Germany democracy and dictatorship

• Who was the ruler of Germany after its unification in 1871?

  Kaiser Wilhelm II
• What was the name of the German Parliament?

  Reichstag
• What was Kaiser Wilhelm II's foreign policy called?

  Weltpolitik
• What did Kaiser Wilhelm II want to build up?

  A powerful army and navy
• What was the impact of the Navy Laws introduced by Kaiser Wilhelm II?

  They aimed to create a huge navy
• What economic condition did Germany face due to militarism under Kaiser Wilhelm II?

  Germany went into debt
• What was the social condition of workers in German industry during Kaiser Wilhelm II's rule?

  Workers had low wages and poor working conditions
• What political party became popular among workers seeking social reforms?

  Social Democratic Party
• What was the impact of the First World War on Germany?

  It led to war weariness and economic problems
• What was one consequence of the British Navy's blockade of Germany during WWI?

  Food shortages in Germany
• What was the effect of the flu epidemic in Germany in 1918?

  It killed thousands of people
• How did the German public's perception of the war change over time?

  It became unpopular as the war dragged on
• How many war widows were left in Germany after WWI?

  60,000
• What financial state was Germany in by 1918?

  Germany was virtually bankrupt
• What did General Ludendorff advise the Kaiser in October 1918?

  To share more power with the German Parliament
• What happened on 9th November 1918?

  Kaiser Wilhelm abdicated
• Who took over leadership after Kaiser Wilhelm II?

  Friedrich Ebert
• What was the name of the new government established after the Kaiser?

  Weimar Republic
• What was the public sentiment towards the Treaty of Versailles in Germany?

  It was hated by the Germans
• What was the term used by Germans to describe the Treaty of Versailles?

  Diktat
• What were the main territorial changes imposed by the Treaty of Versailles?

  • Alsace and Lorraine returned to France
  • Eupen and Malmedy given to Belgium
  • North Schleswig went to Denmark
  • Loss of land to Poland (East Prussia separated by Polish Corridor)
  • Saar under League of Nations control
  • Danzig became a free city
  • Loss of overseas colonies
• What were the military restrictions placed on Germany by the Treaty of Versailles?

  • Army limited to 100,000 men
  • Conscription banned
  • No tanks, submarines, or military aircraft
  • Navy limited to 6 battleships
  • Rhineland demilitarised
• What was the reaction of the German people to the Treaty of Versailles?

  They felt betrayed and wanted revenge
• What economic crisis did Germany face in 1923?

  Invasion of the Ruhr by French forces
• What were the effects of hyperinflation in Weimar Germany?

  Bad:

  • Money became worthless
  • Pensioners lost value in pensions
  • Savings lost all value
  • Wages could not keep up with inflation
  • Loss of faith in Weimar Republic

  
  

  Good:

  • Businessmen could pay off loans
  • Mortgages could be paid off
  • Farmers benefited from rising food prices
  • Foreigners could afford goods
• What were the weaknesses of the Weimar Republic's constitution?

  • Born from Germany's defeat in WWI
  • Lacked support from extremist parties
  • Proportional Representation made majority difficult
  • Article 48 allowed suspension of democracy
• What was the political change and unrest in Germany from 1919 to 1923?

  Involvement of Spartacists, Kapp Putsch, and Munich Putsch
• What were the economic developments during the Stresemann era (1924–1929)?

  New currency, Dawes Plan, and Young Plan
• What was the impact of international agreements on the recovery of Weimar Germany?

  They facilitated economic recovery
• What characterized Weimar culture during its existence?

  It was marked by artistic and intellectual innovation
• What were the main opposition groups to the Weimar Government?

  • Extremist groups on the Left (communists/socialists)
  • Extremist groups on the Right (nationalists)
• What could many people not afford due to inflation?

  Necessities such as bread
• What was the general sentiment towards the Weimar Republic during the inflation period?

  Many people lost faith in the Weimar Republic
• Who benefited from the inflation in Germany?

  Businessmen who had loans
• How did inflation affect mortgage payments?

  People could pay off their mortgages
• Why were farmers pleased during the inflation period?

  The price of food went up
• What advantage did foreigners have during the inflation period in Germany?

  They could exchange their pounds and dollars for millions of marks
• What were the key events of political change and unrest in Germany from 1919 to 1923?

  • Spartacist Uprising
  • Kapp Putsch
  • Munich Putsch
• Who were the leaders of the Spartacist Uprising?

  Rosa Luxembourg and Karl Liebknecht
• What did the Spartacists want for Germany?

  They wanted Germany to be run like Communist Russia