Weimar Republic

Created by: emi2266
Created on: 07-11-21 16:24

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Weimar Republic
- Consequence of WW1
  - Political
    - abdication of the Kaiser on Nov 9th 1918
      - Power passed to Council of Peoples Representative - a temp gov led by Ebert
    - Jan 1919 Election
      - 83% turnout
      - Coalition of the SPD, DDR, ZP
      - Introduced Democracy & prevented revolution
      - Generated the 'Stab in the Back' myth
  - Social
    - divided politically, religiously & employer divide
    - Shortages b/c of Naval Blockade
    - Increase in working women
      - 600K widows, 2mil kids w/o dads
  - Economic
    - Industry Fell: 2/3 of pre-war levels
    - National Income Fell: 1/3 to 1913
      - Virtually bankrupted & Hyperinflation
  - ToV - June 28th 1919
    - Lost: 10% of Land, 12.5% population, 16% coal, 48% iron
    - not allowed to join LoN
    - 6.6billion reparations
    - no aircraft or tanks, 100K soldiers, 15K Navy limit
    - No Anschluss
    - Weimar lost support - Germany seen as weak
  - Constitution
    - Proportional Rep caused coalitions
      - indivertibly caused political instability
    - Presidential power; Article 48
- Opposition
  - Spartacist Revolt, Jan 1919
    - Aims; 1) Alliance w/Lenin & have a revolution similar to the 1917 Russian one. 2) Cancellation of national assembly. 3) Coal, Iron & Steel industry to be run by state. 4) Workers Militia
    - Rosa Luxemburg Karl Liebknecht
    - Began in Berlin, didn't have enough support & poor organisation. Taken down by Friekorps
    - Formed KPD w/ help from Leftist parties
  - Kapp Putsch, 1920
    - Wolfgang Kapp
    - Freikorps disbanded, had opportunity to seize Gov buildings in Berlin
    - Kapp proclaimed himself chancellor, army refused to help Reichstag Fled
    - TUs called a general strike - caused Kapp to be defeated
  - Munich Putsch, Nov 8th 1923
    - Hitler Ludendorff
    - wanted military dictatorship & Nazi support
    - seized state governor, escaped and alarmed the police
    - defeated by the police in Munich; 16 Nazis killed, 11 Police Officers
    - Hitler Arrested, trial used as publicity - wrote Mien Kampf in jail
- Great Depression
  - unemployment worsened - 6mil by 1933
  - demands for goods collapsed - economic spiral
  - gov revenue fell dramatically
  - USA recalled loans
  - Failures of Weimar
    - Great Coalition couldn't agree on solution, compromises failed - Muller resigned, instability created
    - Burning, 1930-1932
      - Called for an election - big gain for extremists
      - March 1930 - Dissolved Reichstag b/c didn't like his financial bills
      - Defamatory policies caused real incomes to fall
      - Banned the SA
      - Land reforms in Prussia upset many, relied too much on article 48, lost Hindenburg's support
    - Papen, May 1932 - Nov 1932
      - used emergency decrees
      - Lifted ban on SA to please the Nazis
      - army unwilling to support , Lost Hindenburgs support
    - Schleicher, Dec 1932 - Jan 1933
      - emergency decrees
      - developed Burnings land resettlements
      - alienated the elite, lack of support, lost Hindenburg's support
- The Golden Years 1924-1929
  - Dawes Plan (1924), USA finance German expansion. 800 million marks
    - Young Plan (1929), reparations reduced by 20%, extended repayment
      - Lacarno Treaties, Germany accept Western boarders, invasion only in self defence
  - Economy
    - inflation controlled, heavy industry recovered quick
    - 1924-30, increase in hrly wage; 1928, unemployment levelled; New Reparation Scheme
    - Savers lost - relied on foreign investments
      - Farmer debt increased but wages decreased
      - reliant on US loans
  - Political
    - 1926 - join LoN & free of military obligatiosn
    - No more putsches but basic problems still remained
  - Social
    - expressionism & realism introduced
    - women elected into Reichstag
    - Welfare state - living conditions improved
    - unequal pay for women
- Problems
  - Invasion of the Ruhr, 1923
    - Germany fell behind on payments, FR occupied the Ruhr
      - Helped untie German people
    - workers went on strike - passive resistance
      - cause economic problems, worsened inflation
    - Stresemann created Great Coalition - ended passive resistance
  - Hyperinflation
    - WW1 bonds, blockade, reparations
      - Aug 1923, Mark was worthless - unemployment & shortages
        support for extremists
        winners; mortgage holders, exporters, blackmarket
        Losers; savers, fixed income

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Weimar Republic

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