1 | weimar germany (1919-29) Flashcards
(50 cards)
1
Q
why was there a high lack of support for democracy 1918-29?
A
- army openly disliked the republic
- army had lots of respect from the german republic
- dolchtoss
2
Q
how did the republic creation mark change?
A
it marked change of organisation and the structure of power
3
Q
what was the republic unfamiliar with and why?
A
- unfamiliar with democracy
- previously had limited power to pass or reject laws
4
Q
when did ebert announce the creation of the weimar republic?
A
november 9th 1918
5
Q
why was the creation of the weimar republic difficult?
A
- external pressure
- unrest in country - due to defeat, treaty of versailles and the abdication of the kaiser
6
Q
what happened to germany’s military under the treaty of versailles?
A
- only allowed 100,000 men
- conscription was banned
- only allowed 6 battleships
- not allowed submarines, air force or soldiers
7
Q
what was article 231 of the treaty of versailles?
A
war guilt clause
8
Q
what happened to germany’s land under the treaty of versailles?
A
- lost 10% of land
- lost empire
- lost coalfields
9
Q
how many assassination were there from 1919-21?
A
376
10
Q
when was the spartacist uprising?
A
january 1919
11
Q
what caused the spartacist uprising?
A
- january 4th: eichorn (police chief in berlin, popular with workers) sacked by ebert
- january 6th: 100,000 workers went on strike
12
Q
what happened in the spartacist uprising and what was the goal?
A
- took over government
- aim: to take over germany as a communist country
13
Q
who were the leaders of the spartacist uprising?
A
- karl liebknecht
- rosa luxembourg
14
Q
how did the spartacist uprising end?
A
- ebert ordered the friekorps to put the rebellion down
- 13th january: rebellion put down
- 16th january: leaders killed
15
Q
who are the friekorp?
A
- group of right-wing nationalist ex-soldiers
- hated the treaty of versailles
- hated communists
- feel that they never lost ww1
16
Q
when was the kapp putsch?
A
march 1920
17
Q
how did the kapp putsch happen?
A
- march 1920: friekorps, lead by wolfgang kapp, due to being disbanded and a fear of unemployment
- 5000 of them marched in berlin and put forward kapp as politician and declared a new government
18
Q
why did the kapp putsch happen?
A
friekorps hated the weimar republic
19
Q
how did the kapp putsch end?
A
- old government fled
- strikes and essential services ended
- after 4 days, kapp couldn’t govern
20
Q
when was the ruhr crisis?
A
january 1923
21
Q
how did the ruhr crisis start and why?
A
- germany couldn’t pay reparations in december 1922
- they failed to send ruhr coal to france
22
Q
what happened in the ruhr crisis?
A
- french sent troops to the ruhr to take payment in raw materials
- 11th january 1923: 60,000 french took over
23
Q
how did germany react to the ruhr crisis?
what did france do?
A
- workers went on strike and the ruhr production stopped
- french brought in their own workers (causing violence) and arrested them
24
Q
how many soldiers die the french army have?
A
750,000
25
what did the ruhr crisis cause for germany other than hyperinflation?
- increase debts
- unemployment
- worsened shortages
26
how does the ruhr crisis and hyperinflation link?
the weimar republic printed more money to pay strikers and make up for the loss of coal/iron
27
who benefitted from the impact of hyperinflation?
- foreign visitors: their currencies could be exchanged for millions of marks - they could buy things that ordinary germans couldn’t afford
- people who owed money: easier for them to repay
- farmers: could charge higher prices for their crops
- rich people: buy businesses for a cheap price
28
who struggled from the impact of hyperinflation?
- ordinary workers: couldn’t afford things due to the constant rising prices
- people with savings: savings become worthless overnight
29
how did the price of bread change during hyperinflation
1919: 1 mark
1923: 200,000 billion marks
30
what are the positives of hyperinflation?
- owed money value decreases
- workers do well
- wages increase
31
what are the negatives of hyperinflation?
- normal living impossible
- mass poverty
- starvation
- bankruptcy
32
when did stresemann become chancellor?
august 1923
33
how did the dawes plan help fix economic problems?
- 1924
- charles dawes (us banker)
- reduced reparations to £50m per year
- us would give germany £25bn of loans to help with economic recovery between 1924-30
- industry grew by 40%
34
how did introducing the rentenmark help fix economic problems?
- new currency: rentemark to end hyperinflation
- tied to the price of gold and issued in limited amounts
- once reset prices, it was replaced by the reichsmark
- it was a trusted currency - restored german faith in money
35
what did stresemann do in regards to the ruhr crisis?
he ended it
36
how did the young plan help fix economic problems?
- 1929
- owen young (us banker)
- total reparations cost reduced from £6.6bn to £2bn
- given an extra 59 years to pay off reparations
- this allowed the government to reduce tax prices
37
what is the locarno treaty?
- 1925
- uk, france and belgium accepted the new border
- france promised peace
38
what was signed by 1928 by stresemann?
kellogg-briand pact - peace talks
39
what was the significance of germany joining the league of nations?
- they had a voice and place in the world
- trusted
- on the council - make decisions
40
what are the results to stresemann’s actions?
- germans happier with the government
- restored national pride
- europe saw germany as respectable
41
how did the work of stresemann bring stability to german politics?
- coalitions worked together - decisions could be made
- 1925: hindenburg president - people were happier
42
how many cinemas were there in the golden age?
3800 in 1932
43
how much did the nazis get of the vote in 1928 - during the golden age?
12 seats
2%
44
what were the negatives of the golden age?
- germany became very reliant on the us money/loans
- “we are dancing on a volcano”
45
what changes were made for women during the golden age?
- equal rights
- fashion
- smoking
- drinking
46
how did wages and housing change during the golden age?
- wages increased by 10% and hours drop
- new housing built
- 60% less homeless
47
when and how did the wall street crash happen?
- 1929: us asked for dawes loans back
- caused serious economic problems - great depression
48
how much did the depression affect industrial production?
fell by 40% in 1932
49
what else changed or was affected by the great depression?
- businesses collapse
- trade stopped
- unemployment rose
- banks collapsed
50
how much did unemployment rise during the great depression?
from 1.3 million to 6 million
