Unit 1 (The establishment of the weimar republic and its early problems)

Question 1

What triggered the start of World War I?

Answer 1

The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in 1914.

Question 2

Which alliances were involved in World War I?

Answer 2

The Allies (including Britain, France, Russia) and the Central Powers (including Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire).

Question 3

Why did the war cause political instability in Germany?

Answer 3

Prolonged suffering, food shortages, economic collapse, and military defeat led to widespread unrest.

Question 4

Who was the Kaiser during World War I?

Answer 4

Kaiser Wilhelm II

Question 5

How did World War I lead to the abdication of Kaiser Wilhelm II?

Answer 5

As Germany faced defeat in 1918, public protests and pressure from military leaders forced Wilhelm to abdicate on November 9, 1918.

Question 6

What was the result of the Kaiser’s abdication?

Answer 6

The establishment of the Weimar Republic and the end of the German monarchy.

Question 7

What role did the military have in the abdication of kaiser

Answer 7

They mutinied and would not follow orders from him.

Carried out protests and strikes

Question 8

What role did the public have in the abdication of kaiser

Answer 8

Carried out protests and strikes.

Blamed Kaiser for the country’s defeat

Question 9

What role did the Allies have in the abdication of kaiser

Answer 9

Insisted there would be no peace unless the Kaiser abdicated

Question 10

Who was Friedrich Ebert

Answer 10

-Head of social democratic party
-First president of the Weimar republic

Question 11

What was Friedrich Ebert’s approach to governing the country?

Answer 11

Friedrich Ebert’s aims were idealistic and ambitious, as he sought to balance workers’ demands with business interests while keeping both the left and right satisfied

Question 12

Proof that the Weimar republic was popular at the start

Answer 12

-Ebert’s party won 40% of seats- he was the new president

-there was 82% turnout for the first election

-Moderate parties got the most votes

Question 13

Proof that the Weimar republic was unpopular

Answer 13

wanted the Kaiser back

-Politicians like Ebert who signed the armistice were called the November criminals (seen as traitors)

-Erzberger who signed it was assassinated

-Senior figures (judges, army leaders) were opposed to the government

-many germans
#wanted a communist revolution
#felt Germany should not have lost the war

Question 14

Exam tip How do you answer a 6 marker

Answer 14

2 marks- Answer the question generally, overview

3 marks- quotations explaining your prev. judgement (overall)

1 mark- Something that opposes the writers statement or quote from your knowledge

Question 15

What was stated in the Weimar constitution

Answer 15

-The president
Elections for the head of state happened every 7 years

-The chancellor
Appointed by president, must hold support of the Reichstag majority

-The Reichstag
Political parties allotted seats according to the % of votes gained proportional representation

-The german people
All adult women and men could vote

-Article 48
In an emergency the president held powers to pass laws without Reichstag approval

-State governments
Were kept but had more limited power

Question 16

Strengths of democracy

Answer 16

-more inclusive
-voting represents all germans

Question 17

weaknesses of democracy

Answer 17

-faced opposition from public as some did not believe in its benefits

-They did not fully understand how it worked

Question 18

strengths of president’s role

Answer 18

-Stability for the nations
-elected- democratic

Question 19

weaknesses of president’s role

Answer 19

-Ultimately did not hold much power
-most power held by the chancellor- threat, danger

Question 20

Strengths of Chancellors role

Answer 20

-Holds power and strength-stability

-elected democratically, comes from biggest (most popular) party

Question 21

Weaknesses of Chancellors role

Answer 21

-Might have to appease president
-power could be exploited

Question 22

Strengths of proportional representation

Answer 22

-All parties therefore all voices were represented

Question 23

Weaknesses of proportional representation

Answer 23

-clashing views between parties- very hard to achieve majority
-extreme parties holding power due to major party’s dependence on them for coalitions

Question 24

Strengths of Article 48

Answer 24

In emergencies, government can still function

Question 25

Weaknesses of Article 48

Answer 25

-Vague definition of emergency- can be exploited

Question 26

Strengths of States rights

Answer 26

-Local issues can be addressed better -different states can express themselves

Question 27

Weaknesses of states rights

Answer 27

-richer states may outperform poorer states -Germany may not feel united

Question 28

What was proportional representation

Answer 28

A system whereby political parties get seats in the Reichstag based on the percentage of votes they get.

Question 29

What was the Reichstag

Answer 29

A parliament, government building

Question 30

What was the peace treaty of WW1 called

Answer 30

Treaty of Versailles

Question 31

Why did most germans believe the treaty would not be harsh

Answer 31

- they believed all countries should accept responsibility -They expected some mercy -They expected the treaty to be based on Wilson's 14 points -The kaiser was no longer involved

Question 32

What did Clemenceau want from the treaty

Answer 32

-vengeance Germany caused suffering, deaths and destruction of france -reparations Wanted to rebuild france -Taking away military power Stops germany from invading again -Breaking apart Germany -territories

Question 33

What did Lloyd George want from the treaty

Answer 33

-German colonies more power -German navy Control the seas -Not too harsh of a punishment As Germany could be kept as a valuable trade partner Reparations to please the enraged public -Balance of power

Question 34

What did Woodrow wilson want from the treaty

Answer 34

-Peace America to be safe (avoidant) -league of nations -disarmament -self determination

Question 35

What was germany not invited to

Answer 35

The treaty of versaille discussion

Question 36

What were the terms of the treaty of versailles

Answer 36

G- guilt Article 231 stated that germany had to accept blame for starting the war A- arms limited to 100,000 soldiers, 6 battleships, no air force, no submarines, no tanks R- Reparations 6.6 Billion pounds had to be paid G-German territory Alsace lorraine to france, Eupen and malmedy to belgium etc L- league of nations germany not included E- extra Germany and Austria not allowed alliance, some territories given independence

Question 37

What were some of the notable 14 points of Wilson's

Answer 37

-disarmament -advocated for less colonislaism -self determination the principle that people have the right to choose their own government, free from external powers -league of nations

Question 38

What were German's reactions like to the treaty of versailles

Answer 38

-Shocked by the harshness -Unaware as they hadn't been allowed in negotiations -Humiliated by reduction in army, territory loss -Humiliated and angered by article 231 -Angered by high reparations -Blamed Weimar for signing the armistice

Question 39

What are some things the allies justified the harshness with

Answer 39

-In 1917 when Russia left the war Germany gained a lot from the Brest-Litovsk treaty which essentially treated them similarly if not worse -The germans "wouldve done much worse to the allies if they'd lost" they believed

Question 40

Why might the treaty (factually) not have been as harsh

Answer 40

-for reparations Germany had not suffered much damage during the war and its economy boomed in the 1920s. The allies had debts as well -As for army, It was not so necessary for germany to have a large army anyway -It was not unfair compared to the terms imposed on russia by germany and intended to impose on the allies if germany won the war

Question 41

Who did the left want to hold power in germany

Answer 41

-Workers should hold power -everyone treated equally

Question 42

Who did the right want to hold power in germany

Answer 42

-Strong authoritarian leader -capitalism (private businesses and land owners)

Question 43

Who did the left promote the interests of

Answer 43

workers

Question 44

Who did the right promote the interests of

Answer 44

capitalism- private businesses and land owners

Question 45

What was the main left political party

Answer 45

KPD communist party

Question 46

What was the main right political party

Answer 46

National people's party

Question 47

Who were the left inspired by

Answer 47

-Marx -Russian bolsheviks

Question 48

What was the right inspired by

Answer 48

Hatred towards the communists whod opposed the kaiser

Question 49

What was the spartacists uprising

Answer 49

The Spartacist Uprising was a 1919 communist revolt in Berlin, led by the Spartacist League, aiming to overthrow the Weimar government and establish a socialist state

Question 50

What was the Kapp putsch

Answer 50

The Kapp Putsch was a 1920 right-wing coup attempt by Wolfgang Kapp and the Freikorps to overthrow the Weimar Republic and restore authoritarian rule

Question 51

Who led the Spartacists uprising

Answer 51

Rosa luxembourg, Karl liebknecht

Question 52

Causes of the spartacists uprising

Answer 52

-power vacuum -1917 russian revolution

Question 53

Causes of the Kapp putsch

Answer 53

-The terms of the treaty of versailles -Humiliation, need for new leader

Question 54

Initial successes of spartacists uprising

Answer 54

-Occupied headquarters of Government -took control of newspaper and telephone office headquarters

Question 55

Initial successes of Kapp Putsch

Answer 55

-Took over Berlin

Question 56

Reasons Weimar gov. found it hard to put down Spartacists uprising

Answer 56

-Weimar gov, was new and lacked stability -Weak army

Question 57

Reasons Weimar gov. found it hard to put down Kapp putsch

Answer 57

-The soldiers refused to fight the friekorps as they were both in the army

Question 58

How did the spartacists uprising end

Answer 58

-the friekorps were former soldiers from WW1 who hated communism. They were paid to put down the communists

Question 59

How did Kapp Putsch end

Answer 59

-The army refused to partake in the fighting but the people of Berlin refused to support Kapp putsch and went on a strike

Question 60

Positive and negative consequences for the Weimar gov. after SP uprising

Answer 60

Negative -people didn't feel protected and the government seemed week Positive -Proves that majority of people did not want a communist revolution

Question 61

Positive and negative consequences for the Weimar gov. after Kapp putsch

Answer 61

Negative -Weimar shown to be weak again -Does not have army's support Positive -The majority of people aren't in support of friekorps or the two extremes for that matter

Question 62

Why was Germany close to bankruptcy by the end of 1918?

Answer 62

due to the cost of WW1.

Question 63

How did the treaty of versailles exacerbate germany's economic state

Answer 63

-The allies insisted on huge reparation payments (6.6 Billion pounds) - Took away Germany's income generating areas. (coal and iron reserves)

Question 64

Why did the allies need the payments from Germany?

Answer 64

To repay the money they owed to countries such as US

Question 65

When did Germany fail to pay reparations which led to French retaliation?

Answer 65

In December of 1922

Question 66

When did Belgian and French troops march in the Ruhr

Answer 66

January of 1923

Question 67

What was the Ruhr to Germany

Answer 67

The centre of Germany's production of iron, steel and coal.

Question 68

Why did the French and Belgians barge into the Ruhr

Answer 68

Germany failed to pay the reparations due during that time so they decided to take industrial products instead of cash.

Question 69

How did the Weimar government attempt to stop the invasion of the Ruhr?

Answer 69

Because they had no military power, it encouraged workers to go on a strike to cut off production and carry out passive resistance

Question 70

What did some germans do in the Ruhr to sabotage the French

Answer 70

-arson and sabotage to damage the factories and mines so that production had to stop

Question 71

What was France's response to the strikes in the Ruhr? What did this cause

Answer 71

-to bring in their own workers -conflict between the French and Germans

Question 72

When did French and Belgian forces leave the Ruhr

Answer 72

in July of 1925 after the *Dawe's plan* was signed

Question 73

what did the germans government's reaction bring it

Answer 73

temporary popularity and in a way, people were united against the invading forces

Question 74

What were the consequences of the government supporting the strikes

Answer 74

-To support and pay the striking workers, Germany had to print more money. -The more notes were printed, the more the value fell and Germany entered a period of hyperinflation.

Question 75

What was the income during the years 1919-1923 for Germany? What did the German government do to compensate for this deficiency?

Answer 75

-only 1/4 of what it needed. -The government decided to print more notes

Question 76

What was Germany's state of economy through 1919-23

Answer 76

The government experienced a significant decline in revenue and struggled with a shortage of funds.

Question 77

What system did countries use to determine the value of money

Answer 77

At this time countries linked the value of their banknotes with gold. -If the government has 10 million marks in gold, it should only have 10 million marks in banknotes in circulation . More banknotes reduce value.

Question 78

What happens if there are 20 million marks worth of banknotes and 10 million of gold?

Answer 78

Each banknote is worth half as much so that the total value still adds up to 10 MIL

Question 79

Why did hyperinflation hit germany

Answer 79

Because the government had started to print more money during WW1 as well as reparations and to pay the striking workers. This accumulated to an economic disaster.

Question 80

What were the effects of hyperinflation

Answer 80

-it forced millions of Germans into poverty -millions of middle class germans were thrown into poverty

Question 81

Who did hyperinflation affect the most

Answer 81

People on fixed incomes (who received the same amount of money each week or month) such as pensioners

Question 82

Why was it not as bad for people who worked?

Answer 82

their wages rose as well, but the increases in wages were always slower than the price raises.

Question 83

Which groups benefitted from hyper inflation?

Answer 83

-People with loans and mortgages could pay them off more quickly because the value of the loans had fallen so much -people who owned possessions such as land or buildings were protected as the value of these rose in line with inflation -Farmers could sell their produce at higher prices.

Question 84

Who did the people blame for their struggles?

Answer 84

The Weimar government (even though these struggles had started before the republic was formed). There was a real danger of the government being overthrown if this wasn't resolved

Question 85

what did Germans call the Treaty of versailles?

Answer 85

diktat

Question 86

Who were the friekorps?

Answer 86

Armed, right wing paramilitary groups of ex-soldiers