The origins of the Weimar Republic 1918-19 and Early challenges to the Weimar Republic 1919- 1923

Question 1

When was the armistice

Answer 1

Nov 11 1918

Question 2

Who fled Germany just before end of WW1

Answer 2

Kaiser Wilhelm II

Question 3

Why did the Kaiser abdicate

Answer 3

Because he lost the support of the military and the people. This meant he could potentially be in danger due to his unpopularity.

Question 4

Who were the Friekorps

Answer 4

Soldiers that previously fought in WW1

Question 5

Who was the president of Weimar Germany

Answer 5

Ebert

Question 6

How was the Weimar Republic organised

Answer 6

Using proportional representation

Question 7

What were the problems with proportional representation

Answer 7

Since there were so many parties it was difficult to win an election. This meant many parties had to collaborate making their opinions very vague.

Question 8

What were the strengths of the Weimar constitution?

Answer 8

Everyone over the age of 20 could vote for the first time

It was democratic - the people voted the president and the constitution

Proportional representation helped prevent one large party from taking control

Question 9

What were the weaknesses in the Weimar constitution?

Answer 9

Proportional representation meant it was hard to win a vote so many parties had to collaborate.

Article 48 stated, in the event of a crisis the president could take full control. This eventually lead to the rise of the Nazi Party

Question 10

When was the Weimar Republic established

Answer 10

9th Nov 1918

Question 11

Why did the people of Germany dislike the Weimar constitution?

Answer 11

Because the poletitions who were in the Weimar constitution signed the Treaty of Versailles. This gave the poletitions in the Weimar Republic the name “November Criminals’

Question 12

Why was the Treaty of Versailles unpopular?

Answer 12

Because the German people did not believe they had lost the war so they therefore felt the as though they had been unfairly surrendered.

Question 13

Who had to take full responsibility for WW1

Answer 13

Germany

Question 14

How much land did Germany loose as a result of the Treaty of Versailles

Answer 14

68000 km squared

Question 15

In what countries did Germany lose land to

Answer 15

Belgium, Czechoslovakia and Poland

Question 16

Which three countries made up the big three

Answer 16

The US, the Uk and the USSR

Question 17

How much did Germany have to pay in reparations

Answer 17

The equivalent of $500 billion today

Question 18

How was the German military limited after the Treaty of Versailles

Answer 18

Only 10000 men allowed

No submarines

No aircraft outside of German teratory

Question 19

What year was the Spartacus revolt

Answer 19

1919

Question 20

Who were the leaders of the Spartacus revolt

Answer 20

Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg

Question 21

Why were the Friekorps useful to Ebert in 1919

Answer 21

He used them to informer the Weimar Republic. In return, he promised job security

Question 22

Why were the Friekorps a problem for Ebert in 1920?

Answer 22

In 1920 the Friekorps tried to overthrow the Weimar constitution in their revolution. The revolution was called the Kapp Putsch. The unprising began when the Friekorps found there was a plan for them to be disbanded. The Friekorps were extremely powerful and Ebert as well as many other poletitions had to flee.
They later plead for the population to not partake in the uprising and to instead go on strike.

Question 23

When did the French invade the Ruhr

Answer 23

9th Jan 1923

Question 24

Why did the French invade the Ruhr

Answer 24

to enforce German payment of reparations stemming from the First World War

Question 25

How did Ebert attempt to fix the French invasion of Ruhr

Answer 25

Ruhr was a a very industrial area and had many workers. When the French invaded Ruhr the workers were encouraged to go on strike in return for compensation. However, Weimar Germany could not afford the compensation so they printed more money

Question 26

What happened as a result of Ebert trying to pay the workers

Answer 26

Hyperinflation

Question 27

How large was the inflation rate per day during 1923

Answer 27

20.9%