Revision Diary

Weimar Germany

Origins of the Weimar Republic; effects of the Treaty of Versailles on Germany;

Problems of the Weimar Republic, 1918-1924: political weakness; challenges from the Left and Right; Spartacists; Kapp Putsch; invasion of the Ruhr; hyperinflation.

Recovery of the economy; the Dawes and Young Plans; the role of Stresemann.

Make sure you have detailed factual knowledge about AND HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT the following issues and topics:

HOW FAR DID the early problems of the Weimar Republic suggest that it was doomed from the start?

1. A description of the Weimar republic.

2. The effects of the Treaty of Versailles on Germany.

3. The STORY of the Weimar Republic's problems 1918-1924, including:

a. the Spartacist revolt

b. the Kapp Putsch

c. the STORY of the crisis of 1923 (invasion of Ruhr / hyperinflation)

d. the effects of hyperinflation

4. How did the Weimar Republic survive?

How far did the Weimar Republic recover under Stresemann?

5. The period of Weimar Prosperity

6. the role of Stresemann.

and that you are able to explain:

HOW FAR DID the early problems of the Weimar Republic suggest that it was doomed from the start?

The Weimar Constitution

Overview

At the end of October 1918, the German navy mutinied. Rebellion spread throughout the country and Kaiser Wilhelm II ran away. Germany made peace, and set up new government - a republic. The new government was proclaimed in February 1919, in the town of Weimar.

The new government was "a brave attempt at democracy", but it had TWO weaknesses which proved fatal in the end - proportional representation (which meant no government ever got a majority) and Article 48 (which gave the President the right to make laws in an emergency).

Facts

• A Bill of Rights guaranteed equality, and religious & political freedom.

• The Reichstag was elected by all men and women over 20, and the government had to be the ruling party in the Reichstag.

• The President was elected (the first President was Ebert)

The Effects of Versailles on Germany

1. Germany hadn't been included in the negotiations = the Weimar politicians who signed the Treaty were regarded as traitors (the 'November criminals').

2. War Guilt = made Germans angry (they said Russia caused the war).

3. Economic (reparations/ loss of Saar coal/ loss of Posen wheat) - damaged the German economy already ruined by war and led to failure to pay reparations = invasion of Ruhr = hyperinflation.

4. Territorial (loss of territory & colonies/ Anschluss forbidden) = determination to get revenge and destroy the Treaty.

5. Military (navy cut to 6 ships/ army to 100,000/ Rhineland demilitarised) = weakened and isolated Germany, which felt humiliated and determined to rearm.

Revision Focus

This is a Paper 2 topic, so you need to have factual KNOWLEDGE IN DEPTH but also a degree of understanding which will allow you in the exam to write MULTI-CAUSAL EXPLANATIONS of the key issues.

Links

e-books on the Weimar Constitution , the problems of 1918-24 and the years of prosperity.

Online revision sheet

Weimar Problems, 1918-24

Overview

At the end of WWI the German economy was ruined, millions were dead, and the German government had collapsed - so it is hardly surprising that the new government ran into difficulties.

The challenge came mainly from two groups of people. The Communists - inspired by the example of the Russian Revolution - mounted a number of rebellions, trying to start a revolution. At the other extreme, the German Nationalists - angered by Versailles - also wanted to destroy the government. As well as rebellions, they also carried out an assassination campaign, murdering politicians they held to be the 'November criminals'. The right-wing rebels were helped by private armies of disbanded soldiers called the Freikorps. They were also helped by the Army (which refused to attack them) and the judges (who refused to convict them).

Facts

• 1919: Spartacists revolt (Communist)

• 1920: Kapp Putsch (right-wing)

• 1923 Crisis - France invades the Ruhr = strike and hyperinflation ... leads to rebellions all over Germany (including Hitler's Munich Putsch).

Spartacists

Overview

At the end of WWI the German economy was ruined, millions were dead, and the German government had collapsed - so it is hardly surprising that there was a revolution in 1919.

The first challenge came mainly from the Communists - inspired by the example of the Russian Revolution.

In Jan 1919 there was a Communist uprising in Berlin. The rebels called themselves the Spartacists (after Spartacus, the slave). At first they were successful - President Ebert had to flee to Weimar. However, Ebert asked for help from the Freikorps. They enjoyed putting down the rebellion with great cruelty.

Facts

• Led by Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg, who had founded the German Communist Party in 1918.

• The Spartacists began their rebellion by declaring a General Strike and occupying key buildings.

• Freikorps brutality: Communists who were captured were shot (including Liebknecht and Luxemburg)

Kapp Putsch

Overview

At the end of WWI the German economy was ruined, millions were dead, and the German government had collapsed. The Nationalists, angry at Versailles, wanted to destroy the government - so it is hardly surprising that there was a rebellion in 1920.

In March 1920, a number of Freikorps bands rebelled, and asked Wolfgang Kapp to be their leader. At first they were successful - President Ebert had to flee to Dresden. However, Ebert asked for help from the workers of Berlin. They called a General Strike - without power or transport, Kapp could not run a government and the Putsch failed.

Facts

• Kapp was a Monarchist member of the Reichstag.

• The Army refused to attack the Freikorps.

• The Freikorps' leaders were Herman Ehrhardt and General Luttwitz.

Crisis of 1923

Overview

Remember that the German economy had been ruined by the war. And remember how the Germans did not want to pay reparations? Well, in 1923, Germany failed to make a payment, and France invaded the Ruhr to TAKE their money in industrial goods. The German army could not fight the French, of course (it was too small) - but the German workers DID go on strike. They refused to make stuff just for the French to confiscate it! The government tried to help the strikers by paying their wages - but since they did this simply by printing more money, it led to hyperinflation.

This caused economic chaos, a LOT of human suffering, and led to a number of rebellions. The government almost collapsed.

The crisis was ended by Stresemann, who called off the strike and negotaiated the Dawes Plan with America.

Facts

• There were right-wing and Communist rebellions all over Germany.

• The Rhineland declared independence (October).

• On 8–9 November 1923, Hitler’s Nazis tried to take control of Bavaria (the Munich Putsch).

Effects of Hyperinflation

IF YOU ARE ASKED THIS, MAKE SURE YOU GIVE SOME FACTS AS WELL.

Effect on Germany

1. Huge rise in prices - money became worthless (people carrying wages in wheelbarrow/ using money to light the fire/ run to shops).

2. People who had savings or lived on fixed incomes (e.g. pensioners) were ruined.

3. Some businessmen made huge fortunes - e.g. they were able to pay off their debts for almost nothing.

Reaction of Germans

4. Hatred of Jews, many of whom owned businesses and shops.

5. Reputation of central government ruined - people looked to extremists such as Hitler for a solution.

6. General anger and hopelessness - 'Life was madness, nightmare, desperation, chaos'. People never forgave the Weimar government

How did the Weimar Republic Survive?

(Stresemann Gets Everything Fine)

1. Set one against the other - The government couldn;t stop either right-wing or Communist rebellions - so it asked the right-wing Freikorps to put down Communist uprisings, and it asked the workers to go on general strike to defeat the Kapp Putsch in 1920 = the two sides destroyed each other and the government survived.

2. Great Coalition - Stresemann arranged an alliance of the moderate pro-democracy parties = the government had enough supporters in the Reichstag to pass the laws it needed.

3. Economic prosperity - Stresemann made Germany prosperous, and this made people happy = they stopped wanting to rebel.

4. Foreign affairs - Stresemann persuaded the other countries to let Germany join the League of Nations = Germany became a world power again.

How far did the Weimar Republic recover under Stresemann?


Weimar Prosperity

(TAKE THE RELEVANT BITS FROM WHY DID THE REPUBLIC SURVIVE, i.e:)

Background	• Stresemann made Germany rich, restored political stability ('Great Coalition') and made Germany a world power again
Meat	• No rebellions after 1923 • American loans were used to build roads, railways and factories. The economy boomed and led to prosperity. • Cultural life also boomed (the Roaring Twenties), e.g. cabaret, artists, writers, film stars (e.g. Marlene Dietrich and the great novel All Quiet on the Western Front).
End	• Germany was only OK on the surface: • It depended on American loans = when the loans ended, the Republic collapsed. • Right-wing nationalists still hated the 'November criminals' = waiting for a chance to attack the Weimar government.

The Role of Stresemann

(DIFFERS)

1. Dawes Plan - Stresemann negotiated the Dawes Plan, which gave Germany longer to make the payments (and the Young Plan of 1929 reduced the payments) = prosperity.

2. Inflation controlled - Stresemann replaced the old, worthless marks with a new Rentenmark = economic stability

3. French left the Ruhr when Stresemann called off the general strike and paid the reparations.

4. Foreign Affairs - Stresemann joined the League of Nations (1926) = made Germany a world power again.

5. Economic Growth - huge American loans built roads, railways and factories = economic and cultural boom.

6. Reforms - Stresemann brought in unemployment pay and built 3 million new homes = life better for the working classes.

7. Strength at the Centre - Stresemann arranged the 'Great Coalition' alliance of the moderate pro-democracy parties = the government had enough supporters in the Reichstag to pass the laws it needed.