German Depth Study

Kiel Mutiny

In 1918 Sailors refused to fight British Navy in Oct; sparked strikes and uprisings across Germany.

Effect of Kiel Mutiny

Sparked strikes and uprisings across Germany; contributed to the Kaiser’s abdication.

Occupation of Ruhr

France & Belgium occupied Ruhr after Germany defaulted on reparations from 1923 to 1925 passive resistance led to industrial collapse.

Hyperinflation

In 1923 Government printed money to pay strikes and reparations; mark became worthless; bread cost 200 billion marks by Nov; middle class ruined.

Stresemann chancellorship

He was chancellor between August to November 1923 and Stabilized economy by introducing the Rentenmark and called off passive resistance in the Ruhr in September 1923

Industrial recovery in Weimar Germany

By 1928 production exceeded 1913 levels, exports increased by 40%, wages were above pre-war levels but Germany’s economy depended on US loans due to the Dawes plan

Dawes Plan

In 1924, USA loaned 800 million marks; reparations would be slowly paid estimated up until 1988 and French and Belgium troops to withdraw from the Ruhr

Locarno Pact

Signed in 1925, improved relations with France, Belgium and Germany as they promised not to attack each other again

League of Nations

In 1926 Germany joined the LON, finally being recognised as international power.

Young Plan

Signed in 1929, Reparations reduced to £2 billion; deadline extended to 1988.

Cultural achievements

The Weimar Republic became a cultural centre, inspiring movements like Bauhaus, New Objectivity and the film “Metropolis” made in 1927 by Fritz Lang which was a landmark of German cinema.

Cultural criticism

Conservatives considered Weimar culture immoral; Nazis later attacked “degenerate art”.

Cause of Spartacist Uprising, Jan 1919

Left-wing opposition wanted communist state; Weimar unpopular; inspired by Russian Revolution.

Outcome of Spartacist Uprising

Crushed by Freikorps; leaders executed; showed Weimar’s reliance on right-wing forces.

Cause of Kapp Putsch, Mar 1920

Right-wing Freikorps angered by disbanding; wanted strong nationalist government.

Outcome of Kapp Putsch

General strike across Berlin; putsch failed; Kapp fled; leaders largely escaped punishment.

Munich (Beer Hall) Putsch OUTCOME

In November 1923 the Coup failed, 16 Nazis and 4 police killed; Hitler arrested; gained national attention.

Mein Kampf

In 1924 Book written by Hitler in prison outlined Hitler’s ideology which was Aryan supremacy, Lebensraum (germany needing more space/land), anti-Semitism, anti-Weimar.

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Nazi tactics 1924–29

Hitler rebuilt the Nazi Party by creating local branches across Germany, setting up the Hitler Youth to attract young supporters, and focusing on winning power through elections instead of violence. The party also improved its propaganda under Joseph Goebbels to spread Nazi ideas nationwide.

Limited success 1924–29

Hitler in prison; party banned until 1925; Weimar recovery and Locarno Treaty reduced support; 1928 Nazis won only 12 seats

Problems in Germany 1918–19

Political instability, extremist groups, food shortages, psychological effects, economic hardship. Between 1918–1919 there were over 1,000 political assassinations.

Right wing opposition

Supported return of Kaiser; opposed Weimar Republic. Freikorps units formed from ex-soldiers, later crushed left-wing uprisings.

Left wing opposition

Wanted a communist () government. Spartacist uprising in January 1919 tried to replicate the Russian Revolutio

Food shortages after WW1

750,000 Germans died of hunger and disease due to British naval blockade (1914–1919)

Psychological effects post-WW1

Many Germans bitter and angry, blamed ‘November Criminals’; believed army had been betrayed, not defeated (“stab-in-the-back” myth).

Treaty of Versailles impact

Signed June 1919. Germany lost 13% of land, all colonies reparations £6.6 billion; War Guilt Clause (Article 231) humiliated Germans.

Economic impact post-WW1

National income fell to one-third of 1913 levels; industrial production at two-thirds of 1913; six million demobilised soldiers sought work; inflation rose.

Causes of Kiel Munitiy

on 9 Nov 1918 Kaiser abdicated and fled to Holland; Ebert declared new Republic; 11 Nov Armistice signed.

Weimar Republic

Created 1919; democratic constitution with universal suffrage; capital moved to Weimar to avoid unrest in Berlin; first President Friedrich Ebert.

Versailles Treaty economic impact

Reparations £6.6 billion, unemployment rose; 1918 milk production 50%, butter 60% of pre-war levels; 300,000 died of hunger/hypothermia.

Versailles Treaty political impact

‘War Guilt’ clause angered Germans; Ebert and Social Democrats blamed as ‘November Criminals’; barred from League of Nations until 1926.

Versailles Treaty social impact

1.5 million soldiers returned disillusioned; 600,000 widows and one-third of state budget spent on war pensions by 1925.

Versailles Treaty military impact

Army limited to 100,000 men; conscription banned; no tanks, submarines or aircraft; only 6 battleships allowed; Rhineland demilitarised.

Versailles Treaty territorial impact

Lost Alsace-Lorraine to France, Saarland under LON for 15 years; Anschluss with Austria banned.

Weimar Constitution Article 48

President could pass emergency decrees without Reichstag consent; used 136 times by Hindenburg (1930–32); undermined democracy.

Weimar strengths

Men and women over 20 could vote proportional representation meant fair distribution of seats in Reichstag and free speech, religion

Weimar weaknesses

Proportional representation caused unstable coalitions (25 governments in 14 years). Small extremist parties gained seats, and no single party ever had a majority in the Reichstag, making it hard to make democratic decisions and causing people to see the Weimar government as weak.

Article 48

President role

Elected every 7 years; head of state; chose the Chancellor;

Chancellor role

Head of government; needed majority support in Reichstag — often difficult due to coalitions.

Spartacist Uprising

Led by Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht they seized Berlin government buildings in Jan 1919; crushed by Freikorps; both leaders murdered.

Kapp Putsch

In 1920 Right-wing coup attempt led by Wolfgang Kapp; 5,000 Freikorps marched on Berlin; army refused to act; general strike defeated it; Kapp fled.

Occupation of the Ruhr

from 1923–25 France & Belgium occupied Ruhr after Germany missed reparations; government ordered passive resistance; output collapsed.

Hyperinflation,

In January 1923 the Government printed money to pay strikers in the Ruhr and reparations; the mark became worthless and bread rose from 250 marks in January to 200 billion in Nov 1923

Stresemann era

Chancellor Aug–Nov 1923, then Foreign Minister (1923–29); stabilised economy with new Rentenmark and ended passive resistance.

Industrial recovery by 1928

Production exceeded 1913 levels by 1928; exports increased by 40% and wages rose above pre-war levels.

Foreign policy recovery

Locarno Pact signed 1925 guaranteed western borders; and Germany joined League of Nations 1926, the Young Plan signed in 1929 reduced reparations and extended deadline to 1988.

Nazi party goals

End Treaty of Versailles; destroy Communism; anti-Semitism; Lebensraum in Eastern Europe; unite all German speakers (Anschluss); dictatorship over democracy.

Munich (Beer Hall) Putsch, 1923

8–9 Nov 1923; Hitler & Ludendorff tried to seize power in Munich; 16 Nazis and 4 police killed; Hitler arrested; failed coup boosted his profile.

Hitler’s benefits from Munich Putsch

• Hitler gained a loyal group of followers who had stood by him during the march

• spent his nine months in Landsberg Prison planning to seize power legally rather than by force

• wrote Mein Kampf and his trial gained national publicity he only

• served 9 months when he was sentenced to 5 years