Summary Notes

• What was the key event that led to the abdication of the Kaiser in Germany?

  The end of World War I and the subsequent Allied blockade.
• Why did many German citizens feel shocked after the Armistice was signed in 1918?

  They had been told they could win the war.
• What term did many Germans use to describe the politicians who signed the peace treaty after WWI?

  November Criminals.
• What was the main power of the President in the Weimar Republic?

  The President could sack the Chancellor and control the army.
• What was Article 48 in the Weimar Constitution?

  It allowed the President to pass laws without the Reichstag in a state of national emergency.
• What was the voting system established in the Weimar Republic?

  Proportional Representation.
• Why was Proportional Representation considered a disadvantage in the Weimar Republic?

  It made it difficult for any one party to achieve a majority government.
• What were the main terms imposed on Germany by the Treaty of Versailles?

  • Germany to pay reparations of 132 billion gold marks.
  • Army restricted to 100,000 men; Navy to 6 battleships.
  • Germany to accept guilt for all loss and damage caused by the war.
  • League of Nations established; Germany not allowed to join.
  • Loss of 13% of territory, including the Polish Corridor and Alsace-Lorraine.

  
• What was the main reason for German resentment towards the Treaty of Versailles?

  They felt the terms were dictated without consultation.
• What was the Spartacist Revolt of 1919?

  A failed communist uprising in Germany.
• What were the reasons for the failure of the Spartacist Revolt?

  • Poor planning and leadership; leaders joined late.
  • Lack of support from other communist groups.
  • Freikorps were effectively used to suppress the revolt.

  
• What was the Kapp Putsch of 1920?

  A right-wing coup attempt by Freikorps ex-soldiers against the Weimar Government.
• How did the Weimar Government respond to the Kapp Putsch?

  They asked Trade Unions to go on strike, leading to a standstill in Berlin.
• What was the outcome of the Munich Putsch in 1923?


  Hitler was arrested and sentenced to jail.
• What were the short-term and long-term effects of the Munich Putsch?


  Short-term:

  • Failed coup; 16 Nazis killed.
  • Hitler arrested and party lost leadership.

  
  

  Long-term:

  • Gave Hitler a national platform.
  • Allowed him to spread Nazi ideas.
  • Led to a change in tactics towards legal means of gaining power.

  
• What was the significance of the Dawes Plan in 1924?

  It provided a loan to help Germany pay reparations and rebuild its industry.
• What currency was introduced to end hyperinflation in Germany?

  The Rentenmark.
• What was the impact of the Locarno Treaty in 1925?

  It reassured Germans that France would not invade their land in the future.
• What was the Kellogg-Briand Pact of 1928?

  An agreement that countries would not use force to settle international disputes.
• What were the social changes in Germany during the Weimar Republic's Golden Age?


  • Increase in real wages by over 10% for the working class.
  • Construction of over 2 million homes.
  • Introduction of unemployment insurance in 1927.
  • Women gained the right to vote and entered professional roles.
  • Cultural changes in fashion and social freedoms for women.

  
• How many female MPs were in the Reichstag by 1933?

  One-tenth of the Reichstag MPs were female.
• What was the impact of hyperinflation on the middle class in Germany?

  They were the worst affected as their savings became worthless.
• How did the Weimar Government's decisions during hyperinflation affect public perception?

  It made the government look weak and led people to support extremist parties.
• What were the main benefits and drawbacks of the Weimar Republic's economic policies during the Golden Age?

  Benefits:

  • Economic growth and recovery.
  • Improved living standards and employment.

  
  

  Drawbacks:

  • Nationalist opposition to the Treaty of Versailles.
  • Continued resentment over reparations.

  
• What was introduced by the Chancellor to help workers who were out of work, the ill, and the elderly?

  Unemployment insurance
• In what year did unemployment insurance become law?

  1927
• How did women gain more independence during the Golden Years?

  They received the vote in 1919, which gave them political strength.
• By 1933, what percentage of Reichstag MPs were female?


  One tenth
• What professional roles did women enter during the Golden Years?

  Women became doctors and teachers.
• What social freedoms did women experience during the Golden Years?

  Women were free to dress as they liked, wear makeup, and smoke in public.
• What cultural changes occurred in Germany during the Golden Years?

  • Painters like Otto Dix depicted societal problems.
  • The Bauhaus movement influenced architecture.
  • Films featured strong female characters.
  • New literature reflected left and right political ideas.
  • The arts criticized the Weimar Republic.

  
• Why did many traditional Germans find the cultural changes offensive?

  They preferred traditional roles and values promoted by Hitler.

  
• When did Hitler set up the Nazi Party?

  1920

  
• What significant event occurred in January 1933?

  Hitler became Chancellor.
• What were the reasons for Hitler's rise to power?

  Hitler's strengths, problems in the Weimar Republic, and weaknesses of others.
• What was the Munich Putsch?


  An attempt by Hitler to seize power illegally in 1923.
• What was the outcome of the Munich Putsch for Hitler?


  He gained publicity and realized he needed to win power through votes.
• What was the 25 Point Programme?


  The political manifesto of the Nazi Party.
• What was the role of the SA in the Nazi Party?

  The SA was a paramilitary organization that intimidated opponents.
• Who was the leader of the German Workers' Party before Hitler?

  Anton Drexler