Germany Pre-Hitler Flashcards
Describe the problems Germany faced in 1919
-Spartacist revolt led by Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxembourg - put down by Freikorps
JANUARY 1919
-TofV signed which lost the Saar land, the Polish corridor and other German colonies, as well as limiting the army to 100,000 men and reparations money
JUNE 1919
Describe the main events in the development of the Nazi party up to the end of 1923
- Started as DAP in Jan 1919 with 3 members
- Hitler joined in Sept 1919
- 25 point programme established in 1920
- Became Nazi party in April 1920
- In 1921 Hitler became leader and founded SA
- Munich Putsch failed in Nov 1923 and Hitler arrested and Nazi party banned
Who were the Spartacists and what happened to them?
Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht were communists who wanted to continue the German revolution. Ebert used the Freikorps to stop the revolt and executed Luxemburg and Liebknecht.
What were the main features of the Weimar constitution?
- President elected every 7 years
- Universal suffrage - anyone over age of 20 can vote
- Reichstag uses proportional representation
- Freedom of speech and of press
- Chancellor elected every 4 years can be appointed/dismissed by president
Describe the political problems Germany faced between 1918 and 1920
- German revolution led by Kurt Eisner in Oct/Nov 1918 forced Kaiser Wilhelm to abdicate
- Government labelled November Criminals after signing of armistice 11 Nov 1918
- Spartacist revolt led by Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht in Jan 1919
- TofV signed in June 1919
- Kapp Putsch in 1920 (after disbanding of Freikorps)
What problems existed in Germany 1919-20?
- Spartacist revolt led by Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht in Jan 1919
- TofV signed in June 1919
- Kapp Putsch in 1920 (after disbanding of Freikorps)
Describe the main events of the Munich Putsch
Hitler went to a Bavarian State Government meeting and forced the leaders to agree to help him take over Germany. When they met the next day Hitler was arrested and many Nazis were killed in the struggle.
Hitler aired all his views in court and became known all over Germany but was sentenced to 5 years, although he was out in 9 months. In jail he started writing Mein Kampf and realised he had to take over Germany legally.
Describe the events which led to Germany becoming the Weimar Republic
-British blockades at ports cut off food supply and starved many people, but the people believed Germany was still winning war due to propaganda. In October sailors mutinied at Wilhelmshaven and Kiel. At the very end of the war Kurt Eisner led the German revolution and all this forced Kaiser Wilhelm to abdicate, with Eisner declaring Germany a socialist republic.
Describe what happened to the Nazi Party in the 5 years after the Munich Putsch
- Hitler out of prison by Dec 1924 but only 14 seats won
- Ban on Nazi party lifted in Jan 1925
- Hitler Youth set up in late 1925
- By 1926 50,000 members
- First Nuremburg rally in 1927
Explain the consequences for Germany of the occupation of the Ruhr in 1923
(6)
Germany stopped paying reparations to win back some respect from the people but then the French invaded the Ruhr and took the coal in place of the money. Ebert ordered the miners to go on strike but had to print off money to keep paying them, and then the value of money went down and caused hyperinflation.
Explain why Germany suffered from hyperinflation in 1923
6
Ebert had to pay miners in the Ruhr to go on strike but to do that he had to print off money. The TofV reparations were also very harsh in the first place so Germany already had money trouble. The value of money was so low that a loaf of bread might cost a billion marks and people were burning money instead of buying firewood.
