Weimar Republic

Flashcards about the Weimar Republic

Economic impacts of WWI on Germany

Germany was deeply in debt as a result of borrowing money to pay for the war and lending money to its allies. Government debts trembled. Machinery and equipment in factories was worn out.

Social impacts of WWI on Germany

2 million German troops died, and over 4 million were wounded. Over 750,000 Germans died due to food shortages. Women worked in factories, which some thought damaged traditional family values.

Political impacts of WWI on Germany

Germany became more politically unstable with strikes, protests, and mutiny in the army and navy. Many Germans felt betrayed by politicians who ended the war, branding them as 'November Criminals'.

Revolution & abdication of the Kaiser

German sailors mutinied in Kiel. Mutiny spread to towns and bases across Germany. Army generals refused to support the Kaiser, leading to his abdication. He fled to Holland.

Declaration of the republic

Philipp Scheidemann of the SPD declared the new republic to prevent a communist government. Friedrich Ebert formed the Council of People’s Representatives as a temporary measure.

The Armistice

Ebert instructed Matthias Erzberger to sign the armistice to end WWI. The Treaty of Versailles became a significant burden for Germany.

Elections, setting up of the Weimar Republic

Germany elected their new government. Ebert was elected as Germany’s first president. The National Assembly met in Weimar to write the constitution due to unrest in Berlin.

The Weimar Constitution

Outlined each elected official’s power and responsibilities in the Weimar government. It had strengths like proportional representation and weaknesses like Article 48.

Unpopularity of the Weimar Republic

It wasn’t a choice of the people, extremist parties continued to attack the Weimar Republic, and the government relied on force to maintain power.

Treaty of Versailles - Military Punishments

Included demilitarization of the Rhineland, a small army of 100,000 soldiers, limited navy, and no air force.

Treaty of Versailles - Territorial Punishments

France was given the Saar, Alsace-Lorraine became part of France again, Anschluss was forbidden, and Germany lost Posen and West Prussia.

Treaty of Versailles - Political Punishments

Germany could not join the League of Nations, and Article 231, the 'War Guilt Clause,' made them accept responsibility for WWI.

Treaty of Versailles - Economic Punishments

Germany had to pay reparations of 132 billion gold marks, bankrupting the country and reducing their ability to trade.

Left-wing beliefs

People should run the country. An extreme left-wing party would ban people from owning businesses or property. Believe in global collaboration to create the best policies.

Right-wing beliefs

The country should have strong armed forces and an autocratic leader. Value the concept of capitalism. Strong sense of national identity. The most extreme version is fascism.

Spartacist Uprising, 1919

Led by Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht. Triggered by the sacking of Berlin’s police chief, Emil Eichhorn. The Freikorps was used to defeat the uprising.

Kapp Putsch, 1920

Freikorps members attempted to overthrow the government, led by Wolfgang Kapp. The Kapp Putsch failed due to a general strike.

Political assassinations in the Weimar Republic

Many political assassinations occurred, including that of Matthias Erzberger, undermining the Weimar government.

Weimar government combatted political assassinations by

Creating private armies to keep their members safe.

Occupation of the Ruhr

French and Belgian troops entered the Ruhr to seize coal, manufactured products, and machinery due to Germany's failure to send the amount of coal required by the TOV. Chancellor Cuno urged the coal workers to use passive resistance against the French and Belgian soldiers.

Hyperinflation in Germany, 1923

Caused by the invasion of the Ruhr, shortages of goods, and the Weimar government printing more money. The German mark became worthless.

Dawes Plan, 1924

Designed by Charles Dawes, an American banker, so Germany could pay its reparations. US banks agreed to make loans to German industry.

Young Plan, AUG 1929

Led by American banker Owen Young, reduced the total reparations debt from £6.6 billion to £2 billion, meaning lower taxes for German people.

Locarno Pact, DEC 1925

Agreement between Germany, Britain, France, Italy, and Belgium. Germany agreed to its new border with France, improving relations.

League of Nations, SEPT 1926

Germany was invited to join and became a member of the council, boosting confidence in the Weimar government.

Kellogg-Briand Pact, AUG 1928

Agreement between 62 nations committing countries to avoiding the use of war to achieve foreign policy objectives, showing that Germany was once again a major power.

Changes in living standards

Strong union protection, an 8-hour day introduced, and an increase in income for skilled workers. Unemployment insurance benefits paid to the unemployed and farm worker wages where ½ national avg.

Changes for women

Drop in women working after marriage, an increase in part-time work, women earned the vote in 1918, and Article 109 of the constitution stated that women had equal rights with men and could enter professions on an equal basis.

Art in Weimar Germany

Artists painted everyday life so that everyone could have access to their art. Their style of work was called Expressionism, which was concerned with raw emotion.

Cinema in Weimar Germany

Expressionism flourished in filmmaking, particularly in Weimar Germany due to fewer restrictions, some German films were very new and exciting in how they challenged traditional cinema.

Architecture in Weimar Germany

Designers and architects challenged traditional ideas and practices in buildings and interiors. The Bauhaus school was set up in Weimar, in 1919, by the architect Walter Gropius.

Adolf Hitler

Born in Austria in 1889. Became obsessed with all things German. He joined the German Workers’ Party (DAP) and became the leader of the DAP in July 1921.

The early growth and features of the Nazi Party

The name was changed to National Socialist German Workers’ Party (NSDAP), Nazis bought a struggling newspaper, the People’s Observer, to put forward the Party’s views and a new Party flag and symbol was designed: the swastika.

The 25-point programme

Written by Hitler and Drexler in 1920. A political manifesto: a list of beliefs, ideas and promises that would be introduced if the Nazi Party came to power. Nationalist and socialist.

The Sturmabteilung (SA)

The Party’s private army, the Sturmabteilung (SA) made of unemployed ex-soldiers, they wore brown uniforms with Swastika armbands and were nicknamed ‘Brownshirts’