weimar republic 1918-29

• first world war

  • ended in 1918
  • left Germany scarred, crumbling
  • Germany was defeated by Britain, France, Russia, Italy and USA
  • Friedrich Ebert ( social democratic party ) became the first german president and declared Germany a republic
• impact of the WW1 on Germany

  • 2 million troops died
  • +4 million troops injured
  • government debts increased from 50 to 150 billion marks
  • +750,000 deaths - because of food shortages
• the abdication (tahtan çekilme) of Kaiser Wilhelm II

  • 9 nov 1918

  — the Kaiser visited army headquarters in spa

  — ministers pressured him to abdicate, but he refused

  — army officers refused to back him

  — the Kaiser was forced to abdicate, had no option

  • 10 nov 1910

  — Kaiser fled to holland
• Philipp Scheidemann declared the new German Republic - 9th Nov 1918

  • to prevent a communist takeover after the abdication.
  • from the SPD (the largest party in the Reichstag), declared the new German Republic to the crowd.
  • He feared that armed rioters were planning to establish a communist government in Berlin. To stop this, he called for a peaceful transition to a republic
• the armistice

  • 11 november
  • peace agreement Germany - allies
  • first major decision of Ebert’s new republic
  • Germany was forced to sign this as the country was rapidly being destroyed and faced mass social and political unrest
• weimar constitution

  1. head of state

  • president
  • elected every 7 years
  • important political powers
  • appointing the chancellor
  • article 48 gave the ability to rule by decree in emergencies, bypassing the Reichstag
• 2. the government

  • led by the chancellor - responsible for day-to-day administration
  • the chancellor needed to support of the Reichstag to pass laws
  • the chancellor chose all government ministers
  • cabinet was the main decision-making body of the government
• 3. the parliament

  • made up of 2 houses: Reichstag & Reichstrat
  • all laws had to pass through both
  • proportional representation, voting system
• Reichstag

  • Lower house of parliament.
  • more powerful of the two houses
  • controlled taxation
  • elected by citizens every 4 years
  • Main job: make laws, check the government, and elect the Chancellor

  — Reichstrat

  • Upper house representing Germany's regions.
  • elected every 4 years
  • Could delay laws but couldn’t stop them completely.
  • Acted as a balance to the Reichstag, representing state interests.
  • Each region sent a certain number of members based on how large it was.
• A democratic government was set up with a new constitution on 31 July 1919 in Weimar, not Berlin, due to ongoing unrest in the capital

  electorate - consisted all of men and women of 21 years old and over
• Strengths of the New Constitution

  • Proportional representation ensured small parties got fair seats.
  • Women were allowed to vote
  • Voting age was lowered from 25 to 21.
  • No one could hold too much power.
  • The President was elected every seven years.
  • Central government was stronger, but local governments kept some power.
  • The Reichsrat could delay new laws passed by the Reichstag.
• Weaknesses of the Weimar Constitution

  • Proportional Representation led to unstable coalition governments that struggled to create strong policies.
  • Article 48 gave the President the power to rule by decree, bypassing the Reichstag, weakening democracy, leading to weak government nd misuse of power.
  • unpopular because it was not the choice of the people
• What did Article 231 of the Treaty of Versailles do?

  Blamed Germany for starting WWI
• How did Germans perceive their involvement in WWI?

  They believed they fought in self-defense
• Where did people protest the Treaty of Versailles?

  In Leipzig
• What effect did the Treaty of Versailles have on Germany's economy?

  It weakened Germany's economy
• Why was the Weimar Republic considered fragile?

  Due to the weakened economy from the treaty
• What were the new leaders of Germany called after signing the treaty?

  ‘November Criminals’
• Why were the leaders seen as traitors?

  For surrendering in November 1918
• How much in reparations did the Allies demand from Germany?

  £6600 million
• What was the consequence of the reparations on Germany?

  It led to economic collapse and hyperinflation
• How did hyperinflation affect the sentiment in Germany?

  It caused resentment among the population
• WHY THE REPUBLİC WAS UNPOPULAR

  • Article 231 of the Treaty of Versailles blamed Germany for starting WWI.
  • Germans felt resentful and believed they fought in self-defense, blaming other countries instead.
  • People in Leipzig protested the treaty.
  • The Treaty of Versailles weakened Germany's economy, making the Weimar Republic fragile.
  • The new leaders were blamed for signing it and were called the ‘November Criminals’.
  • They were considered traitors for giving up in November 1918
  • Allies demanded for £6600 million in reparations
• Military Restrictions:

  • Cause: The Allies aimed to prevent Germany from starting another war by limiting its military.
  • Details: Germany’s army was limited to 100,000 soldiers, navy restricted, and the Rhineland was demilitarized.
  • Consequence: These restrictions weakened Germany’s military and fueled anger, contributing to the rise of extremist movements like the Nazis
• WHY TREATY OF VERSAILLES WAS UNPOPULAR

  • Very unfair treaty terms
  • Everyone in Germany criticised the terms
  • Revealed weaknesses in the support for the
  • Socialists who were forced to sign the terms
  • Alsace Lorraine returned to France along with other lost territories
  • Instalments of compensation paid to the Allies
  • Little effort made to reconcile with Germany
  • Let them accept the blame for starting the war
  • Easy to force them to accept war guilt
  • Stabbed in the back
• the treaty and land losses

  • Northern Schleswig voted to become part of Denmark
  • Eupen and Malmedy were lost to Belgium
  • Alsace and Lorraine were lost to France
  • Memel was lost to Lithuania in 1923
  • Polish corridor (Posen and West Prussia) was lost to Poland
  • Upper Silesia voted to become part of Poland

  — Germany lost 13% of its European territory

  — Germany also lost 11 of its colonies
• stab in the back theory

  • Many Germans didn’t believe their army had been defeated in WWI.
  • They blamed politicians for betraying the army, saying they were ‘stabbed in the back’ by surrendering too soon.
  • This theory gained support, especially among right-wing groups, and helped the Nazi Party grow in strength.
• • The Weimar Republic faced opposition from both groups inside and outside the Reichstag, and from both the left and right wings.
• • Spartacists:
  • Left-wing
  • supported by the Soviet Union.
  • Led by Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht.
  • came from the Independent Socialist Party
  • Based in Berlin
  • Attempted a revolution in Berlin in January 1919, aiming to create a communist government.
  • The Freikorps crushed their uprising.
  • Freikorps:
  • Right-wing
  • made up of ex-soldiers.
  • Had 250,000 men in March 1919.
  • Organised by regular army
  • Supported the Weimar government in suppressing the Spartacists.
  • Opposed the Weimar Republic, seeing it as weak.
• challenges from the left - the SPARTACISTIST REVOLTA

  • In January 1919, the Spartacists, a left-wing communist group, took over government buildings and called for a general strike in Berlin.
  • The Weimar government responded by sending Freikorps (right-wing ex-soldiers) to crush the revolt.
  • After several days of fighting, the Spartacist leaders, Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht, were executed.
  • The Spartacist Revolt failed, but it highlighted the political uncertainty and the opposition the Weimar Republic faced from the left.
• challenges from the right - KAPP PUTSCH

  • In Mar 1920, Freikorps troops (fearing unemployment) moved on Berlin, rejecting the Weimar gov’s policies.
  • Ebert asked the army to intervene, army refused to help exposing the government’s lack of support from key organisations.
  • Dr. Wolfgang Kapp was put in charge by the rebels and took control and became leader - the Weimar gov. fled Berlin, seeking safety.
  • the gov. organized a general strike with trade unions, which disabled the country, caused chaos.
  • strike was successful Kapp was forced to flee - ministers returned to power.
• The Kapp Putsch highlighted the weakness, instability, and lack of military support for the Weimar government, making it vulnerable to right-wing challenges.
• political attacks the weimar republic

  • left-wing parties in the reaichtag
  • right-wing parties in the reichstag
  • the Kapp Putsch
  • the Spartacist Revolt
  • Left-wing and right-wing political armies
  • political assassinations
  • Right-wing bias in the courts
• Political assassinations

  • From 1919–1923 politicians in the Weimar Republic were worried about assassinations.

  • In the early years of the republic, 376 political assassinations occurred.

  • In the early years of the republic, 376 political assassinations occurred..

  • Conservative judges were sympathetic to the conservative (right-wing) cause and gave them light punishments
• THE CHALLENGES OF 1923

  In 1923 the German people faced a terrible economic crisis. There was hyperinflation that made the German currency worthless.

  HyperinflationWhen the price of goods increases it is calledinflation; when it increases spectacularly, it iscalled hyperinflation

  1919 - one bread was 1 mark

  1922 - one bread was 100 marks

  1923 - one bread was 200 000 billion marks
• WHY THERE WAS HYPERINFLATION

  1914-18

  • the government printed more money to pay for WWI, but had no extra gold to back it, leading to bankruptcy.

  1918-22

  • weimar government continued printing more money to deal with post-war shortages and to request more time to pay reparations.

  january 1923 — french troops invaded the Ruhr

  the weimar government printed more money to pay striker and make up for loss of coal, steel and iron production

  November 1923 — german mark was worthless
• HYPERINFLATION

  • In January 1923, French and Belgian troops occupied the Ruhr to take reparations in coal, iron, and steel.
  • German workers went on strike, halting production in a region that held 80% of Germany's coal, iron, and steelreserves.
  • The occupation caused severe economic damage and worsened hyperinflation, as the government printed more money to pay striking workers.
• Negative effects of hyperinflation:

  • People couldn’t afford essentials like bread as prices soared.
  • Wages rose, but didn’t keep up with rising prices.
  • Many businesses went bankrupt, while larger ones took over.
  • Those on fixed incomes, like pensioners, were hit hardest.
  • Savings became worthless, especially for the middle class.
  • The Weimar government was blamed for the crisis, making it even more unpopular
• Positive effects of hyperinflation:

  • Farmers benefited as they were paid more for their food.
  • Some people and businesses were able to pay off loans and mortgages due to the weakened currency.
  • Fixed rents for rooms or shops became much cheaper.
  • Foreign visitors could buy more for their money due to the weak German mark
• REASONS FOR RECOVERY 1923-29

  • 1923-29 Germany recovered from immediate crisis of 1923, but there were still weaknesses in its economy.
  • Gustav Stresemann, the new chancellor, played an important role