Section One: The Weimar Republic
At the end of this session you should be able to:
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Explain how the Weimar Republic was created.
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Describe the Weimar Constitution.
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Know the problems the Weimar Republic faced.
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Analyse the revolts and rebellions against the Weimar Republic.
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Describe what the Nazi party was like in 1925.
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Analyse the recovery of the Weimar Republic under Gustav Stresemann.
1. How was the Weimar Republic created?
Since 1888 Germany was ruled by Kaiser Wilhelm II. Although Germany had a parliament called the
Reichstag, it was the Kaiser who had most of the power.
By the Autumn of 1918 the Kaiser was in big trouble. Germany faced certain defeat in the war and
the people were starving.
The allies would only make peace with Germany if it became more democratic. This meant getting
rid of the Kaiser. There were violent uprisings and the Kaiser fled to the Netherlands.
Germany became a republic. Frederic Ebert, the head of the social democrats, became the new
democratically elected leader of Germany.
2. What was the Weimar Constitution?
A constitution is a set of laws for how a country should be run.
The new German constitution was one of the most democratic systems of government in the world
at the time.
The new constitution said that all men and women over the age of 20 could vote; proportional
representation gave parties the same percentage of seats in the Reichstag as their share of the vote;
and Article 48 said that the President could make laws without the Reichstag in an emergency.
3. What problems did the Republic face?
Defeat in the FWW – the stab in the back. The idea that Germany had lost the war because they had
been betrayed by their politicians.
The Treaty of Versailles – Germany was not invited to attend the discussions and were forced to sign.
It became known as a ‘Diktat’ – dictated peace.
Political violence – some groups did not believe that democracy was the right way to run Germany,
they wanted to tear Germany apart.
The invasion of the Ruhr – Germany struggled to pay its reparations so in 1922 French and Belgian
troops invaded the Ruhr.
Hyperinflation – was closely linked to the Ruhr invasion.
4. The Treaty of Versailles
Land – Germany lost 13% of its land.
Army – this was to reduced to just 100,000 men.
Money – Germany had to pay £6.6 billion in damages.
Blame – the ‘War Guilt Clause’
This said that Germany had started the war.
5. Hyperinflation
Hyperinflation is a rapid increase in prices and fall in the value of money.
It was caused by the German government printing money to pay the workers it had asked to go on
strike in the Ruhr (passive resistance).
People found it easier to pay off their loans.
People with savings in the bank found they became worthless.
Pensioners were badly hit – their pensions could not even buy a stamp.
Wage rises did not keep up with inflation.
6. Revolts and Rebellions
The Spartacist Rising 1919
Their aim was to establish communism in Germany.
They took over the government’s newspaper and telegraph headquarters in Berlin.
Units of Freikorps killed over 100 Spartacists including the leaders Rosa Luxemburg and Karl
Liebknecht.
The Ruhr Uprising 1920
Their aim was a communist revolution to improve working conditions.
50,00 workers occupied the Ruhr region of Germany and seized control of its raw materials.
The Germany army, along with the Freikorps, crushed the rising – killing 1000 people.
The Kapp Putsch 1920
Wanted to establish a right wing government with Wolfgang Kapp as the new leader.
12,000 Freikorps marched to Berlin and the government was forced to flee.
In Berlin workers went on strike, making it impossible for Kapp to rule, after 4 days he fled.
The Munich Putsch 1923
They wanted to abolish the republic and set up General Ludendorff as the leader of Germany.
With 600 SA Hitler forced the support of the leader of Bavaria. They tried to seize control of Munich
but were stopped by armed police and soldiers.
14 Nazis were killed and Hitler was sent to prison.
7. The NSDAP
Hitler joined the NSDAP as its 55th member in 1919.
Renamed the National Socialist German Workers Party in 1920.
Political programme includes the destruction of the Treaty of Versailles; take over land in east
Germany to provide ‘living space’; no Jew can be a citizen of Germany; generous old aged pensions;
reform of education to foster national pride and help for small businesses.
8. Recovery under Stresemann
Called off passive resistance and promised to keep up reparation payments so the French left the
Ruhr.
Issued a new currency called the Rentenmark to stop hyperinflation.
Co-operated with other countries: signed the Locarno Pact (a promise not to go to war) and joined
the League of Nations (an early version of the UN).
The Dawes Plan gave Germany a longer period to repay their reparations.
It also provided loans which helped: improve houses, schools and hospitals; US firms set up factories
in Germanys; pensions and wages rose for some people.
The Young Plan lowered the amount Germany had to pay back.
9. Limitations to recovery
The Dawes Plan did not reduce the amount Germany had to pay in reparations, many thought
Germany should not have to pay reparations at all.
Germany became very dependent on loans from America.
Wages did not rise for everyone – farmers only earned half the national average.
Rich people in Germany had to pay higher taxes.
Are you able to:
Explain how the Weimar Republic was created.
Describe the Weimar Constitution.
Know the problems the Weimar Republic faced.
Analyse the revolts and rebellions against the Weimar Republic.
Describe what the Nazi party was like in 1925.
Analyse the recovery of the Weimar Republic under Gustav Stresemann.