The creation and collapse of the Weimar Republic, 1918-33

Created by: Zenna Evershed
Created on: 13-12-19 13:14

Why were people concerned about democracy?

1.Gave power to uneducated people and women. 2.Gave power to poor people, taking away power and wealth of rich. 3.Based on discussion and elections, so weak and indecisive.

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Who was Bismark and the 'strong man'?

First chancellor of Imperial Germany, 1815-98. Pragmatic conservative, but had reputation for strength, decisiveness, military success and willingness to use force to achieve goals. Ideal form of German leader as opposed to democracy.

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What did popular militarism consist of? (Why did it undermine democracy?)

Popular respect for army. Expressed in groups such as Navy League, Defence League, Society for German colonisation. Argued for expansion of armed services. 'Stab in the back' myth.

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Why did the myth take root?

- Right until surrender, German propaganda promised certain victory. - Widely known that Germany occupied French territory. - Popular militarism meant Germans had faith their army was invincible and would never surrender. TofV strengthened the myth.

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What was popular racism?

Notion that white European civilisation was superior to other cultures in Africa and Asia - support for colonialism. Anti-Semitism. Social Darwinism.

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Political fragmentation divided Germany into what groups?

Political, religious, and ethnic divisions.

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What were the political divisions?

1870s - Liberals V Socialists. Then, Conservatives and Nationalists V Socialists. Major divisions 1917-1919 between Socialists and Communists following Bolshevik Revolution in Russia.

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What were the religious divisions?

Germany was a Christian country, significant minority of Protestantism compared to Roman Catholicism. Main liberal parties refused to defend rights of Catholics as they were convinced Catholicism was a threat to true German culture.

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What were the ethnic divisions?

Slavic minority, Poles, French. Since 1871, Germany had followed policy of Germanisation. Many believed other ethnic groups were inferior and should be treated as second-class citizens. Jewish also suffered persecution.

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What was the organised political opposition to the Weimar Republic?

1. The Spartacist Uprising. 2. The Kapp Putsch. 3. The Ruhr Uprising. 4. The Munich Putsch.

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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

Who was Bismark and the 'strong man'?

Back

Card 3

Front

What did popular militarism consist of? (Why did it undermine democracy?)

Back

Card 4

Front

Why did the myth take root?

Back

Card 5

Front

What was popular racism?

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The creation and collapse of the Weimar Republic, 1918-33