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20 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Germany After the War (1918) |
- Kaiser abdicated -Mutiny in Kiel - uprisings of workers and soldiers - Socialist leader Friedrich Ebert of the new Republic of Germany signed an armistice with the allies |
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What was the economic impact of the war? |
Germany was virtually bankrupt - national income around 1/3 of what it had been in 1923 - 600,000 widows and 2 million children without fathers - spent about 1/3 of budget on war pensions by 1925 - 1918 produced 50 % of milk 60 % of butter and meat -nearly 300,000 people died from starvation and hypothermia 1918 - industrial production 2/3 of what it had been |
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What was the social impact? |
Deepens divisions in society - large gaps in living standards of rich and poor -factory owners made large fortunes compared to German workers -One and a half million demobilized soldiers return to society many confused |
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What was the Political impact? |
-German revolution in October to November 1918 of fighting between left and right wing groups -Many despised new democratic leaders |
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When did elections take place for the first time in Germany and who was elected? |
Friedrich Ebert was elected in January 1919 as the president of the Weimar Republic |
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What opposition did Ebert face from the right and left? |
Right - Kaiser’s former advisers remained in their positions in the army, judiciary Civil service and industry - Restricted with the government could do -Said that Ebert caused the defeat in the war Left -wanted a revolution like in Russia in 1917 |
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What where the features of the Weimar constitution |
-Democratic system no individual could gain too much power - Germans over the age of 20 could vote -System of proportional representation for example if a party game 20% of the votes the game 20% of the seats in the reichstag -Chancellor responsible for day-to-day government needed support of half of the Reichstag President was the head of state and could rule the country directly through article 48 giving him emergency powers so he didn’t have to consult Reichstag |
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What was the threat from the left |
- sparcasists communist group - led by Rosa Luxembourg and Karl Liebknecht -wanted Germany ruled by workers councils or soviets -joined by rebel soldiers or sailors -set up soviets in town -caused more communist rebellions |
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What was the threat From the right? |
- resented new Germany, loved the Kaiser - resented treaty of Versailles blamed Ebert -March 1920 Dr. Wolfgang Kapp led 5000 frei Korps into Berlin in a rebellion and the army refused to fire on them -stopped by the German people who declared a general strike bringing the capital to a halt |
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What did Germany lose from the treaty of Versailles when it was announced in 1919? |
-10% of its land -All overseas colonies -12.5 Percent of its population -16% of its: 48% of its iron industry -Army reduced to 100,000 -Germany excepted blame for starting the war and was forced to pay reparations -Turned the Germans anger and blame onto Ebert |
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What were the reparations Germany had to pay to the allies? |
- Forced by the treaty of Versailles - bill announced in April 1921 at £6600 million paid in 2% per year |
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Why was there an occupation of Ruhr? |
-Nothing was paid in 1922, so the French became impatient (had was debts to put to the USA) -January 1923 French and Belgian troops entered the Ruhr to take what was owed to them with raw materials and goods - Government ordered workers to go on strike as a result so French couldn’t take more and they reacted harshly killing over 100 workers and expelling over 100,000 protesters from the region it caused the collapse of Germany’s currency from a halt in industrial production |
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What caused hyperinflation and what did it cause? |
-The government printed money to pay off debts including more loans of over £2200 million -A lot of money around but not enough goods to buy with it so increased prices and wages -worthless money -middle class Germans suffered most |
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How was hyperinflation and the economic crisis solved? |
- August 1923 new government by gustav Stressemann -called off resistance in ruhr -Burned worthless money marks and replaced with new currency called the Renten Mark -Negotiated the Dawes plan to receive American loans -Renegotiated reparation payments |
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What was the achievement and issue of the economy In the Weimar republic under Stressemann? |
Achievement - by 1927 German industry recovered well and by 1928 it had the same level of production as before the war - reparations were being paid Problem: - US loans could be taken at any moment, they were dependent on them - workers in big industries gained as well and big land owners -rise of 6% unemployment of working pop by 1928 |
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What was the achievement and issue of the economy In the Weimar republic under Stressemann? |
Achievement - by 1927 German industry recovered well and by 1928 it had the same level of production as before the war - reparations were being paid Problem: - US loans could be taken at any moment, they were dependent on them - workers in big industries gained as well and big land owners -rise of 6% unemployment of working pop by 1928 |
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What was the achievement and issue of the politics In the Weimar republic under Stressemann? |
Achievements - no more revolutions after 1923 - 1928 moderate parties had 136 more seats in reichstag then radical parties Problems -nazis and communists were building up their party organizations -four different chancellors -30% of votes went to parties instead of the republic -elected a new president opposed to democracy in 1925 |
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What was the achievement and issue of the economy In the Weimar republic under Stressemann? |
Achievement - by 1927 German industry recovered well and by 1928 it had the same level of production as before the war - reparations were being paid Problem: - US loans could be taken at any moment, they were dependent on them - workers in big industries gained as well and big land owners -rise of 6% unemployment of working pop by 1928 |
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What was the achievement and issue of the politics In the Weimar republic under Stressemann? |
Achievements - no more revolutions after 1923 - 1928 moderate parties had 136 more seats in reichstag then radical parties Problems -nazis and communists were building up their party organizations -four different chancellors -30% of votes went to parties instead of the republic -elected a new president opposed to democracy in 1925 |
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What were the achievements and problems of foreign policy under Stressemann? |
Achievements - 1925 signed Locarno treaties to not change germanys borders with France and Belgium - 1926 Germany accepted into league of nations -negotiated young plan which decreased reparations and led to removal of troops of Rhineland Problem -nationalists attacked Stressemann for joining league because it meant Germany accepted the treaty of Versailles -Communists attacked Locarno seeing it as a plot against the communist government |
