Germany Flashcards
(41 cards)
Define Militarism
The belief that a country should have strong armed forces
Prior to unification, what was the most powerful Germanic state, and who ruled over all states in Germany
Prussia, The Kaiser (Chancellor)
What was the parliament in Germany known as
Reichstag
What were representatives in Germany known as
Bundesrat
What were the rules with the Kaiser
The Reichstag had to discuss/vote on the laws the Kaiser and his ministers made, however The Kaiser could ignore any advice and make their own decisions related to the army, navy and other foreign countries.
Who became Kaiser in 1888
Wilhelm
What is industrialisation
The desire to build up a countries industry
What is a trade union
A group of employees who organise to protect their rights and improve their conditions of employment
What is socialism
The idea that power and wealth should be shared equally among people
Why were people joining trade unions in Germany
Because while landowners and factory owners were living in luxury, factory workers were working in bad conditions and received low wages because of the Kaiser
What was ‘Weltpolitik’
Kaiser Wilhelm II’s “world policy” aimed at transforming Germany into a global power
Why was Germany in debt before the 2nd WW
Because of the Naval Laws introduced by the Kaiser, and the raised taxes used to pay for the expansion of Germany and its navy
When was the Kaiser abdicated
1918 is when he fled Germany
Who replaced the Kaiser
Friedrich Ebert
When did Germany surrender in the 1st WW
11 Nov 1918
What was the Kapp Putsch
A rebellion led by Wolfgang Kapp, in which him and the Free Corps took over Berlin, their aim was to eventually take over the whole country, make the army strong again and recover the lands Germany lost from the Treaty of Versailes
What was the Treaty of Versailles rules
- Germany must pay for the costs of the war
- Reparations had to be paid to the winners in instalments until 1988
- Germany must have a small army, navy and no submarines, tanks or airforce
- They must hand over their colonies abroad to the winning countries
- Large areas of land is to be used to create new countries for places previously ruled by others
- Germany is never to unite with Austria again
- No German soldiers should enter the Rhineland (an area of Germany next to France)
Why did the Germans accept the Treaty of Versailles
US, Britain and France would invade them if they didn’t, so they signed on 28 June 1919
What does ‘diktat’ mean
Dictated peace
Who were the ‘November Criminals’
The November Criminals” refers to the politicians who signed the Treaty of Versailles in 1919, which ended World War I. Many Germans felt betrayed by these politicians, as they believed the armistice had been signed unjustly and that Germany could have continued fighting.
Why did Kapp leave Germany after gaining power
Because Kapp didn’t have the support of workers, so they went on strike resulting in no gas, water, electricity or trains, so after he left Ebert returned
What was the Red rising in the Ruhr and how was it dealt with
The Ruhr Rising, was a left-wing workers strike in 1920 within the industrial region of the Ruhr. The government dealt with it by sending soldiers and some Free Corps to kill the workers
What did some groups in the Ruhr do to protest
- Between 1919 - 1922 there were over 350 political murders, carried out by right-wing extremists
- in 1921 Erzberger (man who signed the armistice) was shot dead
- Foreign Minister Rathenau was killed and acid was thrown on Scheidemann (an important politician), the right wingers were given short sentences with an average of 4 years as Judges were right-wing
What does ‘Putsch’ mean
Rebellion
