Weimar Gov 1919-1932

also from mahi

Who is the first president of the weimar gov?

Ebert

What is the armistice?

The agreement that ended hostilities between the Allied Powers and Germany in World War I

When did they sign the armistice?

1918

Who signed the armistice?

Politicians named the 'November Criminals'

What is the Treaty of Versailles?

L - Lost 13% of land

A - Army was reduced to 100,000

M - Reperations £6.6 billion

B - Blame - War guilt Clause

When was the Treaty of Versailles signed?

June 28, 1919

How did the German people feel about the Treaty of Versailles?

Diktat - a harsh settlement imposed on a defeated party or nation

• shocked (they thought Germany was winning)

• hated Treaty of Versailles

• didnt trust the new Weimar Republic

What is the War Guilt Clause?

Germany had to accept complete blame and responsibility for WWI

What are the weaknesses of the weimar gov?

The voting system (coalitions)

Article 48

What is the voting system of Germany?

Proportional Representation - means the Reichstag is made up of lots of parties = hard to get any laws passed

What is Article 48?

in a crisis the president could rule the country directly through this article

What is the sparticist revolt?

January 1919

A communist group who wanted to revolt against the government

Who led the Sparticist Revolt?

Rosa Luxemberg and Karl Liebknecht

How did the gov get rid of the spartacists

Sent the freikorps to kill them

Who are the Freikorps

Ex - soldiers, laid off from the treaty of versailles

What political stance did the freikorps take?

Major right wing

What is the Kapp putsch (Kapp uprising)?

March 1920

The Freikorps attempt to revolt against the gov with Wolfgang Kapp

Angry about the Treaty of Versailles

When was the Kapp Putsch?

March 1920

What stopped the Kapp Putsch?

general strike

What major economic event happened in 1923?

Hyperinflation

How did Hitler aquire the DAP?

Sent in as a spy

When was the Munich Putsch?

8th November 1923

What is the Munich Putsch?

Holds Von Kohr (Bavarian prime minister), Lossow (Local army commaner), Seisser (Bavarian police chief) hostage via violence with the SA

How does Von Kohr escape Hitler?

He warns the gov by tricking Hitler into letting him see his wife

Where was Hitler imprisoed?

Landsberg prison

What book did Hitler write in the prison?

Mein Kampf

How did Hitler use propaganda in the Munich putsch?

The court was radioised

How does hyperinflation come occur?

• 1922 Germany missed their reparations

• France invades the Ruhr and takes resources

• German gov tells workers to go on strike in retaliation whilst still paying them

• Germany cant make money as France are taking resources therefore demand is higher

• Cant stop printing money

Why do the people suffer during the hyper inflation?

Businesses struggle, elderly struggle as pensions are worthless

How much was a loaf of bread in Nov 1923?

201 billion Marks

What was the golden age of Weimar?

1924 to 1929 characterised by economic stability, cultural flourishing, and relative political calm in Germany, following the hyperinflation crisis.

Who was Gustav Stresemann?

Chancellor of Germany in 1923, and foreign minister until 1929

What did Gustav Streseman do?

Introduced the Renten mark = reset Germany to 0

1924 - secures dawes plan = Germany can pay reperations -> France leave Ruhr 1924

1925 - Locarno Pact

1926 - Oversaw Germany joining the League of Nations

1928 - Kellog-Briand Pact

1929 Signed Young Plan

What is the Dawes Plan?

A loan from the US to Germany for 800 million marks

What is the Locarno Pact?

Agreement of new borders with France

What is the League of Nations?

What is the Young plan?

Agreed more loans from the US and lower reparations by 20%

What is the cultural shift in Germany's golden age?

Employment improved, Avant - garde art movement, bauhaus design, american jazz, night clubs

What is the Kellog-Briand Pact in 1928?

an international treaty in which participating nations pledged to renounce war as an instrument of national policy. It aimed to prevent future wars by legally obligating countries to avoid using war to resolve disputes. - signed by 62 countries

Why was Streseman unreliable?

The Dawes and Young plan were only good short term as they could crash (foreshadowing)

When did Streseman die?

1929 - poor health

Wall Street Crash

October 1929

Economic crash in US cause people got scared of losing out on their shares after seeing a tiny drop in the market

Why did the wall street crash affect Germany?

Reliant on US loans - USA retract their loans

How does the wall street crash affect Germany?

Lots of unemployment, farmers fell into more debt, mass poverty

Why do extremist parties have a sudden boost during the Wallstreet crash?

When struggling people look for extremist views, nazis and communists

How many seats did the Nazis have in 1928 compared to 1930 and 1932

12 seats - 107 (2nd)- 230 (1st)

When was the Great Depression?

1929 - 1933

What was the cycle of the great depression?

Fall in demand as people buy less -> business cuts back production + workers lose jobs -> businesses lower prices to try to attract more customers -> wages reduced -> workers have a less money

Who was Paul von Hindenburg?

The president of the Weimar Republic from 1925 - 1934

What was Hindenburg's influence on Germany?

Lots of input in the Treaty of Versailles (1919), persuaded Kaiser to abdicate (1918)

What kind of background did Hindenburg have?

From aristocratic family - social classism, doesn't like Hitler

How did Bruning acclaim power?

Hindenburg used Article 48

What made Hindenburg use Article 48 whilst appointing a chancellor?

1932 elections Hindenburg won with 49% to 30% (Nazi) - invoked fear into Hindenburg, didn't want Hitler as chancellor

How was being a member of the centre party a weakness for Chancellor Bruning?

Wasn't a very popular party, people didin't rate him

When did Bruning become chancellor?

1930 - 1932

How did Bruning solve the economic crisis?

Raising taxes, cutting unemployment benefits

Plan to break up estates of rich land lords = give to families to work on = money cycle

Why did Hindenburg sack Bruning?

Army general Kurt Von Schleicher persuaded Hindenburg to sack Bruning - thought his plans were communist ideals (He was just a rich land owner and didn't want his land taken away)

Who did Hindenburg appoint chancellor in 1932 after Bruning?

Franz Von Papen

How was being a member of the Catholic centre party a weakness for Chancellor Papen?

Very little political support, 68 seats = Reichstag voted "no - confidence" in Papen even after Papen organises multiple elections to try boost his moral

What did Chancellor Papen suggest that got him sacked?

Suggested closing Reichstag, ruling using A48 + crush opps with army (revolution) = dictatorship

Who convinced Hindenburg to sack Chancellor Papen?

General Kurt Von Schleicher said no to revolution to sack him! - Papen resigns

Who became Chancellor after Papen?

Schleicher 1932 (for two months)

What does Chancellor Schleicher suggest?

Papens revolution

What does Papen do to manipulate Hindenburg?

Whilst Schleicher is still Chancellor, Papen convinces Hindenburg to appoint Hitler as Chancellor

Why did Papen want Hitler appointed as chancellor?

Papen thought he could control Hitler because he would be Vice Chancellor + 2 other Nazi's in the cabinet

When did Hitler become Chancellor?

30th January 1933

Hitler made an announcement after he became chancellor, how did Germany react?

Audience rallied

• Parade

• Torches

• Red + Gold Nazi banners

• Drums

• "Heil! Sieg Heil"

Why cant President Hindenburg fire Hitler as chancellor?

He was too powerful, Nazis were the largest party in the Reichstag.