Germany 1918 to 1939

The Weimar RepublicThe Rise of the NazisLife in Nazi Germany

Explain why a German republic was set up under Friedrich Ebert on 10 November 1918?

• Use pg 332 and 333. Talk about:- The reasons why the revolution began The reasons why Germans supported it How and when the republic was set up

SummaryAt the end of the First World War, the Kaiser was kicked out of Germany, and in 1919 the Weimar Republic was set up.   Before 1914, the government of Germany had been a military autocracy; after 1919, it was a parliamentary democracy.      The question is: was the new government doomed from the start?

Task 1

Doomed from

the start?

The Republic begins…•At the end of October 1918, the German navy mutinied. Rebellion spread throughout the country. In November Germany was forced to drop out of the First World War. Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicated and fled the country. •A new Republic was declared. In January 1919, elections were held for a new Reichstag and in February 1919, in the town of Weimar, a new government was agreed.•Freidrich Ebert was elected President of the new Republic.

•Germany did not just get a new government. The Allies made sure that Germany got a different kind of government. Before 1914, the government of Germany was almost a military autocracy; after 1919, it was a

parliamentary democracy. •Because of the Spartacist uprising the new government had to meet in the town of Weimar..

The threat from the left: The Spartacist uprising

As soon as the new German government was set up it faced its first threat. A communist group called the Spartacists immediately posed Ebert his first challenge…

Spartacists

Background and aims

Events of uprising

Consequences

(importance)

Task 1. Use pages 33 to 335 to complete your own version of the diagram opposite

Were there any weaknesses in the new Weimar Republic?

• Aims1. Be able to explain how the new

Weimar constitution worked.2. Decide what were the

strengths/weaknesses of the new constitution.

3. Begin to understand the impact of the treaty of Versailles on the new government.

Complete the following table using pg 336

Principle Strength Weakness

Equal rights

Proportional representation

Presidential powers

The treaty of Versailles

• Use pg 337 to 339 to

a) List all the reasons why the Germans disliked the treaty. (Literally a list)

b) Explain how the treaty undermined the Weimar Republic

The Treaty of Versailles was hated…

• ‘Diktat’ that blamed them for the war.• Germans were also vulnerable and economically

weak. Many were very bitter about lost land. The new government was associated with this The opponents of the government labelled them

the ‘November criminals’ Germany could not afford to pay reparations

Source analysis

q. What can we learn from source 3 about the state of Germany after the first world war?

I can infer that Germany is was in a state of chaos at the end of WW1. There was threats to law and order from workmen and soldiers.

I can also infer that German people were suffering from a lack of supplies due to the allied blockade and that the situation was at breaking point.

Do Source 2 and 3 agree about the impact of war on Germany?

• Agreement – Source 2 shows people so desperate for food they are picking through rubbish and source 3 agrees with this by suggesting there is a shortage of food. Both of the sources seem to being showing a desperate situation.

• Differ- Source 3 however provides a lot more information as it is describing the whole situation. As source 2 is a photograph it only shows a small snapshot of the impact of war.

Why did the right wing pose a threat to the republic?

• Aims1. Be able to

describe the threat of the Freikorps and the events of the Kapp putsch

2. Work on source skills, focusing on utility.

How close was the Weimar Republic to breaking point after the

French Invasion of the Ruhr?• Aims

1. To be able to explain why the French and Belgians decided to invade the Ruhr in 1922.

2. Understand the reasons for and the results of Hyperinflation.

Paper MoneyGoods

The economy needs to be balanced in order to work. The paper money only represents the wealth a country has.

Paper Money

Goods

If there is more money than goods then the value of that money decreases.

The government has to print moreso people can buy basic things

Paper MoneyGoods

The more there is of something the less it is worth.The Germans were now millionaires but their money was

virtually worthless.

• In 1922, a loaf of bread cost 163 marks. 

• By September 1923, this figure had reached 1,500,000 marks

• At the peak of hyperinflation, November 1923, a loaf of bread cost 200,000,000,000 marks.

Task

• Using the information on page 341 describe hyperinflation in your own words.

Activity

• Using the information on page 342 complete the activity on page 343.

Event What happened Importance/effect

Revolution October 1918

Kaiser forced to abdicate. Germans were war weary.

Republic created with Ebert as leader. New government signed armistice the next day.

Spartacist uprising 5th January.

Communists rebel against government. They were quickly defeated by Freikorps.

Showed left wing threat to government. The army given too much power (Freikorps)

The Weimar Constitution

New constitution that gave everyone the vote. Created Reichstag and presidency.

Although fair the constitution had many weaknesses e.g. Article 48 and proportional representation.

The Treaty of Versailles.

Germany have very harsh terms dictated to them

Greatly angers the Germans who party blame the Weimar government for the humiliation.

Kapp Putsch Right wind rebellion against Government. A general strike defeated them.

Showed right wing threat. No support form army but Berlin workers saved governement.

Invasion of the Ruhr French invade Ruhr to take reparations payment. Workers told to strike.

German people united behind the government. Had disastrous effects on the economy.

Hyperinflation The German mark lost all its value as a result of overprinting and lack of goods.

Many lost everything. The government needed to take effective action…

How did the republic recover between 1924 and 1929?

• Aims1. Be able to describe the

reasons the Weimar Republic survived its early setbacks.

2. To answer the key question ‘Was 1924 to 1929 a golden era in German history?’ concentrating on the role of Gustav Stresemann.

Recovery

1. Briefly explain who Gustav Stresemann was.

2. Explain what the Dawes plan and the Young plan were.

3. Why was Germany more politically stable?

4. Describe Stresemann’s success in Foreign policy.

Stresemann became chancellor in August 1923. He helped to solve Germany's economic problems by agreeing to start reparations again and ending the Ruhr strike

Stresmann helped negotiate the Dawes Plan in 1924. This was a loan of 800 million marks from the USA to help stimulate the economy

This was followed by the Young Plan in 1929 to reduce reparationsBecause the economy was

stable so were politics…

POLITCSLess extreme political parties

More agreement

FOREIGN POLICYMore international agreement

Locarno treaty 1925League of nations 1926

Kellogg Briand Pact 1928

There was a also a huge cultural revival. Germany became a centre for artists,

musicians and filmmakers .

Dancing on a volcano!• Stresemanns success is often

likened to dancing on a volcano. The image suggests he was only just holding back Germany’s problems and that they could erupt at any second.

‘The German economy is doing well only on the

surface.   Germany is in fact dancing on a

volcano.   If the short-term loans are called in by America, most of our economy will collapse.’from a speech made by

Gustav Stresemann shortly before his death

on 3 October 1929

Dancing on a volcano

Task:- Have a look through the information on page 346. It questions just how

succesful the ‘Golden age’ really was. There is a lis of problems that were bubbling away under the surface, ready to explode at any time.

Use these to create an illustration of Stresemann ‘Dancing on a volcano’