GERMANY

• 1. What impact did the First World War have on Kaiser Wilhelm?

  Kaiser Wilhelm abdicated on 9th November 1918.
• What impact did the First World War have on Germany in 1918?

  The Treaty of Versailles (LAMB – Land, Army, Money, Blame) meant: Germany lost all its colonies and lost 10% of its land/territories; the Rhineland was demilitarised; they weren’t allowed tanks or planes and were limited to 100 000 soldiers, 6 battleships and 15 000 sailors; they owed £6.6 billion in reparations to be paid in goods/raw materials; had to accept full responsibility for the war; and couldn’t join the League of Nations.
• What was the Weimar Republic?

  The German government from 1919 to 1933, made by the National Assembly and elected SPD leader Friedrich Ebert as its first president.
• Who were the Freikorps?

  Ex-soldiers, unemployed youth and other discontents who were nationalistic or radically conservative and put down left-wing (communist) revolts with violence and some members were involved in political assassinations (e.g. 1922 Walther Rathenau, Germany’s foreign minister) . General Paul von Hindenburg initially supported them but overtime they came to be viewed as a nuisance and threat and eventually were replaced by the regular army and police work or were assumed by new units of the Nazis (such as Ernst Roehm, a Freikorps commander who became head of the Nazi SA).
• How big a threat to the German government were they?

  They were only a threat to the members of the German Government who were more left wing but the Freikorps were overly violent and were involved in political assassinations. Quite a big threat to the German Government.
• 1. Who were the Spartacists?

  Communists who wanted Germany to be run by the working class and wanted to replicated the Russian Revolution of 1917 and overthrow the government. In January 1919, 100 000 workers went on strike in the centre of Berlin but many returned home because they were frustrated at the lack of planning by the Spartacists. The Freikorps were employed to put them down. Over 100 workers were killed, even those who surrendered. Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg ( the leaders) were arrested and  brutally murdered.
• How big a threat were the Spartacists?

  They weren’t a massive threat as they weren’t very well organised and the revolt was easily put down.
• What were the key features of the Weimar Constituion?

  The President (Head of state) who was elected every 7 years and had article 48 which meant he could rule on his own in a crisis;

  The Chancellor (Prime Minister) who was chosen by the president but had to have the majority support of the Reichstag if he wanted to pass a new law;

  The Reichstag who were voted in with proportional representation (parties got more MPs depending on number of votes) and were elected every 4 years;

  The German people (electorate) who were anyone over 20 who could vote.
• What problems did proportional representation lead to?

  Lack of agreement amongst the Reichstag so it was difficult to make decisions and it gave small extremist parties a voice.
• Why was Article 48 a problem to the Weimar Republic?

  The President could easily become a Dictator as he could decide a situation was a ‘crisis’ even if it wasn’t so had too much power.
• What were the key features of the Treaty of Versailles?

  LAMB. LAND: Germany lost all its colonies and lost 10% of its land/territories and the Rhineland was demilitarised. ARMY: they weren’t allowed tanks or planes and were limited to 100 000 soldiers, 6 battleships and 15 000 sailors. MONEY: they owed £6.6 billion in reparations to be paid in goods/raw materials. BLAME:  They had to accept full responsibility for the war; and couldn’t join the League of Nations.
• 1. Why did the German people hate the Treaty of Versailles so much?

  It ruined the German economy and resulted in many things, such as the hyperinflation crisis. The living conditions changed a lot, people lost their army jobs so had to turn to factories which needed high productivity in order to pay back the £6.6 billion and they had to take the blame for everything.
• 1. Why did France and Belgium invade the Ruhr in 1923?

  Germany failed to make payments and the Ruhr was an industrial area so France and Belgium invade it. They intended to use the Ruhr’s resources to make up for the missed payment.
• How did the invasion of the Ruhr lead to the hyperinflation crisis?

  The Government told workers to strike, then they began to starve and suffer so the Government was fearful of violence and uprisings so prints money. Prices and wages started to rise rapidly so the money was worth less so wages and prices continue to rise so even more money was printed.
• What was the impact of the hyperinflation crisis?

  People can easily pay off their debts but everyone’s savings become worthless. Everything, including necessities, become more expensive so people’s wages needed to increase and rent became more expensive.
• What was the Nazi police state?

  A totalitarian state controlled by political police forces that secretly supervise the population. 
• How was Germany ruled before World War One?

  Prussia was the most powerful Germanic state and strongly believed in Militarism. The Kaiser ruled over all German states and each state representative had to consult with the Kaiser over new laws.
• How successful was Wilhelm’s desire for Industrialisation?

  Very successful. When supported by rich and powerful German businessmen his desires were fulfilled and by 1913 Germany was producing more iron and steel and as much coal as Britain . In industries such as electrical and chemical goods German companies were dominating Europe.
• Why was socialism a problem for Wilhelm?

  Many ordinary works voted for a new political party, the Social Democratic Party (SDP). They believed power and wealth should be shared equally among the people. This became a major problem for the government.
• Why did the Kaiser want to have an empire?

  He wanted to transform Germany into a global power with control over countries in different parts of the world. This idea was know as Weltpolitik.
• Why did the Kaiser build a powerful navy?

  He thought it would help Germany take over more countries already in the German Empire. He wanted the German navy to rival Britain's vast navy
• What was the Kapp Putsch? How threatening to the German government was it?

  A right-wing group led by a man Wolfgang Kapp tried to take over Germany. In March 1920 he gathered 5000 men to take over the capital city Berlin with an aim to take over the whole country. President Ebert and the rest of the government fled from Berlin. However Kapp had no support from the workers and they all went on strike. After 100 hours of being Germany's leader Kapp gave in and fled abroad and Ebert returned as President.
• What assassinations were happening in the early 1920s and why?

  Right-wing extremists were assassinating members of the government who accepted the Treaty of Versailles to eliminate them from the government.
• What was the Munich (Beer Hall) Putsch? How successful was it?

  On 8 November 1923, Hitler interrupted a meeting in Munich where Gustav von Kahr was speaking. He announced he was taking over Bavaria and then march to Berlin and take over the whole country. He locked Kahr and his companions in a small room. In the morning Kahr promised to help him and was released but went back on his word and contacted the police. In the end it was unsuccessful as Hitler was wounded in battle and placed on trial for treason.
• How did Hitler benefit from going to prison for his role in the Munich Putsch?

  He realised he would have to change his strategy if he wanted power. Th Nazis would gave to stand in elections and win votes so they are rewarded power. He also wrote his book “Mein Kampf” which became a bestseller so exposed many people to the Nazi regime
• How did Stresemann solve some of the issues facing the Weimar Republic from 1923-29?

  1- He created a new currency to stop hyperinflation called the Rentenmark and it quickly ended.

  2- Using some of the money loaned from the USA, Stresemann built new factories, houses, schools and roads. Germans were now better off as more jobs were around.

  3- He worked to improve relationships with other countries and Germany regained its international status and became an important part of the League of Nations.
• In what ways could the 1920s be seen as a cultural ‘Golden Age’ for Germany?

  After the horrors of the war many citizens decided to try new things and experiment with ideas. Cinema became popular, Literature became a big business, young people started going to clubs and with live music, a new group of designers began working known as the Bauhaus.
• What criticisms to Germany’s cultural changes existed?

  Some embraced the golden age of Germany whilst others hated them. They thought art, music, theatre, film and literature should celebrate the older more traditional values of Germany.
• How did the National Labour Service (RAD) help with unemployment?

  It endeavoured to provide young men with manual labour jobs. It was compulsory from 1935 for young men age 18- 25 to serve in the corps for six months. Workers lived in camps, wore uniforms, received very low pay and carried out military drill as well as working. 
• How did public works schemes help with unemployment?

  Hitler spent billions on job creation schemes. A massive road- building programme to support Germany with 7000 kilometres of Autobahns was introduced.
• How did rearmament help with unemployment?

  Hitler was determined to build up the armed forces in readiness for war, which greatly reduced unemployment. The re- introduction of conscription in 1935 took thousands of men into military services. 
• How did ‘invisible’ unemployment help the Nazis?

  Jews were dismissed from their jobs, as were many women, unmarried men under 25 were pushed into the national labour service and opponents of the Nazis were sent to concentration camps. This made it seem like the unemployment figures were decreasing.