The Weimar Republic 1918-29

Question 1

How many German soldiers died in World War One?

Answer 1

Two million German soldiers died in World War One.

Question 2

True or False?

Germany’s debt trebled from 50 billion marks in 1914 to 150 billion marks in 1918.

Answer 2

True.

Germany’s debt trebled from 50 billion marks in 1914 to 150 billion marks in 1918.

Question 3

Define blockade in World War One.

Answer 3

In World War One, a blockade is the action of surrounding a country with soldiers or ships to stop people or goods from going in or out.

Question 4

In 1918 which two German ports witnessed mutinies from the German navy?

Answer 4

Kiel and Hamburg were the two German ports that witnessed mutinies from the German navy.

Question 5

When did Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicate?

Answer 5

Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicated on the 10th of November, 1918.

Question 6

Define the term abdicate.

Answer 6

Abdicate is when a monarch or sovereign officially gives up their power.

Question 7

Who became the Chancellor of Germany on 10th November 1918?

Answer 7

Friedrich Ebert, the leader of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), became the German Chancellor on 10th November 1918. After Max von Baden resigned as Chancellor of Germany.

Question 8

What promise did Ebert make to the workers of Germany in the first nine months after World War One?

Answer 8

Ebert promised the workers of Germany more workers rights, such as an 8-hour working day. This helped Ebert to gain the approval of trade unions.

Question 9

Which German political party won the January 1919 election?

Answer 9

The Social Democratic Party (SPD) won by 40% of the vote.

Question 10

When was Frederick Ebert elected as Germany’s first President?

Answer 10

Frederick Ebert was elected as Germany’s first President in February 1919

Question 11

What is the Weimar Republic?

Answer 11

The Weimar Republic was the democratic government established in Germany after World War I, this government was created in the German town of Weimar. It lasted from 1919 - 1933.

Question 12

True or False?

The German President had the power to choose the German Chancellor.

Answer 12

True.

The German President had the power to choose the German Chancellor.

Question 13

Could all men and women over 21 vote in Germany in 1919?

Answer 13

Yes.

All men and women over 21 could vote in Germany in 1919 under the new Weimar Constitution.

Question 14

Was Article 48 of the Weimar Consitution a strength or a weakness?

Answer 14

Weakness.

Article 48 of the Weimar Constitution was a weakness because it allowed the President to pass emergency laws without the support of the Reichstag.

Question 15

Define Proportional Representation.

Answer 15

Proportional representation is an electoral system in which parties gain seats in proportion to the number of votes cast

Question 16

Define armistice.

Answer 16

An armistice is a formal agreement between two countries at war to stop fighting for a particular time

Question 17

When was the First World War armistice signed?

Answer 17

The First World War armistice was signed on 11th November 1918 by Matthias Erzberger, a member of the German Central Party.

Question 18

What was the Treaty of Versailles?

Answer 18

The Treaty of Versailles was the official peace document that ended World War I and imposed terms of defeat on Germany.

Question 19

Define the term diktat.

Answer 19

Diktat means the losing side has the terms of peace imposed upon them. It is a term used by Germans to describe the Treaty of Versailles.

Question 20

True or False?

Georges Clemenceau from France, wanted the Treaty of Versailles to support Germany and provide them with financial aid.

Answer 20

False.

Georges Clemenceau from France, wanted the Treaty of Versailles to punish Germany by taking away their land and reparations.

Question 21

How many soldiers did the Treaty of Versailles allow Germany to have in their army?

Answer 21

The Treaty of Versailles allowed Germany to have 100,000 soldiers in their army.

Question 22

Did the Treaty of Versailles allow Germany to have any battleships?

Answer 22

Yes.

The Treaty of Versailles allowed Germany to have six battleships.

Question 23

Define Anschluss.

Answer 23

Anschluss was the German term for the union of Germany with Austria. This was forbidden under the terms of the Treaty of Versailles.

Question 24

How much did Germany have to pay in reparations after World War One?

Answer 24

Germany had to pay 132 billion gold marks, approximately £6.6. billion, to the Allies after World War One.

Question 25

In the Treaty of Versailles was Germany forced to accept responsibility for starting the First World War?

Answer 25

Yes. Germany was forced to accept responsibility for starting the First World War in the Treaty of Versailles. This was known as the "War Guilt Clause".

Question 26

Who were known as the 'November Criminals' in Weimar Germany?

Answer 26

The 'November Criminals' were the German politicians who signed the Treaty of Versailles. This was because November was the month the government signed the armistice.

Question 27

True or False? In 1919, the German people felt that the Weimar government had 'stabbed them in the back'.

Answer 27

True. In 1919, the German people felt that the Weimar government had 'stabbed them in the back' as many Germans argued that they should not have signed the Treaty of Versailles. This was also known as 'dolchstoss'.

Question 28

Did the Treaty of Versailles have a positive impact on the German economy?

Answer 28

No. The Treaty of Versailles had a negative impact as it destroyed Germany's economy by imposing large reparations and reducing their ability to trade, leading to financial ruin and widespread hardship.

Question 29

Define left- wing in politics.

Answer 29

Left- wing in politics means a political party has an emphasis on ideas such as freedom, equality, rights, progress, and reform.

Question 30

True or False? The most extreme version of the left- wing is communism.

Answer 30

True. Communism is the most extreme version of left-wing politics.

Question 31

Define right-wing in politics.

Answer 31

Right- wing politics support the traditional ideas about society. They believe in the private ownership of property and industry.

Question 32

What is the most extreme version of right-wing politics?

Answer 32

The most extreme version of right-wing politics is fascism.

Question 33

In the Weimar Republic, who are the KPD?

Answer 33

The KPD is the Communist Party of Germany. They are an extreme left- wing party.

Question 34

True or False? The NSDAP was the Centre Party of the Weimar Republic.

Answer 34

False. The NSDAP was the extreme- right Nazi Party of the Weimar Republic. The Centre Party was known as ZP.

Question 35

Why did Proportional Representation have a negative impact on the Weimar Republic?

Answer 35

Proportional Representation had a negative impact on the Weimar Republic because it made achieving over 50% of the vote difficult, leading to coalition governments and slow legislative processes.

Question 36

What was the Spartacist Uprising in 1919?

Answer 36

The Spartacist Uprising was a communist revolt led by Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht of the Spartacist League in Germany in 1919, aiming to challenge the Weimar government.

Question 37

Who helped President Frederick Ebert to end the Sparticists Uprising in 1919?

Answer 37

President Frederick Ebert asked the Reichswehr to organise the Freikorps units to fight the Spatacist Uprising. The Freikorps held extreme right-wing opinions and hated communists

Question 38

Who were the Freikorps in Weimar Germany?

Answer 38

The Freikorps, meaning 'free corps', was an extreme right-wing group of German ex- soldiers. The army released them from military duty in November 1918, key kept their weapons.

Question 39

Why did the Kapp Putsch of 1920 happen?

Answer 39

The Kapp Putsch of 1920 happened because President Frederick Ebert planned to disband the Freikorps units in Berlin. The 5,000 Freikorps members feared unemployment and planned to overthrow the government.

Question 40

True or False? President Frederick Ebert ended the Kapp Putsch in 1920 by calling for a general strike.

Answer 40

True or False? President Frederick Ebert ended the Kapp Putsch in 1920 by calling for a general strike.

Question 41

Was Matthias Erzberger assassinated in August 1921 in the Black Forest?

Answer 41

Yes. Matthias Erzberger was assassinated in August 1921 in the Black Forest by two members of the Freikorps. Erzberger had signed the armistice that ended the First World War.

Question 42

When was the Occupation of the Rhur?

Answer 42

The occupation of the Rhur was in January 1923.

Question 43

True or False? The Occupation of the Ruhr of 1923 happened because France needed more coal.

Answer 43

False. The Occupation of the Rhur happened because Germany requested to stop paying their reparations to Britain and France for the next four years and the signing of the Treaty of Rapallo with Russia.

Question 44

Did the Occupation of the Ruhr have a positive or negative impact on the German economy?

Answer 44

Negative. During the Occupation of the Ruhr, the Weimar government insisted on paying wages to the striking workers which led to shortages, increased costs, decreased production, loss of confidence in the mark, and overall economic damage.

Question 45

Define the term Hyperinflation.

Answer 45

Hyperinflation is a rapid and out-of-control rise in prices, causing the currency to lose its value, often due to excessive money printing.

Question 46

What happened to the worth of the German mark in Weimar Germany by November 1923?

Answer 46

The German mark in Weimar Germany by November 1923 had become worthless. Some workers received pay twice a day so they could purchase essential goods before their wages became worthless.

Question 47

What negative impacts did hyperinflation have on the German middle- classes in 1923?

Answer 47

The German middle- class in 1923 lost their life savings, insurance policies and pensions due to hyperinflation.

Question 48

Did hyperinflation have a positive effect on German businesses in 1923?

Answer 48

Yes. Hyperinflation had a positive effect on businesses because if a business took out a loan, it could fully repay the loan when the value of the mark began to decrease.

Question 49

How did people in Germany with mortgages benefit from hyperinflation in 1923?

Answer 49

People in Germany with mortgages benefitted from hyperinflation in 1923 as they could pay off the money they owed as the debt became worthless. This was also the case with those who had loans.