The Weimar Republic

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Why did Germany need the Weimar Republic?

The Weimar Republic was formed because...

  • People had lost faith in having a Kaiser
  • The only way for the war to end was for Germany to become more democratic
  • The Kaiser was forced to flee to the Netherlands

What was the Weimar Republic?

A government formed through proportional representation that was made from all the different parties. It had:

  • the Reichstag, a place where every 4 years members would be elected
  • a president who was elected every 7 years
  • a chancellor chosen by the president
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Strengths and Weaknesses of Weimar Republic

Strengths of the Weimar Republic:

  • it was a government chosen by the people, every vote counted
  • they could vote for a new president every 7 years if they didn't like them
  • it had more equality than other countries at teh time, both men and women could vote at 20

Weaknesses of the Weimar Republic:

  • 7 years is a long time to be stuck with a president you don't like
  • every party had conflicting beliefs making it hard for decisions to be made within the Reichstag
  • a new Reichstag was elected every 4 years which isn't very long to get things done
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Challenges

Challenges Faced by the Weimar Republic

Stab in the Back - the German people had believed they were winning the war only to discover their governmnet had surrendered. The government became known as the November Criminals.

The Treaty of Versailles - people felt betrayed by the signing of the Treaty of Versailles in 28th of June 1919. 

Political Violence - many different politcal groups staged (unsuccessful) uprisings to try defeat the government.

Invasion of the Ruhr - after germany stopped paying reparations, French troops stormed the Ruhr to seize goods and send in their own workers.

Hyperinflation - in an attempt to pay the population, the government printed more money which ultimately crashed the economy.

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The Treaty of Versailles

Terms of the Treaty of Versailles

  • all German colonies were to be given to Allied Powers
  • they could not be united with Austria
  • the army could not exceed 100,000 men
  • they could have no tanks or military aircraft
  • they could not have naval vessel greater than 10,000 tons
  • the Rhineland must be demilitarised
  • Germany must pay reparations of £6.6 billion

Many germans saw this as unfair as German allies were given more lenient punishments. Germany was not invited in the decision making process of the treaty and had few options but to sign it.

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Left-wing Political Violence

The Spartacist Rising, 1919

  • Were a Communist group set up by Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht
  • They didn't trsut the new government and wanted better lives for working people
  • Tried to turn January 1919 workers protests into a revolution
  • Took over government buildings in Berlin
  • Believed workers would join them but they didn't
  • The army killed over 100 workers
  • The two main leaders were murdered

The Red Risng in the Ruhr, 1920

  • Were groups of workers led by the Communist Party
  • Angry about poor pay and working conditions
  • 50,000 workers took control of the Ruhr and its materials
  • Crushed by the army and Freilkorps 
  • Over 1000 workers killed
  • Poorly planned with weak leadership
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Right-wing Political Violence

The Kapp Putsch, 1920

  • Freilkorps units lead by Wolfgang Kapp
  • Were ordered to disband after left-wing groups were crushed
  • Around 12,000 of them marched on Berlin
  • The governmnet fled and Kapp tried to become the new Leader
  • Failed to gain support, were faced with strikes
  • Kapp fled, teh old government returned after 4 days
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The Invasion of the Ruhr

The Ruhr was the 'Industrial Heartland' of Germany.

The Invasion of the Ruhr

In January 1923, Germany stopped paying reparations as they were supposed to. French and Belgian troops stormed the Ruhr, taking what they wanted.

This caused critisism of France but they felt entitled to it. 

Germany attempted passive resistance, they stopped work so there was nothing for the French to take. France sent in their own workers to resume production in the Ruhr.

The German government had promised to continue to pay striking workers but now couldn't as there wasn't enough money coming into the country.

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Hyperinflation

Inflation - when money loses its value so more is needed to pay for the same thing.

Hyperinflation - inflation on a huge scale, prices increase very fast by enormous amounts.

Hyperinflation in Germany

After the Invasion of the Ruhr, the government had to find some way to pay the workers who now had no jobs. 

They decided the best course of action was to print more money to pay the workers with. 

Due to the influx of printed money in Germany, things became more and more expensive very quickly.

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The Munich Putsch

The Munich Putsch

The Trigger

Stresemann ended passive resistance in the ruhr in September 1923. The Nazis saw this as weak.

What happened

On the 8th November 1923, the Nazis stormed teh Beer Hall where the Bavarian Prime Minister Kahr was addressing businessmen with his senior officers.

Hitler and Goering arrived with 600 stormtroopers and forced Kahr and his officers into a side room. In the side room Hitler tried to threaten the men into supporting him but they don't, making Hitler frantic. He tells the crowds outside that Kahr has joined him, making them support him. This impresses kahr,

General Ludendorff, a former army leader, shows up and covinces them to join Hitler.

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