Weimar & Nazi Germany

• The First World War was also known as The Great War.
• The Legacy of the First World War - political:

  • Huge debts due to cost of war. Between 1914 - 1918 debts increased from 50 billion marks to 150 billion.
  • People were unhappy with the Kaiser in Germany. Unrest started taking place in all areas of Germany.
  • In Berlin, it was clear that the Kaiser had lost control of Germany. It was time for him to abdicate.
• The Legacy of the First World War - military:

  • Fighting lasted 4 years, 1914 - 1918.
  • 11 million Germans fought. Almost 2 million German troops died & over 4 million wounded.
  • British navy blockaded ports, preventing ships from bringing in food. Over 750,000 Germans died due to food shortages.
• The Legacy of the First World War - social:

  • British navy blockaded ports, preventing ships from bringing in food. Over 750,000 Germans died due to food shortages.
  • People were unhappy with the Kaiser in Germany. Unrest started taking place in all areas of Germany.
• The abdication of the Kaiser:

  On November 9th 1918, the Kaiser was 700km from the capital, Berlin. His minister gave him no option but to abdicate in order to restore order. At first he refused. The Kaiser lost support of the German Army & the officers refused to support him. Giving the Kaiser no choice but to leave. On November 9th he abdicated & November 10th he went into exile in Holland.

  (The Weimar Revolution)
• The Council of People's representatives:

  November 9th, Frederick Ebert became the leader of the Republic.

  November 10th, Ebert made an agreement with the army to keep the communists out of power. Ebert suspended the old Reichstag & named 6 people who would be the Council of People's representatives. Only until a new consitiution was agreed. The move prevented extreme parties gaining power.

  (The Weimar Revolution)
• The decleration of a republic:

  On November 9th, the streets filled with people who either gathered peacefully or took over parts of the city. While Phillip Schedemann prepared to declare a communist goverment in the Reichstag. Schedemann announced a more moderate party, a new German republic.

  (The Weimar Revolution)
• The Armistice:

  On November 11th, Eberts representative Matthias Erzberger signed the armistice. The formal agreement to end WW1. This was the first major decision of the goverment. The terms of peace, the Treaty of Versailles became a permanent burden to the new republic.

  (The Weimar Revolution)
• Political Parties:

  • Social Democratic Party (SPD),
  • Independant Social Democratic Party (USPD).
• Early Challenges for the Weimar Republic (1919 - 1923):

  BETRAYAL

  • Politicians at the end of the First World War accepted an unpopular peace treaty.
  • Weimar Republic was always linked to surrender & harsh peace terms.
• Early Challenges for the Weimar Republic (1919 - 1923):

  ARMISTICE

  • Two days after the Kaiser abdicated, the new republic signed, but there was little alternative.
  • Germany was torn apart politically & socially.
  • Money/troops were running out, the army was in retreat.
  • Allies were stronger.
• Early Challenges for the Weimar Republic (1919 - 1923):

  TREATY OF VERSAILLES

  • Once the armistice was signed, Allied leaders decided terms of peace.
  • Peace was popular with the Germans.
  • However the treaty terms were unpopular with the Germans.

  (As was the Weimar Republic).
• Early Challenges for the Weimar Republic (1919 - 1923):

  DIKTAT

  • Imposed terms of the Treaty of Versailles.
  • Not negotiated.
  • Germans bitterly hated the terms.
• The Treaty of Versailles (terrotorial):

  • All colonies to be given to the Allied powers.
  • Alsace-Lorraine returned to France.
  • Posen & West Prussia to Poland.
  • Eupen-Malmedy given to Belgium after a plebiscite.
  • Northern Schleswig to Denmark after plebiscite.
  • Danzig created a free city.
  • No union (Anschuluss) with Austria.
  • Saar to be administrated by the League of Nations.
  • Memel to be administered by the League of Nations.
• The Treaty of Versailles (military):

  • No naval vessel to be greater than 10,000 tons.
  • Army not to exceed 100,000 men.
  • No tanks, armoured cars or heavy artillery.
  • No submarines.
  • Rhineland demilitarised.
  • No military aircraft.
• The Treaty of Versailles (financial):

  • Coal to be mined in the Saar by France.
  • Ships over 1600 tons to be given up.
  • Reparations fixed at 6.6 billion.
  • Cattle & sheep to be given to Belgium & France as reparations.
  • Germany to build merchant ships to replace Allied ships sunk by U boats.
• The leader of Germany at the beginning of WW1 was Kaiser Wilhelm II.
• After WW1, Germany has lost. They face problems like:

  • Poverty.
  • No Kaiser/leader.
  • Corrupt leaders - military generals.
  • In debt.
  • TEMPORARY goverment.
• Key roles - President:

  • Was the head of the armed forces.
  • Chose the chancellor.
  • Decided when to call elections/dismiss goverments.
• Key roles - Chancellor:

  • Leader of the most powerful elected party.
  • Chose his own cabinet & elected deputies.
  • Had to be supported by the Reichstag.
• Key roles - Article 48:

  • In an emergency, the President could seize control & rule independantly of the Reichstag.
  • He would be able to pass laws without their approval.
  • If the Reichstag didn't like the chancellor, he could keep the chancellor in office without their support.
• Key roles - Reichstag:

  • Elected every 4 years.
  • Debated issues & proposed laws.
  • Chancellor must have majority support from the Reichstag.
• Key roles - Reichsrat:

  • The second house of parliament.
• Key roles - German people:

  • All citizens over 20 had the right to vote.
• Spartacist Revolt:

  • The Spartacist's were a left-wing party.
  • It was led by Rosa Luxemburg & Karl Liebknecht.
  • It took place on January 5th 1919.
  • Led to 100,000 workers going on strike, mainly the newspaper district.
  • Ebert used the army & Freikorps to stop them.
  • Over 100 workers were killed.
  • The revolt failed.
  • The leaders were captured & brutally killed.
• Leaders of the Kapp Putsch Uprising:

  • Hermann Ehrhardt.
  • General Walter Von Luttwitz.
  • Wolfgang Kapp.
  • Disgruntled army officers.
• Why did the Kapp Putsch Uprising (1920) happen?

  • The Weimar Goverment announced measures to reduce the size of the army & also disband 2 Freikorp brigades, to conform the disarmament of the Treaty of Versailles.
  • The Kapp Putsch refused to agree to this.
• What actions did the Kapp Putsch Uprising (1920) take against the Weimar Republic?

  • 12,000 Freikorps marched to Berlin.
  • They occupied public buildings.
• What was the result of the Kapp Putsch Uprising (1920)?

  • Weimar officials had to run.
  • The Uprising failed, as the workers went on strike after after the Weimar goverment asked them to.
• Similarities between the Spartacists & Freikorps:

  • Both tried to remove the Weimar goverment.
  • Both failed.
• Differences between the Spartacists & Freikorps:

  • Spartacists - Not organised.
  • Freikorps - Organised.
  • Spartacists - Strike.
  • Freikorps - Took over public buildings.
• Germany's biggest problem:

  + (impact of the Treaty of Versailles)

  • The goverment was bankrupt, the reserves of gold had all been spent on the war.
  • Made things worse. Deprived Germany of wealth-earning areas. Also making Germany pay high reparations.
• Why did countries refuse reduced reparations?

  • They needed money themselves to help them recover after the war.
• Invasion of the Ruhr:

  • In December 1922, Germany failed to send coal to France from the Ruhr.
  • In January 1923, the French set in troops to the Ruhr to confiscate raw material, manufactured goods & industrial machinery.
  • The goverment turned to urged passive resistance - strike & sabotage.
  • The French responded by arresting civillians & bringing their own workers.
• Impacts the Invasion of Ruhr had on Germany:

  • It crippled them.
  • Increased unemployment.
  • Worsened the shortage of goods.
• The Ruhr Valley was significant for Germany as it was where they mined raw material - main source of income.
• Who suffered from hyperinflation in Germany:

  • Poor people had little savings & couldn't even afford an egg.
  • Middle-class people's savings were worthless.
  • Pensioner's pensions were worth nothing.
• Who didn't suffer from hyperinflation in Germany:

  • Farmers were able to sell produce at a higher rate.
  • Foreigners who moved to Germany were extremely well off.
  • People were able to pay off their mortgage with the devalued currency.
  • Businessmen who borrowed large amounts of money were able to pay off their debt's easily.
• Instability in a goverment is caused by:

  • Corruption.
  • Bad leader(s).
  • Bad decisions.
  • Lack of general public support.
  • Bad economy.
  • Negative press.
  • Political rivals.
• The Treaty of Versailles caused:

  • The Kapp Putsch Uprising.
  • Invasion of the Ruhr - hyperinflation.