Birth of the Weimar Republic

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  • Created by: bella
  • Created on: 01-06-13 10:05
What effect did the war have on Germany?
The war had destryed much of the old Germany, German people were starving, A flu epidemic was sweeping the country killing people weakened by the poor rations
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What happened when the Kaiser refused to allow Germany to become more democratic?
Sailors in northern Germany mutinied and took over town of Kiel. this triggered other revolts. The Socialists led uprisings
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When did the Kaiser abdicated?
9th November 1918, he left for the Netherlands.
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Who became the new leader of the Republic of Germany?
Fredrich Ebert.
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What did Ebert do?
He set up a new constitution, there was freedom of speech and freedom of worship, better working conditions and he signed armistice with the allies.
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Who was the threat on the right?
All the Kaisers former advisers, they stayed in their positions e.g. in the army, civil service and industry) and therefore limited what the new government could do, they still hoped for a return from the Kaiser.
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What was the "stabbed in the back" theory?
people thought that Ebert had stabbed them in the back and caused deafeat in the war, Ebert and his Weimar government was forever to blame for signing the Treaty of Versailles.
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When did free elections take place for the first time?
In January 1919.
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When did Ebert become president?
In January 1919
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When was the armistice signed?
November 1918
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What gave the Weimar Republic its name?
To start with the new Government met in the small town of Weimar because Berlin was thought to be too dangerous due to the Spartacist uprisings.
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Who were the Spartacists?
A communist Party, led by Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg, they wanted a Germany ruled by workers councils/soviets
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Who were the Freikorps?
anti-communist ex-soldiers who were employed by Ebert to put down the Spartacist rebellion in 1919
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What followed the Spartacist uprising in 1919?
bitter street fighting between the Spartacists and Freikorps, the leaders were killed.
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Where was the Spartacist uprising after Eisner had been murdered?
In Bavaria, in February 1919.
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What was the Red Rising in the Ruhr?
a spartacist uprising in the Ruhr industrial area of Germany, it resulted in 2,000 casualties.
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What were the main features of the Weimar Constitution?
It had a proper democratic system, all Germans over the age of 20 could vote, it used a system of proportional representation, Chancellor needed support of half the Reichstag, President could make a law without consulting Reichstag in an emergency
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What were the main terms for the Treaty of Versailles?
Germany lost 10% of its land, all of its oversea colonies, 12.5% of its population, large proportions of its coal and iron industry, it's army was reduced to 100,000, no air force, navy was reduced, Germany had to accept blame for the war
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What did Right-Wing people want?
They liked the dictatorship, they like Germany strong army, they liked Germany's powerful industry and wanted the Kaisers rule back.
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What happened in the Kapp Putsch?
In 1920 Wolfgang Kapp led 5,000 Freikorps into Berlin. However Eberts Government was saved by the poeple of Germnay, they called a general strike, which brought the capital to a halt with no transport, power or water.
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What happened to Kapp after the failed uprising?
He left the country, he was hunted down and died awaiting trail.
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What was the reparations set at?
In April 1921, reparations were decided at£6,600million to be paid in annual instalments.
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how much were the annual instalments?
£50 million
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Why did the French inavde the Ruhr?
In 1922 Germnay failed to pay it's reparations so in January 1923 French and Belgian troops invaded the Ruhr and took what was owed to them in the form of raw materials etc.
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How to the Government deal with the invasion of the Ruhr?
It ordered the workers to carry out passive resistance (strike) so that there would be nothing for the french to take. The French killed over 100 workers.
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What did this halt in industrial production in Germany's most important region cause?
it caused to collapse of the German currency and hyperinflation.
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Why did hyperinflation occur?
Because Germany had no goods to trade to government just printed money, also Ebert had promised to pay the strikers. With so much money in circulation prices and wages rocketed.
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Who suffered most due to hyperinflation?
poor people suffered however middle class/ older people with savings or pension suffered the most as all of these savings became worthless.
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When did the new Government under Gustav Stresemann begin?
In August 1923
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what did Stresemann do?
He called off strike in the Ruhr, formed new currency (Rentenmark) he negotiated to receive American loans under the Dawes Plan, and he renegotiated reparations.
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

What happened when the Kaiser refused to allow Germany to become more democratic?

Back

Sailors in northern Germany mutinied and took over town of Kiel. this triggered other revolts. The Socialists led uprisings

Card 3

Front

When did the Kaiser abdicated?

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

Who became the new leader of the Republic of Germany?

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

What did Ebert do?

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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