Weimar Republic

Germany's economy went down hill because of the lack of trade and workers available. Germany was left with lack of food and other supplies which led to starvation, that along with poor living conditions led to diseases spreading. The war caused such bad conditions because most finances went to the armed forces also because trade was stopped and no supplies could be brought into the country. Those supplies that were available went to the soldiers fighting or people like officers that were higher up. Many ordinary Germans were keen to get rid of Wilhelm because they blamed him for the war and the consequences of it. 

Kaiser Wilhelm the second decided to abdicate because he felt the pressure of the public to 'fix' what he had started with the war or to end altogether, but he knew that the consequences of war couldn't be stopped. He felt he lost all control and the country was in chaos because of this. There was nothing he could do to get his respect and reputation back.

Germans refer to the period as 'the November Revolution'.

The threats to the Weimar Republic were; 

• Problems with the constitution 
• Threat from the left - the Spartacist uprising 
• Treaty of Versailles 
• Threat from the right - the Kapp Putsch 
• Hyperinflation

The problems with the constitution 

• Article 48 
• Proportional representation
• Right wing views

The Spartacus League wanted; 

- Germany to be run by soldiers' and workers' councils, not Parliament

- Germany to be a communist country, like Russia 

Thousands of Spartacists roamed the streets of Berlin firing guns and taking over buildings: trying to start a revolution (January 1919). Ebert sent 2,000 freikorps to attack. After 3 days of fighting in the streets, Freikorps captured spartacists Rosa Luxembourg and Karl Liebknecht and killed them. This was the end of the Spartacus League's revolt. Ebert held the election that he promised and won it. He became Germany's first president. Because of recent violence, him and the newly elected politicians met up on the 11th of February 1919 in southern Germany, Weimar, and this was the beginning of the Weimar republic. 

War guilt - Germany had to accept the blame for starting the war. This justified its punishments. 

(Land) 

Germany lost - 10% of its land, 12.5% of its population, 16% of its coal mines, 50% of its iron industry, all of its colonies. 

Military restrictions - no air force, no tanks, no submarines, only 6 battleships, only 100,000 soldiers. 

Reparations - to pay for the damge during a war they started, fixed at £6,600 million in 1921. 

The Germans called the treaty a diktat - a dictated peace. 

Causes - 1. Ideas about how Germany should be...

• a dictatorship not a democrcy, which was what the Weimar constitution was doing. 
• a strong, powerful army like they had before it was banned and 'taken away' by the treaty.
• they hated the 'November Criminals' who they thought were traitors of Germany, because they helped end the war. 
• want the 'good' days of when they only had the Kaiser who made all of the decisions. They benefitted from his way or running the country. 

2. Threat to Freikorps due to the Treaty of Versailles...

• the treaty limited the Germany army to 100,000. Many soldiers lost their jobs and many of them joined the Freikorps. Over 50,000 to 60,000 soldiers lost their jobs.

Events - 

• Dr Wolfgang Putsch led 5,000 Freikorps into Berlin in a rebellion 
• The army refused to fire on the Freikorps - Ebert's government was doomed 
• Ebert fled to a different part of Germany for his own safety 
• Kapp announced himself as leader of the German government, persuading the public Ebert 'quit' 
• The German people, especially the industrial workers of Berlin saved Ebert's government by going on strike which brought the capital to a halt 
• After a few days, Kapp realised his failure an left to go to Sweden, he was eventually hunted down and died. 

Consequences - 

• got rid of a threat from the right (for now) 
• proof of support for the Weimar Republic like the workers showed 
• reflected growth of the left-wing ideas 

September 1919 - joined the German Workers Party 

March 1921 - became leader 

Hitler decided to join the German Workers' Party because he liked what was said at the meetings he attended; he hated the politicians for signing the treaty of Versailles which made Germany weak, but believed it will become great again.

Hitler made changes to the party for example, extending its name to make their outcomes clear (National Socialist German Workers' Party), he issued a party programme for the same reason which included the main points that would appeal to everyone. He developed the flag and symbol - swastika which was eye-catching and easy to draw. He also set up a private army (SA) to protect himself and the other members from those who disagreed with him. This also gained respect for the party. 

They had a variety of points in their party programme which meant they would appeal to every group of people.

Causes 

• Germany in chaos ...Hitler believed him and his party were strong enough to take control over Germany 
  • French invasion of Ruhr as the consequence of not paying reparations 
  • Hyperinflation - sudden rise of prices which the economy can't handle 
• Hitler also wanted to get rid of the Weimar Republic 

Consequences 

• Newspaper coverage - massive audience like he never had before to hear his views
• Ludendorff set free 
• Hitler sent to prison for only 5 years (courts/judges were with him?)
• He only served 9 months - could capitalise on new found fame 
• He wrote 'Mein Kampf' setting out his views - sells many copies 
• Him and his party changed their tactics - use democratic system rather than violence as it worked better even though they didn't believe in it 

Events 

• 8th November 1923, H burst into a meeting in the Beer Hall in Munich, Bavaria, where Gustav Von Kahr, the head of Bavarian government, was speaking. Here, Hitler held a gun to Von Kahr's head saying he is taking over. Then, he said he would march to Berlin and take over the whole country. Von Kahr was locked in a cupboard. 
• General Ludendorff (war hero), knew about the plan and was supporting Hitler! 
• Hitler's storm troops troopers took over important buildings in Munich and captured officials.
• The next morning, Hitler and 2,000 of his supporters marched through Munich. 
• They were met by armed police, sent by Von Kahr who managed to escape. 
• After a short gun battle, 16 Nazis were killed, Hitler and Ludendorff were arrested and taken to Prison. Then, Hitler went on trial for treason.

Hyperinflation - a large inrease in price in a short period of time 

Germany only paid a fraction of what they were required to because they didn't have enough money so far. The French and Belgian troops invaded the Ruhr in response to the German's government failure to pay the reparations that they owed and so took over iron, coal mines (and more) taking those instead. 

German workers ordered to go n strike by the government in the Ruhr and not help the troops taking over industries (passive resistance) but continued to get paid. 

The German government met and realised it was running out of money. They started printing lots of money to pay striking AND pay the money they owed to France and Belgium. They managed to pay off government's debts in worthless marks including war loans.

As workers spent money in shops, shopkeepers put up prices, German workers wanted to spend! The German government printed off even more money, so shops kept raising their prices all over Germany. The more money printed, the faster prices went up. Soon prices were inflating so fast that it became hyperinflation. Weimar politicians lost a lot of support and the German's were humiliated. The most affected were the wealthier people with savings.