How Strong Was The Weimar? Flashcards
(32 cards)
When and where did Wilhelm II abdicate?
9 November 1918
Holland
Who was Army Chief of Staff in 1918?
Erick Von Ludendorff
Who was power passed to after the Kaiser abdicated?
Which Party?
Friedrich Ebert
Social Democratic Party (SPD)
What was the Bolshevik Revolution and how did it affect Germany?
In Russia, workers and soldiers councils sprang up in larger cities such as Berlin and Düsseldorf
More soldiers joined them
Worried it would happen in Germany too. SPD thought it would bring chaos
One socialist stated that Friedrich hated the…
‘Revolution like sin’
What did the SPD members believe the revolution would do to Germany?
Three things it would disrupt:
- demobilisation
- vital distribution of food
- preparations for peace negotiations
Who need Ebert need to maintain peace and avoid revolution?
The army
Values of the left:
- Liberty and equality
- Upholding human rights
- Peace
- Political representation of lower classes
Left wing parties?
KPD
SPD
DDP
Values of the right:
- Authority, social hierarchy
- Duties rather than rights
- Nationalism
Right wing parties?
DNVP
DVP
NSDAP (later on)
Describe the Freikorps
Made up of groups of right wing volunteers, students and ex soldiers.
Formed to fight communism within Germany.
Hated Jews, democracy and SPD
What did Goring refer to the Freikorps as in 1933?
‘First soldiers of the third Reich’
When was the Spartacist Revolt?
5 - 12 January 1919
What happened in the Spartacist Revolt?
Decision to hand power to an elected parliament without reforms led to the resignation of Independent Socialists from the Council and the formation of the KPD.
Communists tried to seize power in Berlin but were repressed by military and Freikorps.
Aftermath of Spartacist Revolt?
2 KPD leaders, Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg murdered.
Over next 4 months strikes broke out throughout country and soviets were set up in a number of states. Freikorps crushed these which lead to polarisation in German society.
Results of 19 January 1919 national elections?
SPD, Centre Party and DDP formed a coalition and won a decisive majority.
SPD who won 38% of vote named the Weimar President Ebert
What was the main German aim for the Treaty of Versailles?
To protect potential strength of the German economy to leave the way clear for recovery.
No intentions of paying reparations to Allies except rebuilding areas of Belgium and northern France. Was prepared to give back Alsace-Lorraine.
When was the Treaty of Versailles summoned and signed?
Summoned - 7 May 1919
Signed - 28 June 1919
How much did Germany have to pay in reparations to the allies. (£)
6.6 Billion
How much was the army and navy cut down to?
Army - 100,000 men
Navy - 15,000 men
What did Article 231 of the Treaty declare?
That Germany and allies had to accept responsibility for starting the war
Which Chancellor resigned over the Treaty of Versailles?
Chancellor Schiedemann
What did German Historian Karl Dietrich-Erdmann say about the Treaty of Versailles?
‘Too severe, since Germany could do no other, from the first step onwards, than to try to shake it off; too lenient, because Germany was no so far weakened as to be deprived of the hope and possibility of either extricating herself from the treaty or tearing it up’
