Kapp Putsch

Question 1

When was the Kapp Putsch?

Answer 1

March 1920

Question 2

Who led the military coup/putsch

Answer 2

Wolfgang Kapp (leader of Freikorps too)

Question 3

Outline of the Kapp Putsch

Answer 3

Marched Berlin & took control of the city & government
Army sides with Kapp & Freikorps
Gov appealed to the people to strike
People of Germany went on strike (general strike)
General strike successful - Kapp Putsch collapsed within days
Those who participated in the putsch were not punished
- Weimar gov. needed the support and loyalty of the army.

Question 4

President in Germany

Answer 4

Elected every 7 years
Article 48 - in an emergency he could make laws without going first to the Reichstag

Question 5

Chancellor

Answer 5

Appointed from the Reichstag by the President.
- Had to be supported by a majority of the Reichstag

Question 6

German people

Answer 6

All adults can vote; all have equal rights
Elect member of the Reichstag and the president

Question 7

Strengths of the main features of the Weimar Constitution

Answer 7

• All Germans had equal rights - includes right to vote
• Proportional representation - political parties were allocated seats in parliament in proportion to the number of votes they got = fair.
• Strong president - necessary to keep control over the government & protect the country in a crisis
• Each state has its own traditions - they should keep some control over their own affairs.

Question 8

Weaknesses of the main features of the Weimar Constitution

Answer 8

• 1919 Republic had many enemies - not sensible to give equal rights to those who wished to destroy it.
• Proportional representation - lots of small parties which each got a small # of MPs. No one could get a majority - gov had to be coalitions = no strong government.
• President had too much power - possibility of turning into a dictator.
• States could be hostile to the National Government - even try to overthrow it

Question 9

Occupation of the Ruhr, when, why and who

Answer 9

Germany falls behind on its reparation
French determined to have Germany pay
- Seizing coal and other raw resources if necessary
Jan 1923 - French & Belgian troops marched in the Ruhr - Germany’s most important industrial region.
Legal occupation under the TOV

Question 10

Outline passive resistance in the Ruhr

Answer 10

Germans responded w/ passive resistance to the occupation of the Ruhr.
- Refused to have anything to do with French & Belgians
Made Germany even poorer & less able to pay reparations & support itself

Question 11

Outline Germany’s Hyperinflation

Answer 11

German gov didn’t have money to cover cost of passive resistance - printed more money
- Caused the value of money to decrease & prices increase
Worsened in 1923
- People lost savings
- Wages didn’t keep up
- Society shifted to trade & bartering of goods & services
October 1923 - old currency scraped & temporary currency - Renten Mark - introduced
1924 - permanent currency - Reichsmark brought in.

Question 12

Exchange rate for $1 USD - German Marks

Answer 12

1914 July - 4.2 marks
1919 July - 14 marks
1921 Jan - 65 marks
1922 Jan - 191 marks
1922 July - 493 marks
1923 Jan - 18,000 marks
- July - 350,000 marks
- August - 4,600,000 marks
- Nov - 4.2 trillion marks

Question 13

Cost of a loaf of bread in Germany 1923

Answer 13

Jan - 250 marks
July - 3,465 marks
Sept - 1,512,000 marks
Nov - 201,000,000,000 marks