Edexcel GCSE History Weimar and Nazi Germany - The Weimar Republic 1918-29

Who was the first president of the Weimar Republic?

Ebert

What was the most popular party after the January 1919 elections?

Social Democratic Party

How often was a new president elected in the Weimar Constitution?

Every 7 years

What was the role of the president?

• Could enforce Article 48

• Could choose a chancellor

• Could dismiss and call new elections

• Supreme commander of army

What were the key features of the reichstag?

• Elected every 4 years

• More important than Reichsrat

• Could make laws

• Chancellor had to have support of majority of Reichstag

What was Article 48?

The president could suspend constitution in an emergency. He could make laws and keep the chancellor without Reichstag’s support.

Who were the voters in the Weimar Constitution?

Men and women over the age of 20

What were the key features of the Reichsrat?

• 55 representatives from 18 German states

• Could not make laws but could approve laws

What were the strengths of the new Weimar Constitution?

• Laws were very democratic

• Head of the government (chancellor) had to have support of majority

• Strong president necessary to keep control over government

• Voting by proportional representation

What were the weaknesses of the Weimar Constitution?

• Question of who had more power: Parliament or President

• Large number of parties so less political stability

• Lots of challenge from civil service and judiciary

• Challenge from the army who wanted the Kaiser back

When was the Treaty of Versailles?

28th June 1919

What were some of the most important terms of the Treaty of Versailles?

• All colonies given to allied powers

• Germany lose 13% of land

• Army not to exceed 100000

• No tanks or armored cars permitted

• No submarines permitted

• Reparations fixed at £6.6 billion

• Rhineland demilitarised

What was the “Stab in the Back” theory?

• Ebert and Weimar Government were seen as criminals and were scapegoats

• German public unaware that Allies had forced them to sign Treaty of Versailles

When was the Spartacist Uprising?

6th January 1919

How did Ebert handle the Spartacist Uprising?

He used the Reichswehr and Freikorps who put down the rebellion within days.

Who were the leaders of the Spartacist Uprising?

Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxembourg

When was the Kapp Putsch?

13th March 1920

Who led the Kapp Putsch?

Ehrhardt and Wolfgang Kapp

What caused the Kapp Putsch?

In March 1920, the Government announced they were reducing size of army and disbanding Freikorps. Freikorps refused to comply so revolted

Why did the Kapp Putsch fail?

The people of Berlin chose not support the revolt and the putsch failed since Trade unionists and civil servants supported the government

What was the Germany resistance to the French occupation of the Ruhr?

• Initially the occupation was met with passive resistance

• Then some Germans carried out more radical acts: industrial sabotage and setting factories on fire

• There were lots of strikes

What was the value of the mark at the start of 1923 versus the end of 1923?

Jan 1923 - £1 = 71,888 marks
Nov 1923 - £1 = 1.68 quadrillion marks

What were the consequences of the French occupation of the Ruhr?

• United germas in hatred of France

• Strikers became heroes for Germans

• Government printed more money to pay strikers a wage

• Inflation was turned into hyperinflation

Which groups of people benefited from hyperinflation?

• Businessmen who had borrowed money were able to pay off these debts

• Food prices increased, helping farmers

• Foreigners were able to exchange their currency for millions

Who was the chancellor who steadied the economic crisis in 1923?

Gustav Stresemann

When was the Dawes Plan agreed?

August 1924

What were the main points of the Dawes Plan?

• Reparation payments would begin at 1 billion Marks and would increase over 4 years to 2.5 billion Marks per year

• Ruhr area evacuated by allies (took place in 1925)

• German Reichsbank would be re-organised under Allied supervision

• USA would give loans to Germany

What were the consequences of US loans agreement in the Dawes Plan?

• USA companies and banks gave loans of nearly $3,000 million over 6 years

• Helped Germany economic recovery

• Enabled reparations payments

What was the temporary currency introduced in Nov 1923 and what was its purpose?

• It was the Rentenmark

• It would be based on property amounts rather than gold reserves

• Restored German confidence in the currency

When was the Young Plan?

1929

What was the Young Plan?

• It was developed by US banker Owen Young

• Reduced reparations from £6,600 million to £1,850 million

• Germany were given 59 years to pay the reparation at an average 2.05 billion Marks per year

What was the consequences of Streseman policies on hyperinflation in 1924 for the political stability of the Weimar Government?

• In 1924-29 there was great political stability

• In May 1924, SPD had 100 seats but in May 1928, SPD had 153 seats

• Also the popularity of extremist governments fell, for example: NSDAP got 32 votes in May 1924 but only 12 votes in May 1928

What were the positive parts of the German recovery from hyperinflation?

• Large businesses were able to pay off their debts

• There was industrial growth which peaked in 1929

• Workers were better off as wages increased

• Fewer strikes between 1924-1929

What was the vicious circle of payments?

• USA gave loans to Germany

• Germany paid back reparations to France and UK with that money

• UK and France repay war loans to USA

What were the negative outcomes of the Germany economic recovery?

• Over-dependence on US loans

• Unemployment increased: peaking in 1926

• Agricultural sector was still struggling due to new machinery being expensive

• Lower middle class did not fully recover from hyperinflation

When was the Locarno Pact?

1925

What was the purpose of the Locarno Pact?

• Countries agreed to keep existing borders between France, Belgium and Germany

• Marked Germany’s return to European international scene

• Began a period of co-operation between Germany and West

When did Germany join the League of Nations?

September 1926

What was the Kellogg-Briand Pact and when was it signed?

• Agreed that armies would be used for self-defence and disputes would be solved by peaceful means

• Improved relations between Germany and USA

• 1928

What was the impact of Stresemann’s foreign policies on domestic policies?

• Allies were willing to renegotiate the reparations making them less of a burden

• Allied troops withdrew from Rhine in 1927 which increased German morale

What was the changes in wages between 1924 and 1929?

• By 1928, wages increased and German workers became some of the best paid in Europe

• Changes in wages were of little benefit to middle classes who were bankrupt by hyperinflation

• In April 1928, 184,000 middle class workers were seeking employment

What was the changes in housing between 1924 and 1929?

• Weimar government attempted to deal with shortage of houses

• Government investing, tax breaks, land grants and interest loans were used

• Between 1924 and 1931 more than 2 million new houses were built

• By 1928, homelessness had been reduced by more than 60%

What was the changes to unemployment insurance between 1924 and 1929?

Unemployment insurance law - workers and employees were required to make contributions to a national scheme for unemployment welfare. Other reforms also provided benefits

What was the political position of women during the Weimar Republic?

• Women over 20 years old were allowed to vote

• Equality in education between sexes

• By the end of the period, German women had some of the most advanced legal rights of any country in Europe

• By 1926, there were 32 women deputies in the reichstag

What changes to the employment of women during the Weimar Republic?

• Growing number of women in new areas of employment (most noticeably public employment)

• Those who worked in civil service earned the same as men

• By 1933, there were 100,000 women teachers and 3,000 doctors

What changes to the leisure of women during the Weimar Republic?

• More freedom socially

• Went out unescorted, drank and smoke in public and were fashion conscious often wearing short skirts

What changes art during the Weimar Republic?

• Artists tried to show everyday life

• Painters who followed this style were: Otto Dix and George Grosz

• Grosz had served in WW1 and often depicted characters in depressing cities

• Dix searched for personalities he could include in paintings to show the uglier side of human nature

What changes to Architecture during the Weimar Republic?

Bauhaus Movement - Used only basic shapes and colours as well as economy in the use of space, materials, time and money

What changes to Cinema during the Weimar Republic?

• Fritz Lang - produce the film “Metropolis” which was the most technologically advanced film of the decade

• Marlene Dietrich - played strong, mysterious and glamorous women

What changes to literature during the Weimar Republic?

The period encouraged literature from both right and left in politics:

• On the right - highly critical of German democracy and glorified experiences of WW1

• On the left - very anti-war and described horrors of WW1

What changes to Theatre during the Weimar Republic?

Emergence of new operas and plays: Zeittheater and Zeitoper which featured greater realism