Essay on Hyperinflation as a significant Threat

• What was the most significant threat to Weimar Germany from 1919-1923?

  Hyperinflation
• What were the main issues faced by the Weimar Republic from 1919-1923?

  • Aftermath of WWI
  • Signing of the Treaty of Versailles
  • Economic crises
  • Political extremism
  • Legitimacy issues
• How did hyperinflation affect faith in the Weimar government?

  It destroyed faith in the Weimar government
• How did hyperinflation contribute to political extremism in Weimar Germany?

  It intensified support for extremist movements
• What was the value of the German Mark to the dollar by November 1923?

  4.2 billion marks to $1
• What happened to the price of bread in Germany during hyperinflation?

  It rose to 201 billion marks
• How did hyperinflation affect workers' wages?

  Wages became worthless within hours
• What did many workers have to do due to hyperinflation?

  They had to be paid twice a day
• What economic behavior emerged due to hyperinflation?

  People began to barter instead of using money
• Who criticized the Allies' demand for reparations from Germany?

  John Maynard Keynes
• What was the amount of reparations demanded from Germany?

  £6.6 billion
• What impact did hyperinflation have on the Mittelstand (middle class)?

  It wiped out their life savings
• How did the economic suffering of the middle class affect their political views?

  They became more susceptible to extremist propaganda
• What was the Munich Putsch?

  A failed coup by the Nazi Party
• How did hyperinflation affect support for the NSDAP (Nazi Party)?

  It increased their support in Bavaria
• What was the response of left-wing groups to the economic crisis?

  They pushed for a Soviet-style system
• Why was hyperinflation not considered the most significant threat?

  It was solvable and short-lived
• What stabilized the economy after hyperinflation?

  The introduction of the Rentenmark
• What did the Dawes Plan do for the Weimar economy?

  It stabilized the economy through US loans
• What could Germany have done to avoid hyperinflation?

  Paid reparations instead of resisting
• What was the consequence of the French occupation of the Ruhr?

  It forced the government to print more money
• What does Peukert argue about the reparations figure?

  It was manageable at 2% of GNP
• What continued even after hyperinflation ended?

  Political instability
• What did the collapse of faith in Weimar indicate?

  It did not disappear with economic recovery
• What was the real long-term problem for Weimar Germany?

  Political extremism
• What were the threats from the right to Weimar Germany?

  • Rich elites opposed democracy
  • Desire to restore monarchy or dictatorship
  • Kapp Putsch attempted coup
• Who led the Kapp Putsch?

  Wolfgang Kapp and the Freikorps
• What did the Reichswehr's refusal to defend Weimar indicate?

  Military loyalty was lacking
• How was the Weimar government saved during the Kapp Putsch?

  By a general strike by workers
• What were the weaknesses of the far-right movements?

  Little support from the working class
• What was the judicial bias towards right-wing assassins?

  Only 28 of 354 were convicted
• How did hyperinflation affect the middle class's political alignment?

  They shifted to supporting right-wing parties
• What was the Spartacist Uprising?

  A communist revolution attempt in Berlin
• What was the outcome of the Ruhr Uprising?

  It was brutally crushed by the army
• Why was the radical left considered weak?

  They lacked a unified leader and support
• What did Ebert's fear of communism lead to?

  Failure to recognize right-wing threats
• How did hyperinflation affect support for communism?

  It led workers to see democracy as failing
• What were the long-term impacts of hyperinflation on Weimar Germany?

  • Radicalized the middle class
  • Increased support for extremism
  • Highlighted Weimar's instability
• What were the key factors contributing to Weimar's instability?

  • Hyperinflation
  • Political extremism
  • Lack of institutional support
• What was the overall conclusion regarding hyperinflation's impact?

  It worsened political extremism, not the root cause