germany Flashcards
(29 cards)
when was germany unified and how many states were there
1871, 25 states
what did the kaiser do
kaiser or emperor was the head of armed forces, controlled foreign policy and appointed the chancellor
what did the chancellor do
in charge of government and had authority over the bundesrat
what was the bundesrat
appointed officials from each state that introduced laws
what was the reichstag
parliament which discussed and voted laws introduced by authority
what were some weaknesses to the government system
- kaiser can use article 48
- proportional representation
- parties frequently argued
what was the largest of german’s states
prussia
what type of government meant the reichstag had less power then the kaiser
authoritarian
why was there a growth in socialism
- rapid industrialising
- poor living and working conditions
- support for trade unions
- rapid emigration to towns and cities
what was weltpolitik
world politics - an aim to transform germany into a global power through colonies, navy and international affairs
what were the naval race
a race between germany and GB of who can quickly build the strongest and largest navy, as part of germanys weltpolitik ideas
why was there a surge in patriotism during ww1
at the beginning, most germans supported the war as they thought it would be short and successful
in 1915 what shortage struck germany and why did it happen
food shortages across germany due to the british naval blockage of german ports, stopping food imports and forcing them to be self sufficient
how did germans feel about the war by 1917 and 1918
war weariness set in and turned to anger, there were strikes, riots and protests in the street
what was the german revolution and how did the kaiser attempt to avoid blame
- the period of strikes and riots in 1917
- kaiser tried to avoid impending blame for the loss of ww1 by handing power to politicians but when defeat was certain, the kaiser fled
what were the german opinions of the armistice
many germans were mislead by propaganda and believed they could have won the was if the politicians hadn’t surrendered known as the ‘stab in the back’ myth. the politicians who signed the armistice were known as the ‘november criminals’
LAMB treaty of versailles
Land - lose all their colonies, the polish corridor, alcase lorraine and 13% of their land
Army - germanys army was reduced to 100,000 soldiers, 6 battleships, no air force, demilitarised the rhineland and banned from uniting with austria
Money - had to 6.6 billion in reparations to the allies
Blame - germany and their allies completely blamed for ww1 in article 231, the war guilt clause
big 4 reasons germans hated the treaty of versailles
- they expected a fair treaty
- germany left defenceless and humiliated
- economy already ruined and couldnt afford reparations
- many germans believed they were winning so it was even harder to accept the treaty
2 weaknesses to the weimar government constitution
- proportional representation
- president had too much power, article 48
the spartacist uprising 1919
- led by luxembourg and liebnicht
- communist uprising
- stormed berlin and rioted
- friekorps killed over 3000 communists
kapp putsch
- led by wolfgang kapp
- wanted to bring back the kaiser
- successfully took over berlin and the government fled to dresden
- army refused to attack their former members
- ebert called for a general strike so kapp coundnt control the country and fled
munich putsch 1923
- hitler tried to take over germany
- took over a beer hall in munich and captured a local government leader
- arrested and sentenced to 5 years priosn but only served 9 months
- gave hitler publicity and a new tactic
french invasion of the ruhr
- germany unable to pay their 2nd scheduled reparation
- the demilitarised rhineland gave france a straight path into the ruhr, an industrial town, to take what was owed
- passive resistance ordered to the workers of the ruhr so the french had no goods to take
