Germany and the Growth of Democracy

• Germany's industrialisation 


  1913
• Positives of the Autocracy

  Berlin population increased dramatically (700 000 to 2 million), was a major city so lots of employment.

  Germany and USA took the lead in the development of new technology.

  Development of guns, building of Dreadnoughts.

  Better motor industry, better communication.

  Electricity that worked day and night.

  Industry made many landowners, business and factory workers very rich, had an influence with the Kaiser.
• Why did Kaiser Wilhelm II want an Empire?

  Power.

  No challenge - security.

  To compete with Britain, Russia and France.

  Large population to work and fight.

  To prove himself.

  Raw materials.

  Markets for his goods.

  Reputation.

  Influence over other nations (language, faith, communications, transportation).

  Increase Germany's wealth.
• Germany's Naval Laws

  April 1898 - to build: 7 battleships, 2 large & 7 light cruisers.

  June 1900 - to build: 11 battleships, 2 large & 8 small cruisers.

  May 1906 - to build: 5 extra-large cruisers and 48 torpedo boats.

  March 1908 - to replace: ships at 20 years old.

  May 1912 - to build: 3 battleships and 2 small cruisers, and to replace: ships at 12 years old.
• Military factors in the Great War

  Army Generals refused to support the Kaiser.

  On the brink of defeat.

  Navy had mutinies, refused to follow orders.

  General Ludendorff (very well-respected), told the government that they couldn't win the war.

  Soldiers that were sent to deal with protests ended up joining them.
• Economic factors in the Great War

  Germany had borrowed money from abroad to pay for the war e.g. the USA, which needed to be paid back.

  Lent some of its money to its allies - would they get repaid?

  War pensions (for families who lost people fighting in the war/were injured fighting) would cost the government a fortune in the future.

  Factories exhausted by the war by producing guns, bullets and shells instead of goods to sell abroad and make money.

  Shortages of food, medicine, and clothing.

  Virtually bankrupt.
• Social factors in the Great War

  Women worked in factories during the war, some Germans thought this damaged traditional family values.

  German workers had restrictions placed on their wages while other factory owners made a fortune.

  1918 - deadly flu epidemic, killing thousands who were already weak from a poor diet.

  Protests about food, change of government, and money.

  Grief over losing family members in the war.

  Workers, soldiers, and middle-class people working together.
• Political factors in the Great War

  Had been rich and stable, but now there was mutiny and revolution.

  The politicians, the 'November Criminals', ended the war and many ex-soldiers and civilians felt they could've won, felt betrayed by them.

  Kaiser forced to share some of his power.

  1918 - Kaiser abdicated and secretly left.
• The Spartacists Uprising

  1. Ebert's job: to keep peace, balance society. Signed the armistice. Hoped to introduce democratic republic in Germany. Spartacists: wanted Germany to be more communist, but small in society.
  2. 6 January 1919 - Spartacists tried taking over Berlin, took over major buildings e.g. train stations, parliament buildings etc.
  3. Ebert used the Freikorps (ex-soldiers) to violently crush the Spartacists. 2000 Freikorps sent in to battle with the Spartacists. Over 3 days they recaptured Berlin, and leaders of the Spartacists were killed. The movement lost its momentum.
• The Chancellor in the Weimar Republic

  Chosen by the President (usually from the political party with the most votes at an election).

  Responsible for the day-to-day running of the country e.g. law and order, taxation, schooling, health care.

  Must have the support of at least half of the MPs/politicians in the Reichstag to introduce new laws.
• Negatives of the Weimar Republic

  Lots of enemies.

  Proportional representation and a rainbow parliament meant decisions were slow.

  Article 48 made President a virtual dictator.

  Local government could encourage separation.
• Main political parties in the Reichstag

  • Communist party (anti-republic)
  • Social democratic party (pro-republic)
  • German democratic party (pro-republic)
  • Centre party (pro-republic)
  • People's party (pro and anti-republic)
  • National people's party (anti-republic)
  • National German party (anti-republic)
  • Socialist workers
• Danzig - a free city run by the League of Nations.
• Poland was given a 'corridor' to the Baltic Sea, cutting off East Prussia from Germany.
• Posen - rich farmland given to Poland.
• Weimar - new government meet here, so was called the Weimar Republic.
• Alsace Lorraine - to France (which had lost this land to Germany in 1871).
• The Kapp Putsch

  1. Weimar Republic signed TofV - unhappy, took all blame. Army reduced. More ex-soldiers joined Freikorps. Allies requested it be disbanded.
  2. Wolfgang Kapp and Freikorps marched into Berlin, took over. Ebert and government fled to Dresden. Army refused to fight against Freikorps, instead fought with them.
  3. Ebert appealed to workers for help, workers chose to support government by going on a general strike. Kapp's Putsch collapsed within days as public service ground to a halt. Leaders of the Putsch were not punished.
• The Occupation of the Ruhr

  1. 1922 - Germany couldn't afford to pay reparations.
  2. 60 000 French and Belgian soldiers marched into Ruhr.
  3. Took reparations in goods e.g. factory goods.
  4. German government ordered workers in Ruhr to not fight back, but go on strike (passive resistance).
  5. French and Belgian soldiers were tough with the strikers - 100 dead, 15 000 displaced.
  6. Weimar Republic promised to continue paying strike pay to people in Ruhr.
  7. Government running out of money.
• Hyperinflation

  1. To be able to pay workers in Ruhr, government printed large amounts of money.
  2. Workers spent money quickly, so prices started to increase.
  3. Government responded by printing even more money, meaning higher prices.
  4. Workers then being paid twice a day and carrying wages in wheelbarrows for the prices to change when it was their turn to pay.
  5. Weimar politicians lost support as savings became worthless.
• The Munich Putsch

  1. 8 November 1923 - Hitler stormed a beer hall meeting with Head of Bavarian government (Kahr) and fired a bullet into the ceiling, announced he was taking over Germany.
  2. General Ludendorff walked in and said he supported Hitler.
  3. Kahr faked support, but called police to stop the SA raid.
  4. 16 Nazis dead, Hitler wounded.
  5. Munich Putsch over, went on trial for treason.
• 1923 - Impact of Hyperinflation

  • Worst year since war ended
  • Wages didn't keep up with price increases
  • Money moved in wheelbarrows/baskets
  • Anyone with savings in the bank lost it, became worthless
  • Pensioners fell into poverty as pensions were a fixed price
  • Small businesses collapsed
  • German money worthless
  • People burnt money for fun and kids played with it
  • Most Germans blamed the government
  • People who had borrowed money could now pay debts off very easily
• Hitler - Rise to the Munich Putsch

  • Austrian, failed artist
  • Joined German army, won many medals
  • Blinded for 3 months (gas attack)
  • Felt betrayed when Weimar Republic signed TofV
  • Joined German Workers Party, later took control of it, as leader he made new changes e.g. the symbol (Swastika)
  • Changed name to Nazi Party
  • The SA (stormtroopers) wore brown uniform (private army)
  • 1921 - party membership grew to 5000
• Failure of Munich Putsch

  • Failed to take over Germany
  • Hitler betrayed by Kahr
  • Kahr informed authorities about Hitler, were ready and waiting
  • 16 Nazis, 3 policemen killed
  • Hitler injured
  • Hitler fled
  • Hitler arrested and put on trial, sentenced to 5 years
• Success of Munich Putsch

  • Hitler able to share his views at his trial
  • Every national newspaper reported his trial
  • Many Germans agreed with Hitler's views
  • Hitler only served 9 months out of his 5 year sentence
  • Continued to meet with Nazi members to discuss tactics whilst in prison, reorganised
  • Wrote Mein Kampf - bestseller
  • Realised he had to win power by votes, not force
• Many workers' risings, Putsches, Separatist movements and attempts to break away from Germany, political murders, and Communist/Socialist takeover of state governments e.g. Saxony
• Weimar Recovery - Hyperinflation Crisis

  • Stopped printing of old money, and replaced with a new currency Rentenmark, could be exchanged
  • 1924 - Rentenmark replaced by Reichsmark, that remained for 25 years
  • Hyperinflation ended but people who lost savings never got money back, blamed Stresemann
• Weimar Recovery - French and Belgium troops invaded Ruhr

  • Met with American Vice President Charles Dawes and arranged them to lend money (800 million/gold marks)
  • Could now repay and 'deal' was known as Dawes Plan
  • Troops left
  • Some felt he should've demanded an end altogether
• Weimar Recovery - Germany's status declined, determined to improve their image

  • 1925 - signed Locarno Pact with Britain, France, Belgium and Italy, promised never to invade one another
  • 1926 - joined League of Nations
  • 1928 - signed Kellogg-Briand Pact, agreed never to go to war
  • Regained international status, joined LofN
  • Some right wings criticised Stresemann for not demanding land back taken in TofV
• Weimar Recovery - Industries in trouble, run-down factories, few jobs, poor schools, housing and hospitals

  • Used some of borrowed money to build new factories, houses, schools and roads leading to more jobs and earning more money
  • Became more prosperous, citizens better-off
  • Some Germans feared they relied too much on the loans
• Fully recovered

  • Nazi support dropped immensely (2% voted for them)
  • No more attempts to overthrow government
• Not fully recovered

  • What if US wanted their money back?
  • Incomes of farmers very low
  • Middle class savings lost from hyperinflation
  • Extremist parties still against Reichstag
  • Lots of separate parties ruling (rainbow parliament), arguing, teaming up, slow Parliament
  • Nazi's still growing
• Germany's Golden Age - Nightlife

  • New plays, operas, and theatre shows
  • 'The Threepenny Opera' by Kurt Weill was a box office smash - performed vulgar songs, would've been banned in Kaiser's day
  • Berlin - famous for nightclubs, American jazz music, exotic dancing, 'transvestite evenings'
• Germany's Golden Age - Design

  • Bauhaus designers - modern, simple, practical designs instead of elaborate ones
• Germany's Golden Age - Backlash

  • Seen as sex-obsessed
  • Wanted old Germany back
  • Thought it was corrupt