Weimar Republic 1918-1929

• Right wing


  Believe in big army, strong leaders and less government control. Extreme right wing are Nazis & other fascist groups - don't believe in democracy.
• Left wing


  Believe in more government control to provide services to help all citizens eg Social Democrats are left wing group. Extreme left wingers are communists- don't believe in democracy.
• German Revolution


  1918
• 11 November 1918 Germany signs armistice = 'ceasefire'
• Right wing groups call those who signed 'armistice' 'November Criminals'
• Right wing groups say the German army was betrayed = 'stabbed in the back'
• Reichstag


  German parliament-MPs who make laws or the actual building where the MPs meet
• Proportional representation


  60,000 votes for a party a seat in parliament
• How government was decided

  Political parties would work together coalition
• President's power


  Emergency power to pass a decree (law) without consulting the Reichstag
• Treaty of Versailles


  Peace treaty signed between Germany and the Allies (Big Three-France, Britain, USA (4with Italy)
• Germany forced to sign = 'dictated peace"- there had been no negotiations
• Main terms of Treaty of Versailles

  • LAND-LOST LAND TO FRANCE, POLAND
  • ARMY-LIMITED TO 100,000, no tanks, submarines; Rhineland demilitarised
  • MONEY-reparations 'compensation' £6,600
  • BLAME-War Guilt clause-said Germany had to take the blame for the war
• These made Germany people 'angry' 'outraged' 'ashamed'
• Spartacist Revolt 1919


  • January 1919-just after war
  • Spartacists were communists who wanted control
  • Government fled and asked Freikorps to help stop revolt
  • Freikorps murdered leaders without trial
• Some left wing groups eg communists would not work with Social Democrats (Ebert) in coalition because they had asked Freikorps for help
• Social Democrats needed support in a coalition to stop right wing parties - this weakened democratic system
• Kapp Putsch 1920


  • March 1920
  • Kapp led Freikorps groups on Berlin and Government left
  • Workers went on strike & Kapp left & government returned
  • No one punished
• Freikorps


  Ex-soldiers who hated the republic and hated communists- they believed 'stab in the back' myth
• Causes of 1923 economic crisis

  • GERMANY DID NOT PAY 2ND REPARATION PAYMENT
  • FRENCH & BELGIAN TROOPS INVADE & OCCUPY THE RUHR-Jan 1923
  • WEIMAR GOVERNMENT ORDERS PASSIVE RESISTANCE IN RUHR
  • INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION STOPS
  • GOVERNMENT PRINTS MORE MONEY TO PAY WORKERS AND MONEY LOSES VALUE
• How 1923 economic crisis was solved

  1. Hyperinflation money becomes worthless

  2. Stresemann introduces a new currency

  3. French leave Ruhr as Germany promises to pay reparations

  4. USA loans Germany money to invest in industrial production
• Hyperinflation made savings and pensions worthless
• Munich Putsch in November 1923


  Linked to the economic crisis
• Hitler thought German people were so angry at Government for French invasion and hyperinflation they would support his attempt to seize power
• Key changes for workers

  • Better working hours, pay and conditions
  • Unemployment benefits
• Key changes for women

  • Legal equality with men eg voting rights, marriage rights
  • Opportunities to go to university
  • More job opportunities so gained financial independence
• Key cultural changes


  • Modern art wanted to show realistic images eg Otto Dix paintings
  • Cinema wanted to show real life stories eg about the war and people's lives
  • New design movements very different from traditional styles eg Bauhaus