How did Germany fare in the
immediate aftermath of WWI?
German Government
Democracy imposed by the army in hopes of
fairer treatment from the Allies
There was no real buy-in by the people and
many were willing to fight to have their
preferred govt.
Freiderich Ebert elected President, moderate
socialist
Spartacists, German communists, attempted
to overthrow govt., crushed by Freikorps
Communist Rebellion
Communist rebellion in Berlin
crushed by Freikorps in March
1919 - 1500 dead
Communists declared a Soviet
Republic in Bavaria, Freikorps
had to beseige city for two
months before it fell
Treaty of Versailles
Announced 7 May 1919
So unpopular, govt. ministers resigned to avoid having to sign it
Socialist led govt. angers ultra-nationalists with signatures
Blame falls on socialists, Jews, and “others”
Kapp Putsch
Upset by Treaty, Freikorps seized
Berlin, attempting to overthrow the
govt.
Goals: seize parts of Poland,
strengthen the Army, institute rightwing govt.
Failed after 1 week, when people
called a general strike
Leaders were largely pardoned, a
lenient treatment that upset the left
Ruhr Revolt
Ruhr Valley is industrial center of Germany
Workers there went on strike in opposition to
Kapp Putsch in March 1920 and formed
50,000 man army
Freikorps sent in to restore order shot two
thousand workers
Death sentences issued by govt. were in
contrast to lenient treatment of Kapp Putsch
leaders
Plebiscites
Allenstein and Marienweder
easily vote to remain German
(July 1920)
Upper Silesia, big industrial area,
split 60-40
Polish troops seized industrial
area and clashed with Freikorps
League of Nations split the area
based on what each side
controlled (not the vote)
Reparations
Final total of 132 billion gold marks to be paid over 42 years
Negotiation or confrontation was the choice faced by Germans
Walter Rathenau, Minister for Reconstruction chose negotiation, compromise
included payment in material instead of currency
Initial payment made, but Germany couldn’t make second installment
Genova Conference
Britain wanted industrial group
including Germany and USSR to
help rebuild economy, and
temporary halt to reparations
Hope was increased trade would
allow German economy to grow
France refused halt to
reparations
Rapallo Agreement
Germany and USSR secretly agreed to assist each other economically and
internationally
Germany could secretly train soldiers in USSR
Prevented Soviet isolation or active antagonism
Assassinations
356 German politicians (mostly on the left) were assassinated between 1919 and
1922
Walter Rathenau, now foreign minister, was assassinated by four men, using pistols
and grenades (June 1922)
The motive: he had support the Treaty of Versailles, and he was Jewish
Assassins were given 4 years in prison (judges were conservative holdovers from
Kaiser’s day)
Ruhr Crisis (1923)
US wanted British to repay war
loans, so British wanted French to
repay war loans, while Germany
was asking to not pay reparations
for 3 years
France invaded and occupied the
Ruhr Valley as compensation for
reparations
German workers went on strike,
making the occupation worthless
Hyperinflation
Government printed money to help
support citizens
An increase in supply devalues
money, soon it's worthless
People were paid twice daily,
pensioners faced starvation
Munich Putsch
Led by Adolf Hitler in Nov 1923, they
captured political leaders in a beer hall
and seized govt. offices
Lasted one day, Hitler arrested
Trial gives him national attention and in
prison he writes Mein Kampf
Hitler learns that the avenue to power is
through the system, not through anarchy
The Dawes Plan
US loan to Germany to help restore economy
Graduated reparations payments
US committee to ensure reparations don’t harm
Germany economy
Railroads used as collateral (upsets German
nationalists)
British were fans of the plan as they wanted US
intervention, French went along begrudgingly,
and Germans had no other choice
London Conference
French withdraw from the Ruhr, and are no longer allowed to act against Germany
alone
German currency anchored to the gold standard, making companies willing to
invest in German economy
US and Britain seen as holding the power
Locarno Conference 1925
Goal - Germans wanted France out of Cologne
France and Belgium wanted new borders
guaranteed for all time, but not Germany’s eastern
borders
Germany would agree to continue demilitarized
zone
Britain and Italy would defend any side that was a
victim of aggression
The Locarno spirit spread across Europe, threat of a
new war was gone!