Weimar Germany 1919-1929

Emperor of Germany during World War I, resigned 9 Nov 1919 after giving more power to Reichstag

Revenge, prevent Germany invading again, land like Alsace-Lorraine, reparations

no more wars in Europe fought by US

no more wars, german demilitarisation, reparations

Democratic Germany 1919-1933

German Parliament

Head of state

Head of government

Leader of Social Democrat Party and Weimar Republic who succeeded the German Empire

Number of votes directly proportional to number of seats, very hard to gain majority

allowed the president of Germany to rule by decree in an emergency

Harsh treaty Germany had to sign following their loss in WWI

'Dictated peace', weimar had no input on treaty and had to sign it

War guilt clause, allowed other clauses to be put in place

$6.6 billion fine to be paid by Germany to allies for war damages, Germany in debt, had to take out loans

Lost land such as Alsace-Lorraine and the Gdansk corridor

the area on the border with France was demilitarised

Military was just enough to defend (100,000 soldiers, 15,000 sailors, 6 battleships, no planes, armour or conscription), many left without jobs

All their overseas empire and colonies were lost, reducing resources

Farmers (food prices rose), Foreigners (exchange rate), those who had loans (debt fell)

inflation that is out of control, £1=M20 in 1914, =M1,680,600 trillion in 1923

Foreign minister who solved economic crisis and foreign relations

called off passive resistance in Ruhr

solved hyperinflation

interim currency introduced by Stresemann to solve hyperinflation by replacing Papiermark in 1923, was tied to price of mortgages not gold, replaced by Reichsmark in 1924

French & Belgian occupation of industrial area in response to Germany stopping payment of reparations

they went on strike, no income from ruhr for Germany

In Aug 1924 US helped payments with Dawes plan and troops were removed Aug 1925

100,000 workers went on strike in support of the communist KDP. 100 were killed by the ex-army Freikorps. working class grew to hate social democrats and supported the russian revolution.

Communists who led the KDP and Spartacist Uprising, killed by Friekorps

Nationalist Dr. Wolfgang Kapp and the Freikorps revolted when Ebert demobilised two brigades due to the Treaty of Versailles. Berlin was taken as regular army refused to fight Freikorps but workers went on strike in opposition which ended the coup. Rebels were given light sentences

Founded extremist German workers' party and recognised Hitler's talents in 1919, helped him with the 25 point plan in 1920. The same year, DAP became the Nazi party and Hitler became leader.

Hitler and Drexler's agenda for the Nazi party

He was a great public speaker

ethnic purity, aryan race supremacy

Bavaria and Munich was strongly anti-weimar

unsuccessful coup of a munich beer hall by nazis

Hitler, Goering & Rohm took the Munich beer hall with 600 SA brownshirts, putting Kahr and other Bavarian politicians in another room and persuading him to support the putsch. WWI general Ludendorff marched with reinforcements

Kahr was allowed to leave but notified the army. in the morning Ludendorff was restless so marched out but the disorganised amateurs were met by the army and 16 putschists died

Hitler and other leaders were put on trial for treason but given light sentences. Media coverage brought country-wide support for Hitler

resolved relations with USSR, industrial and military collaboration allowed evading of versailles treaty

US helped with the payment of reparations

Germany's western borders secured with France & Belgium, guaranteed by UK & Italy

20% of reparations written off, US gave loans, reparations to be paid until 1988

reimposed as global power, reentered international talks, but could not fight any aggressors

that nazis wouldn't be able to rebel against the government, it would have to be infiltrated and destroyed from the inside

Hitler thought that in order for nazis to succeed they would need one all powerful fuhrer