Weimar Timeline

• 11/11/1918

  Armistice ends World War I. This is the first major decision of Ebert's new government after Kaiser Wilhelm Il abdicated. Germany's national debt trebled because of the war and 750,000 died because of food shortages. The German people felt "stabbed in the back" by these "November Criminals". 
• Jan 1919


  The left-wing Spartacist Uprising tries to overthrow the new Weimar government. The Freikorps were sent to end the revolt and the leaders were killed 
• June 1919

  Treaty of Versailles is signed and punishes Germany for World War I. Article 231 forces Germany to accept blame for starting the war, meaning they have to pay reparations of £6.6 billion. Germany loses 13% of its land and the military is seriously weakened.
• March 1920


  The Kapp Putsch sees the Freikorps try to overthrow the government, led by Wolfgang Kapp. The Weimar government organises a general strike to end the putsch.
• 1923


  French and Belgian troops invade the Ruhr as Germany fell behind with its second reparations payment. Workers there went on strike and money was printed to pay them - this caused hyperinflation. By November the German mark was worthless.
• Nov 1923 


  The new Chancellor, Gustav Stresemann, issues a new currency called the Rentenmark. This helped end hyperinflation by August 1924.
• 1924 


  Dawes Plan temporarily reduces reparations and loans money to German industry from US banks
• 1925 


  Locarno Pact: Germany agrees its new border with France. 
• 1926 


  Germany joins the League of Nations which shows Germany was now welcome back into the international community.
• 1928


  Kellogg-Briand Pact between 62 countries, including Germany, agrees to avoid using war.
• 1929 


  Young Plan reduces reparations and gives Germany longer to pay them. Extremist political parties continued to argue Germany should not be paying reparations at all
• Wall Street Crash in the USA causes a Great Depression. The USA stops lending money to the Germany and asks for its previous loads to be repaid. Unemployment in Germany reaches 6 million in the next few years.
• Feb 1919

  German Workers Party (DAP) set up by Anton Drexler. Hitler joins in September 1919, and eventually becomes second in command. Hitler suggests the change in name to National Socialist German Workers' Party (NSDAP) or NAZI Party for short
•  1920 


  The 25 Point Programme is written by Drexler and Hitler. It outlines the Party's aim to get rid of the Treaty of Versailles and increase pensions, but also stop Jews from being citizens of Germany.
• July 1921 


  Hitler becomes leader of the Nazi Party. Hess, Goering, Streicher and Rohm were selected as party supporters. Hitler becomes leader of the Nazi Party. Hess, Goering, Streicher and Rohm were selected as party supporters.
• August 1921 


  Sturmabteilung (or stormtroopers) - the SA - are formed. Made up of ex-soliders and controlled by Rohm they disrupt opposition meetings and control any opposition to Hitler often using violence.
• Nov 1923 


  Given the crises of 1923 Hitler attempts to overthrow the Weimar government in the Munich Putsch. This is a short-term failure and he is put in prison, but only sentenced to five years. Hitler is released after just 9 months.
• 1924 


  The NSDAP is banned, but Hitler starts to turn the Putsch into a success - his trial gives him national recognition, he writes Mein Kampf which becomes a bestseller and he realises he needs national electoral support to take over Germany. 
• Feb 1925


  • Ban on the NSDAP lifted. Hitler relaunches party later that month.

  • Schutzstaffel ("Protection Squad") or SS is formed.
•  1926 


  Banburg Conference: Hitler unites the Nazis and his plans for increasing their share of the vote begins. Hitler is in complete control of the Nazis.
• 1929

  The Wall Street Crash and the Great Depression that follows begins to increase support, votes and membership of extremist parties like the Nazis. Unemployment peaks at 6 million by January 1933.
• 1930-32 


  Heinrich Bruning, the Chancellor, fails to deal with unemployment. He eventually loses control of the Reichstag, the economy and the German people. He resigns in May 1932. 
• July 1932

  The Nazis have 38% share of the vote. Hitler demands he is made Chancellor but Hindenburg refuses.
• Jan 1933 


  A "political deal". in addition to all of the factors above, led Hindenburg to appoint Hitler Chancellor. He was persuaded to do so by Von Papen.
• Jan 1933 


  Hitler is Chancellor of Germany but his power is limited - Hindenburg is still President and Head of State and NSDAP members make up just one-third of the Reichstag
• Feb 1933


  Reichstag Fire: ..destroys the Reichstag building. Maribus van der Lubbe was executed for starting the fire. Hitler uses the fire as an excuse to use emergency powers blaming communists for attacking the government - 4000 communists are arrested. Hitler then persuades Hindenburg to call an election in March
• March 1933

  The Nazi Party secures two-thirds of the seats in the Reichstag, thanks to the emergency powers preventing the communists from taking their 81 seats. Hitler can now change the constitution. Hitler then proposes the Enabling Act to the Reichstag - the SA intimidated any opposition to it so it was agreed on 24 March. Democracy is now over.
• May 1933 


  Trade union officials are arrested, then trade unions are banned and strikes are made illegal.
• July 1933


  All political parties, other than the Nazis, are banned. Germany is now a one-party state. 
• June 1934 


  Hitler believed Rohm was a threat to him - the SA had three million members by this point, which was considerably bigger than the army at just 100,000. Leaders of the SS and army warned Hitler that Rohm was planning to take power. As a result 100 SA leaders, including Rohm, were murdered illegally. The SA are now firmly under Hitler's control. This event is called the Night of the Long Knives
• Aug 1934 


  Hindenburg dies, meaning Hitler can take complete control of Germany. The army are forced to take an oath of loyalty to him. Hitler becomes Fuhrer and the Third Reich began