WEIMAR REPUBLIC (1919-29)

What voting rights did the Weimar Constitution give Germans?

All Germans had equal rights, including the right to vote.

Why could giving everyone the vote be seen as a weakness?

In 1919, the Weimar Republic had many enemies, so it could be argued that it was unwise to give voting rights to people who wanted to destroy democracy.

What was proportional representation?

Political parties were given seats in the Reichstag in proportion to the number of votes they received.

Why was proportional representation a strength?

It was fair because parties received seats according to the number of votes they won.

Why was proportional representation a weakness?

It encouraged lots of small parties, making it difficult for one party to win a majority. Governments therefore had to rely on coalitions, which could be unstable.

Why was a strong president considered a strength?

A strong president could help control the government and protect Germany during a crisis.

Why was the role of the president a weakness?

The president had very wide powers and could potentially become a dictator. The president could appoint the Chancellor and use Article 48 to rule by emergency decree.

How often was the president elected?

Every seven years.

Why was the role of the states a strength?

Each German state had its own traditions and could retain some control over its own affairs.

Why was the role of the states a weakness?

Some states could be hostile towards the national government and could potentially try to overthrow it.

What was a strength of the Chancellor's position?

The Chancellor needed the support of a majority in the Reichstag, which was elected by the German people, preventing the Chancellor from becoming too powerful.

What was a weakness of the Chancellor's position?

With many different parties in the Reichstag, it could be difficult to maintain majority support, leading to unstable governments and frequent changes of Chancellor.

What was Article 48?

Article 48 allowed the president to rule by emergency decree when the Reichstag could not agree.

Why was Article 48 a strength?

It allowed the president to act quickly during an emergency when the Reichstag could not agree.

Why was Article 48 a weakness?

It could undermine democracy because the president could rule without the Reichstag, making the democratic system less meaningful.

Why was the Treaty of Versailles unpopular in Germany?

Germans considered it extremely harsh and blamed the democratic politicians who signed it.

What were the German politicians who signed the Treaty of Versailles called?

The "November Criminals".

Why did the German government have little choice but to sign the Treaty of Versailles?

Germany was in no position to continue fighting and had to accept the terms imposed by the Allies.

What does BRAT stand for when remembering the Treaty of Versailles?

Borders, Reparations, Army and To blame/Guilt.

Why was the Treaty of Versailles damaging to the Weimar Republic?

It created resentment towards the new democratic government because many Germans associated the Republic with Germany's defeat and the harsh peace terms.

What happened in the Spartacist Uprising of 1919?

The Spartacists attempted to start a communist revolution similar to the Russian Revolution of 1917.

Who crushed the Spartacist Uprising?

The Freikorps, anti

How many workers were killed during the Spartacist Uprising?

Over 100.

Why was the Spartacist Uprising a threat to the Weimar Republic?

It was an attempt by the far left to overthrow the democratic government.

Why was the Spartacist Uprising unsuccessful?

It was poorly organised and was easily crushed by the armed and trained Freikorps.

What was the Kapp Putsch?

A right

Why was the Kapp Putsch dangerous?

Around 5,000 well

How was the Kapp Putsch defeated?

Ordinary workers went on a general strike, bringing Berlin to a standstill and forcing the rebels to give up.

What did the failure of the army to defend the government during the Kapp Putsch show?

It showed that the Weimar government could not always rely on the army to protect democracy.

What happened during the occupation of the Ruhr in 1923?

French and Belgian troops occupied the Ruhr because Germany had failed to make reparations payments.

Why was the occupation of the Ruhr a threat to the Weimar Republic?

It humiliated the German government and made it appear powerless to stop foreign troops occupying German territory.

How did German workers respond to the occupation of the Ruhr?

They followed the government's instructions and went on strike through passive resistance.

Why did passive resistance initially work?

German workers stopped producing goods and prevented the French and Belgians from taking German resources.

What was hyperinflation?

A period of extremely rapid price increases in which German money became almost worthless.

Why did hyperinflation cause resentment?

Middle

How expensive could a loaf of bread become in 1923?

Around 200 billion marks.

Who benefited from hyperinflation?

People who were in debt could benefit because their debts became much easier to repay with worthless money.

Why was hyperinflation a threat to democracy?

It caused economic hardship and encouraged some middle

How quickly did Germany recover from hyperinflation?

Germany's currency and economy recovered relatively quickly, within about a year.

What was the Munich Putsch?

A 1923 attempt by Hitler and his supporters to overthrow the government in Bavaria and eventually take control of Germany.

Why did Hitler gain support in 1923?

Many Germans were angry about the crises of 1923, while Hitler received additional support from popular First World War general Ludendorff.

Why did the Munich Putsch fail?

The uprising was badly organised, rebels fled or were arrested, and police defended the government.

How many rebels were killed during the Munich Putsch?

16.

What happened to Hitler after the Munich Putsch?

He was arrested and imprisoned for nine months.

What happened to German culture during the 1920s?

German culture became more open and experimental, with developments in architecture, film, nightlife and entertainment.

What was the Bauhaus movement?

A modern artistic and architectural movement that gained international attention during the Weimar period.

Who was Marlene Dietrich?

A German film star who became internationally famous during the 1920s.

What happened in Berlin's nightclubs and cabarets?

They became popular and provided entertainment that often criticised politicians and discussed previously controversial subjects.

Why did some Germans dislike Weimar culture?

They considered Berlin's culture to be immoral, sleazy, corrupt and overly focused on sex.

What was the Wandervogel movement?

A movement promoting a simpler lifestyle involving activities such as hiking and camping in the countryside.

How did political stability improve between 1924 and 1929?

Governments became more stable than they had been during the crises of 1919–23.

What happened in the 1928 election?

The SPD won the most votes and joined a coalition government with other parties committed to the Republic.

Why was the 1928 election important?

The SPD joining the coalition showed greater cooperation between socialists and middle

Who became president in 1925?

Paul von Hindenburg.

Why was Hindenburg's election significant?

He was a former military leader under the Kaiser and represented traditional, conservative Germany.

Why could Hindenburg's presidency be seen as a weakness?

He was a critic of the Weimar Republic and represented the old imperial Germany.

How many governments did Germany have in 14 years?

25 separate governments.

Why did coalition governments sometimes cause problems?

Different parties had different aims, making it difficult to maintain stable governments.

What was the Locarno Treaty?

A 1925 agreement between Germany, Britain, France and Italy that guaranteed Germany's western borders with France and Belgium.

What was significant about Germany's eastern borders at Locarno?

Stresemann avoided guaranteeing Germany's eastern borders.

Why was Germany joining the League of Nations in 1926 important?

Germany was given a permanent seat and its status as a great power was recognised again.

Why did some Germans dislike Germany joining the League of Nations?

Some feared Germany was accepting the decisions and terms imposed by the Allies after the Treaty of Versailles.

What was the Young Plan?

A 1929 agreement that reduced Germany's reparations payments by around 20%.

What happened to Allied occupation forces as a result of the Young Plan?

Allied occupation forces were withdrawn from the Rhineland.

Why did some Germans remain unhappy with Stresemann's foreign policy?

Many Germans still hated the Treaty of Versailles and wanted revenge against the countries that had imposed it.

What was the Dawes Plan?

A 1924 plan that provided Germany with American loans to help rebuild its economy and pay reparations.

How much did the USA initially lend Germany under the Dawes Plan?

Around 800 million marks.

How did the Dawes Plan help Germany?

American loans helped investment in industry and commerce, allowing the economy to recover.

When did German industrial production surpass pre

war levels?

What happened to Germany's exports by 1930?

Germany became one of the world's leading exporters of manufactured goods.

Who was Gustav Stresemann?

A leading German politician who played a major role in stabilising Germany's economy and improving foreign relations.

What did Stresemann do to passive resistance in the Ruhr?

He called it off.

What happened to the old German currency?

The worthless marks were recalled and replaced with a new currency called the Rentenmark.

What was the Rentenmark?

A new currency introduced in 1923 to help stabilise Germany's economy after hyperinflation.

What was the main weakness of the Dawes Plan?

Germany became heavily dependent on American loans.

Why was dependence on American loans dangerous?

The loans could be withdrawn, which happened during the Great Depression and caused severe economic problems.

What was one major problem with German wealth distribution?

There was a large gap between the wealthy and poor, with a small number of industrialists controlling a huge proportion of German industry.

Why was unemployment still a concern during the recovery?

The economy was not creating jobs quickly enough to keep up with Germany's growing population.

Why did some employers dislike the Weimar government?

They complained about the taxes needed to pay for welfare benefits for poor and unemployed people.

What happened to agricultural incomes between 1925 and 1929?

Agricultural incomes fell significantly.

How did farmers' incomes compare with the national average by 1929?

Their salaries were little more than half the national average.

What years are usually described as the "Golden Age" of the Weimar Republic?

1924–1929.

Why was 1924–1929 considered a Golden Age?

Germany experienced economic recovery, greater political stability, cultural developments and improved international relations.

What were the main achievements of the Weimar Republic during the Golden Age?

Economic recovery through the Dawes Plan, improved foreign relations through Locarno and the League of Nations, greater political stability and a cultural boom.

What was the biggest economic weakness of the Golden Age?

Germany's recovery depended heavily on American loans.

Why was the Golden Age not perfect?

Political divisions remained, poverty and inequality continued, farmers struggled, and many Germans still hated the Treaty of Versailles.