Weimar and Nazi Germany

• What does abdication mean?

  Giving up a throne or position
• What is an armistice?

  A formal agreement to stop fighting
• What is a constitution?

  The rules for running a country
• What defines a republic?

  A country without a king or queen
• What was the Weimar Republic?

  The republic in Germany from 1919-1933
• What is a coalition government?

  Two or more parties forming a government
• What does democracy mean?

  The belief in freedom and equality
• What does SPD stand for?

  Social Democratic Party
• What is the Reichstag?

  The German Parliament
• What is the role of a Chancellor?

  Equivalent to a prime minister
• What is nationalism?

  State or government control
• What are trade unions?

  Groups protecting workers' rights
• What is communism?

  Government ownership of all resources
• Who were the Freikorps?

  Unemployed ex-soldiers
• What does KPD stand for?

  German Communist Party
• What is the Reichswehr?

  The regular German army and navy
• What is a putsch?

  A violent attempt to overthrow government
• What is a diktat?

  A treaty imposed without agreement
• What was the legacy of World War One for Germany?

  Germany faced defeat and economic hardship
• Why did the German army mutiny in October 1918?

  They refused to fight the British
• What happened on 9th November 1918?

  Kaiser Wilhelm's abdication was announced
• Who became Chancellor after the abdication?

  Friedrich Ebert
• What was the significance of the armistice signed by Ebert?

  It ended fighting with the Allies
• What was the purpose of the new constitution drawn up in Weimar?

  To establish a democratic government

  
• What were the strengths of the Weimar Constitution?

  • Advanced democracy in Europe
  • Universal suffrage at age 20
  • President elected every 7 years
  • Reichstag had law-making power
  • Right to free speech and religion

  
• What were the weaknesses of the Weimar Constitution?

  • Article 48 gave too much power to President
  • Proportional representation led to weak coalition governments
  • Army generals and judges opposed the Republic
• What was the 'stab in the back' theory?

  Belief that politicians betrayed the army
• What did Article 231 of the Treaty of Versailles state?

  Germany caused the war and accepted guilt
• How did Germans view the Treaty of Versailles?

  As a diktat imposed on them
• What was the Spartacist Revolt?

  An uprising to create a Communist state
• Who led the Spartacist Revolt?

  Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht
• What was the outcome of the Spartacist Revolt?

  The uprising was crushed by the Freikorps
• What was the Kapp Putsch?

  A right-wing attempt to take power
• What was the response of Berlin workers to the Kapp Putsch?

  They went on strike to support Weimar
• What was the political violence challenge from 1919 to 1923?

  Political assassinations of leaders
• Who was Matthias Erzberger?

  A politician assassinated in 1921
• What was the impact of political murders on the Weimar Republic?

  Left-wing politicians were often targeted
• What was passive resistance?

  Non-violent opposition to authority
• What was the economic situation in Germany in 1923?

  Bankruptcy and hyperinflation
• What was the French occupation of the Ruhr?

  French troops took control of German industry