Years of Unrest - 1919 to 1923

Germany faced all sorts of problems in the years following the First World War.

• Thousands were poor and starving. Infuenza epidemic killed thousands.
• Many Germans denied they lost the war and blamed the 'November Criminals' who had agreed to the Armistice and Versailles Treaty.
• Others blamed for losing also included, communists, the government and the Jews.
• Government see as weak and inneffective - the Treaty of Versailles made livng conditions worse in Germany.

• 1919, communists led by Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg tried to take over Berlin in Spartacist Revolt - but defeated by Freikorps.
• 1920, some right-wing Freikorps took part in Kapp Putsch (Putsch means revolt) - lead by Wolfgang Kapp, took over berlin from another government. Workers staged general strike - Kapp gave up. Government didn't punish rebels, many judges sympathised with popele like Kapp.
• 1922 Walter Rathenau was assassinated by former Freikorp members - he'd been Foreign Minister and was Jewish. Many Germans were now anti-Jewish (anti-Semitic).

France and Belgium occupied the Ruhr - the richest industrial part of Germany - to take resources instead. Led to fury in Germany, while workers in Ruhr refused work. german industry was devestated again, plunging the economy into hyperinflation.

Hyperinflation happens when production can't keep up with the amount there is, so the money keeps losing its value.

 HYPPERINFLATION FOR THE PRICE OF AN EGG

1918 - Costs 1/4 Mark

Aug 1923 - Costs 5000 Marks

Nov 1923 - Costs 80 million Marks

1) Wages were paid twice a day before prices went up again.

2) The Middle classes lost out as bank savings became worthless.

3) The German Mark became worthless.

Remember that discontent in Germany got worse when the economy went wrong, but...

THERE WERE LOTS OF OTHER FACTORS TOO.