Unit 1: The Early Years (1918-1924) Flashcards
(19 cards)
1
Q
9th November 1918 - Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicates:
A
- Kaiser’s abdication due to Kiel municipality’s rebellion on 4th November 1918.
- Workers, soldiers, and sailors’ council took over Berlin on 9th November 1918.
- Social Democratic Party leader, Frederick Elbert, established provisional government.
- A ceasefire with allies ended fighting on 11th November 1918, establishing a republic.
2
Q
10th November 1918 - Ebert-Groener Pact:
A
- Ebert believed the new government needed army support.
- Groener wanted to protect elite position and fear socialist uprising.
- The pact was secret and betrayed Ebert’s left-wing party.
- The pact decided the army to remain unchanged, no elite change, and support the government.
- Army feared a Bolshevik Revolution.
- Ebert stated no further revolution and ignored soldiers’ and sailors’ councils.
3
Q
11th November 1918 - Armistice signed:
A
- The Armistice was an agreement to end fighting between Germany and the Allies.
- Germany pursued an armistice due to imminent collapse of the German Army.
4
Q
January 1919 - Spartacist uprising:
A
- Led by Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht, the uprising aimed to overthrow Ebert’s Berlin government.
- Rebels opposed the SPD government, viewed as betraying the working class.
- The rebellion was crushed by Freikorps, ex-soldiers and right-wing militias.
- Luxemburg and Liebknecht were captured, beaten, and executed without trial, setting a violent precedent for political suppression.
- The uprising emphasized the fragility of the new republic and set the stage for future political violence.
5
Q
June 1919 – Germany accept Treaty of Versailles:
A
- Labelled by Germany as a diktat.
- Germany was punished with complete demilitarization, evacuation of France, Belgium, and Alsace-Lorraine, and immediate release of Allied prisoners of war and interned civilians.
- Had to take full blame for beginning the war under the War Guilt Clause.
6
Q
1920 – NSDAP established
A
- The NSDAP (Nazi Party) was organized into a central bureaucratic entity and an index of all members was created.
7
Q
March 1920 – Kapp Putsch
A
- Led by Wolfgang Kapp and General Lüttwitz, aimed to overthrow Weimar Republic in March 1920.
- Angered by the Treaty of Versailles’ disbandment of Freikorps.
- Forced evacuation to Dresden by Weimar government.
- Declared new right-wing government to restore monarchy.
- Weimar government’s general strike led to Kapp’s government’s collapse.
- Kapp fled to Sweden, died in 1922.
8
Q
1921 - SA established
A
- Colloquially known as Brownshirts due to uniform color.
- Provided protection for Nazi rallies and assemblies.
- Disrupted opposing party meetings.
- Fought against opposing paramilitary units such as Roter Frontkämpferbund of the Communist Party of Germany (KPD) and the Reichsbanner Schwarz-Rot-Gold of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD).
- Intimidated Romani, trade unionists, and Jews.
9
Q
1922 - Murder of Walter Rathenau
A
- Walter Rathenau was a key figure in the DDP and negotiated with allies to improve the TOV.
- Between 1919-23, 376 political assassinations occurred, with 22 left and 354 right.
- The Reichstag passed a law in July 1922 to prevent further assassinations, but it was not always effective.
10
Q
1922- Treaty of Rapallo
A
- Alliance between Germany and Russia
- both countries were ‘outcasts’: Germany due to its defeat of WWI and Russia because of its Communist ideology and refusal to support the Western Powers through the War.
- Both countries were excluded from the League of Nations and wanted a trade agreement.
- The treaty was necessary for both countries to fill the void.
11
Q
1923 – Hyperinflation
A
- Economic crisis led to drastic decline in living standards for many Germans.
- Decreased value of German currency led to difficulty in purchasing necessities due to low wages.
- Benefits for businessmen: Easy debt repayment.
- Drawbacks for farmers: Higher prices for necessities.
12
Q
Jan 1923- August 1925 - Ruhr occupation
A
- French and Belgian troops occupied 80% of Germany’s industry.
- Government instructed strikes, causing 140 deaths.
- Government paid wages, led to hyperinflation due to increased money printing.
13
Q
November 1923 - Munich Putsch
A
- 20,000 supporters and the SA attended the Munich Putsch.
- Gustav Von Kahr was the State Commissioner of the Bavarian government.
- Mussolini’s march on Rome in 1922 inspired the Munich Putsch.
- Hitler forced Lossow and Kahr to publicly support the Putsch.
- 2,000 Nazis and their supporters marched on Munich.
- 14 Nazis were killed in the Munich Putsch.
14
Q
November 1923 - Rentenmark introduced
A
- Chancellor Gustav Stresemann introduced the Rentenmark as part of economic reforms.
- Resets the German economy
- 1 rentenmark = 1 trillion marks
15
Q
A
16
Q
March 1924 - Hitler imprisoned
A
- Hitler was arrested on November 11, 1923.
- He was banned from public speaking until 1927.
- He was sentenced to 5 years at Landsberg prison in 1924.
17
Q
April 1924 - Dawes plan
A
- Charles Dawes, a banker, proposed a plan to resolve Germany’s economic instability in 1923.
- The plan required France to evacuate Ruhr within a 12-month period and restricted unilateral action against Germany.
- Reparations were set at 132 billion gold marks to be repaid over 5 years.
- Allies received loans of 800 million from the USA, with foreign experts under the chairmanship of a US official to ensure repayment.
- France feared Germany would refuse repayments, but Streseman recognized it as the only chance of rehabilitating the economy and France exiting Ruhr.
18
Q
September 1924 - End of passive resistance
A
- ‘Passive resistance’ meant that whilst the workers were on strike fewer industrial goods were being produced, which weakened the economy still further.
- The German government ordered workers to follow a policy of ‘passive resistance’ – refusing to work or co-operate with the foreign troops and in return the government continued to pay their wages.
19
Q
December 1924 - Hitler released from prison
A
Hitler was released from prison
