Political and Economic Crisis Knowledge

Question 1

Challenges from the left

What was the Soviet Republic in March 1919?

Answer 1

In March 1919, a Soviet Republic was declared in Bavaria. This removed the Bavarian monarchy. In the confusion, the revolutionaries gained control. This was suppressed by the Friekorps with over 700 killed.

Question 2

Challenges from the left

What was the Spartacist Revolt?

Answer 2

In January 1919, the Spartacists led a revolt in Berlin which lasted 5 days. This was crushed by the Friekorps under the direction of Friedrich Ebert.

Question 3

Challenges from the left

What happened in the Ruhr?

Answer 3

In April 1919, a wave of strikes hit the Ruhr region.

Question 4

Challenges from the left

What happened in the autumn and summer of 1923?

Answer 4

In the autumn and summer of 1923, a major wave of strikes happened all over Germany.

Question 5

Challenges from the left

What happened at the uprising in Merseburg?

Answer 5

The KPD and Comintern both support an uprising in Merseburg. 145 communists were killed as the poorly planned rising fails.

Question 6

Challenges from the left

How did the Ebert-Groener pact help stabilise Germany?

Answer 6

The Ebert-Groener Pact had established a secure relationship between the army and the democratic government.

Question 7

Challenges from the left

How did the ZAG agreement help stabilise Germany?

Answer 7

The ZAG agreement delivered unprecedented triumphs for German workers such as arbitration and eight hour days and established a basis for more stable industrial relations in the future.

Question 8

Challenges from the right

What did the Ebert do to the Friekorps?

Answer 8

In March 1920, Ebert had ordered two of the biggest friekorps units to disband, however General von Luttwiz had refused and launched a revolution instead. As part of their revolution, they had taken over Berlin which forced Ebert and many other Weimar politicians to flee from the capital. Many members of the army were supportive of the ongoing revolution, helping the revolution gain support from the public.

Question 9

Challenges from the right

What happened during the Kapp Putsch?

Answer 9

During the Kapp Putsch, Wolfgang Kapp was elected to be the political face of the putsch. However, the army was divided as some members had supported the putsch whereas others did not. In the end, the army didn’t react at all to either sides calls for help.

Question 10

Challenges from the right

What happened when Ebert called on the public?

Answer 10

The people of Germany chose democracy when they answered Ebert’s call to put down the Kapp Putsch through their actions of going on a general strike

Question 11

Challenges from the right

What happened during the Munic Beer Hall Putsch?

Answer 11

Despite the support of Ludendorff, the Munich Putsch failed as the army rose to the defence of the Republic during the Munich Putsch in 1923.

Question 12

Challenges from the right

What happened after the assissination fo Walter Rathenau?

Answer 12

Over 700,000 people demonstrated after Walter Rathenau’s assassination in Berlin and the Organisation Consul was forced to disband. After 1923, assassinations declined.

Question 13

Hyperinflation - positives

What happened to mortage owners?

Answer 13

Many people in debt, including mortgage owners, paid off their debts easily with devalued money

Question 14

Hyperinfaltion - positives

What happened to industrialists?

Answer 14

Industrialists like Hugo Stinnes were able to amass huge personal fortunes. Stinnes built an industrial empire in the Ruhr of over 1500 businesses

Question 15

Hyperinflation - positives

What happened to entrepreneurs?

Answer 15

Many entrepreneurs with access to easy credit could use loans to extend and expand their businesses then pay the loans back easily with inflation rising.

Question 16

Hyperinflation - negatives

What happened with pensioners?

Answer 16

Pensioners savings were utterly ruined. With no way to gain this money back, pensioners were devastated economically.

Question 17

Hyperinflation - negatives

What happened to workers?

Answer 17

Workers intially received compensatory wage rises, but these failed to keep pace with hyperinflation. It is estimated an unskilled workers lost about 30% of their spending power at this time.

Question 18

Hyperinflation - negatives

What happened with the middle class?

Answer 18

Middle classes with savings in banks found that overnight, their savings had been made worthless.

Question 19

Hyperinflation - negatives

What happened to small businesses?

Answer 19

Small business owners could not keep up with rising prices and many were forced to close or sell

Question 20

Hyperinflation - negatives

What happened to civil servants?

Answer 20

Civil servants found that their real income had been declining again.

Question 21

Hyperinflation - negatives

What happened to trade union workers?

Answer 21

By the end of 1923, only 29.3% of trade union members worked full time.

Question 22

Hyperinflation - negatives

What happened to farmers?

Answer 22

There was major food shortages, since farmers were reluctant to sell food for worthless money.

Question 23

Hyperinflation - negatives

What happened to landlords?

Answer 23

Landlords who have been receiving fixed rent had found that the value of their incomes was falling. For example, by 1923 the cost for a landlord to replace one window was greater than all the rents received in the last ten years.

Question 24

Hyperinflation

What was the effect of continuing economic problems?

Answer 24

Continuing economic problems in Germany led many Allies to believe that more lenient economic demands in the Treaty of Versailles were needed.

Question 25

Hyperinflation

Did Germany gain anything financially?

Answer 25

The German state actually gained financially since it was able to write off a lot of its debt

Question 26

Hyperinflation

How did Stresemann help end hyperinflation?

Answer 26

Stresemann’s swift and decisive action in introducing a new currency and bringing an end to hyperinflation led to a period of political and economic stability.

Question 27

Hyperinflation

What was an alternative to printing money?

Answer 27

An alternative to print money could have been to raise taxes. This could have led to significant uprisings and resentment towards the Weimar Republic.