HISTORY REVISION

The Treaty of Versailles

Signed on the 28th of June, 1919. A treaty between the Germans and Allied Nations that formally ended WW1

The Weimar Constitution

Forged on the 11th of August, 1919. A post war legal framework intended to represent an age of democracy and freedom for the German people, introducing the presidential system of government.

The Reichstag

Was the lower parliament and the advisors of the newly elected president, and held the most influence due to being representative of the German people.

The Weimar Republic (The Liberal Experiment)

Formed on the 9th of November, 1918 and collapsed on the 30th of January, 1933. Known as Germany’s 14 year experiment with Democracy

The Stab-In-The-Back Myth

The idea that Germany/Austria lost WWI due to internal traitors plotted and worked against them. It was used as a backing of numerous discriminatory and antisemitic campaigns.

The Beer Hall Putsch

Occurred on the 8th/9th of November, 1923. An attempted overthrowing of the republic led by Hitler and his associates, resulting in both his imprisonment and solidified sociopolitical presence.

Weimar’s Golden Age

Begun in 1924 and lasted until 1929. A period of prosperity where Germany extensively invested into the artistic and social scenes and lavish lifestyles through overseas loans.

The Hyperinflation Crisis’s Impact

Occurred in 1923. Reparations triggered mass changes in the economy, raising prices, destabilising wages and devaluing currency due to it being printed. Primarily impacted the middle/working class.

The Spartacist Uprising

Begun on the 5th of January, 1919, and ended on the 12th of January, 1919. A failed Communist uprising that was staged in Berlin by the KPD party.

Why did the Left not accept the Weimar Republic?

Sought a more revolutionary approach beyond an established democracy, believed it was inherently weak and corrupt due to its reliance on external parties and profits

Why did the Right not accept the Weimar Republic?

Believed it was an international acceptance of failure, and a way of jeopardizing the positions of businessmen and elites

The Dawes Plan

Proposed on the 14th of January, 1924, and later enacted on the September 1st,1924.An agreement that resolved the post-WW1 crisis of German reparations and ended the French and Belgian occupation of the Ruhr industrial region

The White Terror

Occurred from 1920 through to 1922. A spate of about 400 political murders, mostly committed by the extreme Far Right and some by the Left.

Kapp Putsch

Begun on the 13th of March,1920 and lasted through to the 19th of March, 1920. Wolfgang Kapp and General von Luttwitz attempt to overthrow the government

The Locarno Pact

Enacted on the 1st of December, 1925. A series of agreements that solidified the borders between Germany and France/Belgium, removed foreign tropes from Rhineland and opened discussion to the Germans joining the League of Nations.

The Young Plan

Proposed on the 17th of May, 1929, and later enacted on the 1st of September, 1930. An agreement negotiated to reduce and settle Germany's WW1 reparation obligations under the Treaty of Versailles.

The League of Nations

Formed on the 10th of January, 1920. The first intergovernmental organization established to promote international cooperation and to achieve international peace and security.

The Kellog Briand Pact

Enacted on the 27th of August, 1928. An international agreement that stated not to use war to achieve their foreign policy aims.

Leaders of the KPD

Rosa Luxemberg and Karl Liebknecht

Gustav Stresemann

Elected as the first democratic Chancellor and Foreign Secretary of Germany in 1923

Stages of Stresemanns Plan

(1) The Dawes Plan (Ending Hyperinflation)

(2) The Young Plan (Repairing International Relations)

(3) The Kellog Briand Pact (War Reformation)

President Von Hindenberg

A War Veteran pushed into the running by the Nationalists, elected as President at 77 and was in the seat from 1925 through to 1934

The Sturmabteilung and Its Role

Volunteers that served as the original paramilitary (private army) for the Nazi party. Were highly nationalistic, violent and anti communist.

Mein Kampf

An autobiography written by Hitler in the direct wake of his imprisonment in 1923

The Fuhrer Principal

An all powerful leader whose authority was accepted by the people without question. Commanding the total and absolute obedience of the people.

The Great Depression

Triggered in October of 1929 and lasted through to 1933. The result of both short term loans running out and the crash of wall street

Von Schleicher

Leading Military figure that served as the bridge between the realm of Politics and the realm of Military

Franz Von Pappen

Former Conservative member of the Centre Party and the Chancellor in 1932

Core Political Parties of the Weimar Republic

(1) The Communist Party of Germany (KPD)

(2) The National Socialist German Workers Party (NSDAP)

(3) The Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD)

(4) The German Centre Party (DZP)

Hitler’s Appointment Date

30th of January, 1933

Article 48 (of the Weimar Constitution)

Allowed the German president to declare a state of emergency in Germany in times of national danger and to rule as a dictator for short periods of time.

The Great Depression’s contribution to Weimar’s Collapse

(1) Permitted the rise of Extremist Parties

(2) Increased unpopularity via poor Economic Policies

(3) Presidential Rule

Nazism Tactical Shift between 1924 and 1929

(1) Propaganda focused on the Middle/Working Class

(2) Reorganisation of Party and Rallies

(3) Increase in Membership

The Hitler Myth

The attempted portrayal of Hitler as a saviour and peace maker in historical records

The Night of Long Knives

Took place from the 30th of June through the 1st of July in 1934. A violent political purge that Adolf directed the SS and Gestapo order to execute the political rivals

Ermst Rohm

A closely allied political figure of Hitler and Commander of the Sturmabteilung

The Final Solution

A plan aimed to completely annihilate the entire Jewish population living in Germany, occupied Europe, and other regions under Nazi influence

The Nuremberg Laws (1935)

(1) The Reich Citizenship Law

(2) The Law for the Protection of German Blood and German Honor

The Reich Citizenship Law

Enacted on the 15th of September, 1935. A ruling that stated only racially pure Germans would be allowed to hold German citizenship. 

The Law for the Protection of German Blood and German Honor

Enacted on the 15th of September, 1935. A ruling that banned future intermarriages and sexual relations between Jews and people “of German or related blood.

Policies that were a Result of the Nuremberg Laws

(1) The Law on the Alteration of Family and Personal Names (1938)

(2) The Decree on Passports of Jews (1938)

(3) The Police Regulation on the Marking of Jews (1941)

The Reichstag Fire

Occurred on the 27th of February, 1933. Dutch communist, Marinus van der Lubbe, set the German Reichstag building alight. Set the stage for new Nazi propaganda and strategy to be undertaken.

The Enabling Act

Passed on the 23rd of March, 1933. Gave the government control for the next four years to issue laws of the Reichstag to deal with the ‘great problems’ of the nation.

Joseph Goebbels

Hitler’s closest ally, the minister of propaganda who was highly effective in communicator with modern media

The Day of Potsdam

Occurred on the 21st of March, 1933. A ceremony is held for the re-opening of the Reichstag following the fire, and a brilliant display of Nazi Propaganda.

Gleichschaltung (Nazification)

The process of bringing different elements of the German nation under the control of the Nazi Party; factoring in social change, civil service, legal control and trade union control.

National Socialist League for the Maintenance of Law Powers

(1) Legal appointments were made by the state

(2) Law was interpreted for the ‘good of the community’

(3) Judges could be dismissed if they were not acting in the interest of the Nazi state

(4) People’s Court established in 1934 to deal with crimes against the State

Charismatic Authority

Leading through public speaking, charm, persuasion, likening the goals to a ‘mission’ of a higher power.

Intentionalism

The historiographer belief that historical events take place because of individuals and their actions

Structuralism

The historiographer belief that historical events are shaped by a combination of different factors and actors

Historikerstreit

A major intellectual and political controversy in West Germany from 1986 to 1989 over how to interpret Nazi Germany and the Holocaust within German history and national identity.

Nationalism

An ideology that places a nation's interests, culture, and identity above all other loyalties, believing it said nation should govern itself as an independent sovereign state.

Imperialism

A state policy, practice, or system of extending a nation's power and dominion over other territories, countries, or peoples

Facism

A far-right, authoritarian, and ultranationalist political ideology that places the perceived interest of the nation or race above individual rights

Aspects of Culture that Developed during the Golden Age

(1) The Visual Arts (Expressionism, DADA)

(2) Architecture and Design (BAUHAUS)

(3) Performance and Cinematic Arts (Kabarett)

The Role of German Women in Weimar

Many sought to transform all realms of their lives: the political, the social, the economic, the cultural, and the personal. New women and youth culture that emphasized individuality, pleasure, and sexual expression.

Article 118 (of the Weimar Constitution)

Granted every German had the right to freely express their opinions in whatever format as long as it was within the limits of general laws.

Communism

A political, social, and economic ideology that aims to create a classless, stateless society based on the common ownership.

Shame of Armistice

The deep national humiliation, economic ruin, and political resentment within Germany that followed the conclusions of WW1

Diktat

An order, decree, or harsh rule that an authority forces people to obey without their consent, often feeling unfair or oppressive

Phase One of The Weimar Republic (Events + Dates)

>From 1919 through to 1923

>Primarily a period of marked by Existential Threats

>Invasion of Ruhr, Left Wing and Right Wing revolts, Hyperinflation

Phase Two of The Weimar Republic (Events + Dates)

>From 1923 through to 1929

>Primarily a period of marked as the Survival Post Existential Threats

>Economic prosperity, Cultural flowering, Foreign Policy success

Phase Three of The Weimar Republic (Events + Dates)

>From 1929 through to 1933

>The period that marked downward spiral of Weimar Republic

>Nazi Propaganda acceleration, Loss of faith in Democracy, Unemployment

Weltanschauung

Means "worldview" or a comprehensive perception of the universe and human life in German.

The Triple Alliance

Consisted of Germany, Italy, Austrian-Hungarian Empire

The Triple Entente

Consisted of Britain, Russia, France

The Treaty of Versailles Impact

Required the Germans to take accountability for the events and trauma of WW1, pay financial reparations, transfer colonial power and so forth.

The Hyperinflation Crisis

Begun in the April of 1923. Inflation and poor QOL wrought from external WW1 debt and reparation requirements, and was passively resisted through excessive printing of money

The Occupation of Ruhr

Occurred in the January of1923. French militia moved into German territory of Ruhr, triggering a disastrous domino effect that impacted greater coal production and furthered resentment/humiliation.