Germany 1918-1923

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  • Created by: Cryp
  • Created on: 04-11-19 19:55
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  • Germany 1918-1923
    • WWI
      • Political Discontent
        • Germany had a revolution and became an unstable democratic republic
          • Stresses of war led to a revolution in Oct-Nov 1918
          • Many ex-soldiers despised the new democratic leaders
            • Believed heroic leader Field Marshal Hindenburg had been betrayed by weak politicians
      • Social DIfficulties and Divisions
        • The war had deepened divisions in society
          • There were huge gaps between the living standards of the poor and rich
          • Women were called to work in factories due to shortages in workers
            • Peopls saw this as damaging to traditional family values and society as a whole
          • German workers had restrictions placed on their wages while factory workers made vast fortunes
            • This was because the government made contracts with factory owners to produce ammunition and items for war
      • Economic and Financial Drawbacks
        • Germany was virtually bankrupt
    • Weimar Republic
      • Structure of Weimar Constitution
        • The President (elected every 7 years)
          • Controlled army, navy and air force
          • In crisis could rule on his own without support of Reichstag
        • The Chancellor (chosen by President)
          • Responsible for day-to-day running of country
        • The Reichstag (elected every 4 years)
          • Discussed & introduced laws
          • Voting system proportional representation
        • The Electorate
          • All men and women over 20 voted President and politicians
      • Threats
        • Spartacist Rising (1919)
          • Did not trust government: wanted communist revolution
        • Red Rising in the Ruhr (1920)
        • Kapp Putsch (1920)
          • Wanted to take over lost lands
        • Munich Putsch (1923)
          • Wanted a dictatorship/ overthrow the Weimar Republic
    • Treaty of Versailles
      • Armistice Agreement
        • Germany was to become democratic
        • In the west, the Germans were to evacuate all occupied territory, including Alsace Lorraine, and to withdraw beyond a 10K wide neutral zone to the east of the Rhine
        • Allied troops would move in and occupt the west bank of the Rhine
        • In Eastern Europe all German troops were to be withdrawn
        • The German navy was to be confined to either a neutral or British port
        • Stab in the Back Myth
          • Government enemies thought the government stabbed Germany in the back by ending the war when signing the armistice
      • Statistics/Facts
        • Land
          • Lost 13% of land and ~6 million people living there
        • Army
          • Army reduced to 100,000
          • Navy reduced to 15,000 sailors and six battleships
          • No submarines, tanks or air force allowed
        • Money
          • At Versailles no sum was fixed
          • 1921 Allies fixed the amount to £6,600 million
    • Economy
      • Invasion of the Ruhr
        • No money was payed 1922 so France and Belgium invaded Ruhr, and industrial area
          • German workers passively resisted as instructed by government, 100 killed
            • Government payed workers and families so they resisted
              • Germany dived into depper debts and caused hyperinflation and the collpase of the economy
        • Hyperinflation
          • Germany printed more money, 'marks'
            • Money was worthless
              • 1921 £1 = 500 marks Nov 1923 £1 = 14,000,000,000,000 marks
                • People who lent money/ had savings lost everything, people with debts and loans were 'winners'
      • Hyperinflation
        • Germany printed more money, 'marks'
          • Money was worthless
            • 1921 £1 = 500 marks Nov 1923 £1 = 14,000,000,000,000 marks
              • People who lent money/ had savings lost everything, people with debts and loans were 'winners'

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