan in 1920. The same year, DAP became the Nazi party and Hitler became leader.
25 point plan 1920
Hitler and Drexler's agenda for the Nazi party
Hitler's political skill
He was a great public speaker
Main points in 25 point plan
ethnic purity, aryan race supremacy
support for middle class
destruction of the Treaty of Versailles
support for ethnic germans 'lebensraum' living space
strong central government and fuhrer
Why was the time and place of the Munich Putsch suitable
Bavaria and Munich was strongly anti-weimar
Mussolini had recently taken rome
hyperinflation at its highest
Munich Putsch 1923
unsuccessful coup of a munich beer hall by nazis
munich putsch events
Hitler, Goering & Rohm took the Munich beer hall with 600 SA brownshirts, putting Kahr and other Bavarian politicians in another room and persuading him to support the putsch. WWI general Ludendorff marched with reinforcements
why did the munich putsch fail?
Kahr was allowed to leave but notified the army. in the morning Ludendorff was restless so marched out but the disorganised amateurs were met by the army and 16 putschists died
Munich Putsch consequences
Hitler and other leaders were put on trial for treason but given light sentences. Media coverage brought country-wide support for Hitler
Treaty of Rapallo 1922
resolved relations with USSR, industrial and military collaboration allowed evading of versailles treaty
Dawes plan 1924
US helped with the payment of reparations
locarno pact 1925
Germany's western borders secured with France & Belgium, guaranteed by UK & Italy
Young plan 1929
20% of reparations written off, US gave loans, reparations to be paid until 1988
Germany's entry into the League of Nations 1926
reimposed as global power, reentered international talks, but could not fight any aggressors
Reichstag Principle
that nazis wouldn't be able to rebel against the government, it would have to be infiltrated and destroyed from the inside
Fuhrer Principle
Hitler thought that in order for nazis to succeed they would need one all powerful fuhrer
Note 
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