Topic 1 Flashcards
(28 cards)
What event marked the end of fighting in the First World War?
The armistice was signed in November 1918.
What was established following the abdication of the Kaiser?
The Weimar Republic.
When was the Weimar Constitution finalized?
In August 1919.
What was significant about the Weimar Constitution?
It marked the first time Germany experienced democracy.
At what age could men and women vote under the Weimar Republic?
At the age of 20.
Who had to support the chancellor in the Weimar Republic?
Most of the politicians in the Reichstag.
What system did the Weimar Republic use for representation?
Proportional representation.
What power did Article 48 give to the president?
The power to suspend the Constitution in an emergency.
What treaty officially ended the First World War?
The Treaty of Versailles.
What were some of the harsh terms imposed on Germany by the Treaty of Versailles?
- Lost 13 percent of its land
- Lost 48 percent of its iron
- More than 6 million citizens absorbed into other countries.
What did Article 231, the War Guilt Clause, state?
Germany had to accept blame for starting the war in 1914.
What was the limitation imposed on the German Army by the Treaty of Versailles?
Limited to 100,000 men.
What term did many Germans use to describe the Treaty of Versailles?
Dictated peace (Diktat).
What was the term used to describe the politicians who signed the armistice?
November Criminals.
Which groups threatened the Weimar Republic?
- Left-wing groups
- Right-wing groups.
What event did the Weimar government fear might repeat itself?
The Bolshevik Revolution.
Who led the Spartacist League?
Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg.
What happened on 6th January 1919?
The Spartacist’s attempt to overthrow the Weimar Government was put down by the Freikorps.
What was the Kapp Putsch?
A right-wing attempt to seize control in 1920.
What did Ebert encourage the people of Berlin to do during the Kapp Putsch?
Go on strike.
What significant event occurred in 1923 affecting the Weimar Republic?
The French occupied the Ruhr.
Why was the Ruhr significant to Germany?
It was considered the industrial heartland and vital to economic growth.
What led to the French occupation of the Ruhr?
Germany’s failure to pay reparations to France and Belgium.
How did the German government respond to the French occupation?
By backing the strikers and printing more money.
