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The Weimar Republic 1918-1933 21/02/2016 Germany after the First World War 1 The Political Spectrum Dictatorship and appeals to lower classes (workers) Far Left Democratic and appeals to lower classes (workers) Centre Left • Equality • Social change • Distribution of wealth Democratic and appeals to everyone Centre Democratic and appeals to rich or nationalistic Centre Right Dictatorship and appeals to rich or nationalistic Far Right • Personal liberty • Capitalism • Private property ‘Left’ and ‘right’ • These terms derive from the French Revolution of 1789. In the new French parliament, representatives wanting greater change with more power for ordinary people sat on seats on the left of the assembly, and those wanting little or no change, preferring greater power for the existing elite and the monarchy, sat on the right. This seating arrangement has led to conservative groups, being called right wing and those wanting social and political change being called left wing. Conservative • This name comes from to conserve, to keep things as they are. Conservatives generally favour more authoritarian government, i.e. one where much power lies with one leader or a few leaders, rather than a more liberal-democratic government where more power is given to ordinary people. • In 1918, German conservatives hoped to maintain the Second Reich, with a strong monarchy. Conservative groups in Weimar Germany remained at best suspicious of and usually hostile to democracy. What is this flag? Communism • • • • Russia 1st communist country in 1917 Everyone equal (men and women) No classes No great difference in wealth No private property ~ government/council runs famers, factories and businesses for benefit of all • Little need for money or laws ~ simple life • Harmonious • Also known as left wing Socialist • What do we mean by socialist? – Someone that believes ‘the means of production’ should be owned collectively by everyone (e.g. be part of the government) • Variations on socialism: – Left Wing/Communist/Socialist – Weimar Republic: The Spartacus League Russian (Soviet) Flag. Many Socialist/Communist parties around the world use the Soviet flag as their logo. • The Socialists • They believed that Germany should be run like Communist Russia. • They attacked the government in an attack called the ‘Spartacist Rising’. • They were only defeated when the government asked the Nationalists to help. Nationalist • What do we mean by nationalist? – Someone that believes their country, and their native people, should come first in all decisions. • Variations on socialism: – Right Wing/Nationalist/Nazism – Weimar Republic: The Freikorps, The Nazi Party. The Nazis in Germany took an old Hindu symbol, twisted it slightly, and combined it with the traditional colours of Germany (red, white, black) to create their logo. Fascism Term was first used in Italy to describe Mussolini’s dictatorship Common features of fascism: • dislike for democracy • desire for dictatorships • ‘Totalitarian’ states where the government controls all aspects of daily life • military rule is very important • emphasis on building a nation up after period of decline • very Nationalistic (pride in one’s country, it is superior to all others) • often associated with racism • known as ‘right wing’ LO: To explain the political spectrum in Germany Communism LEFT WING The Political Spectrum Socialism Liberalism Conservatism CENTRE Nationalism/ Fascism RIGHT WING Communism Fascism RIGHT WING Socialism Conservatism LEFT WING Horseshoe theory CENTRE Liberalism The German Revolution • In late 1918, there was unrest across the whole of Germany. The emperor fled for his life and a new government took control. These events are called the German Revolution. • This new government became known as the Weimar Republic. It was eventually usurped by Hitler when he was elected Chancellor in 1933. What caused the German Revolution? • 1. Failure in the First World War Germany’s army was not totally defeated but by 1918, had been pushed back. The Spring Offensive had failed. • Over 2 million had died since 1914 and morale was very low. • The army was unlikely to have held out another year. The Kaiser and his government were criticised. What caused the German Revolution? • 2. Hardship in Germany - The Allied blockade was working and prevented imports of supplies. • Food shortages led to great suffering and military failure caused a sense of hopelessness. • This was made worse by a deadly influenza infection which spread through Europe in August 1918, killing millions. What caused the German Revolution? • 3. The Russian Revolution – Helped to cause discontent in Germany. • The Russians had replaced their Tsar with a government of the people led by the Communist Lenin after October 1917. • Many Germans wanted to replace the undemocratic rule of the Kaiser by councils of workers & soldiers Events of the Revolution • 29th October 1918 – German sailors at Wilhelmshaven refuse to follow order and mutiny spreads to Kiel. • 4th November 1918 – 40,000 sailors join dock workers and set up a workers’ and soldiers’ council, taking over the dockyard. • Government soon broke down all over Germany in towns such as Hamburg, Bremen and Lubeck. Events of the Revolution • 7th November – German workers in Bavaria force the local King, Ludwig III, to step down. Other regional monarchs begin to abdicate. • 9th November – Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicates following pressure from his own ministers and Allies who say they will only negotiate with ‘representatives of the people’. The Chancellor Prince Max von Baden also resigns and Social Democratic Party (SPD) member Friedrich Ebert becomes the new Chancellor. January 1919: The war is over, but the problems are not! • • • • • • • • • • Treaty of Versailles negotiations continuing Royal Naval Blockade in place Starvation/Hunger Influenza epidemic General Strike still continuing Russian Revolutionaries helping newly created German Communist Party (KPD) Anarchy and Chaos on Eastern Border Separatist governments being declared Communist infiltration of some Police forces Army barely maintaining discipline – No money to pay soldiers! – Freikorps step in to fill vacuum • Spartacist revolution being crushed violently – Thousands killed in Berlin alone – Bavaria restored – Summary justice Events of the Revolution • Two hours after the declaration of a new government, Karl Liebknecht – a far more radical socialist and leader of the ‘Spartacus League’ – announced the birth of the ‘Free Republic of Germany’. • The Sparticists were led by Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg. They had broken away from the SPD party in 1915 and wanted to create a Communist state in Germany. Events of the Revolution • On Christmas Eve 1918, the Sparticists attempted a communist revolution. In Berlin they began to occupy government buildings. • On 30th December, they held a Congress in Berlin and declared the formation of the Communist Party of Germany (KPD). ‘The 9th of November was a weak, half-hearted, half-conscious and chaotic attempt to overthrow the existing public power and to put an end to class rule. What now must be done is that all the forces of the proletariat should be concentrated in an attack on the very foundations of capitalist society. There, at the base, where the individual employer confronts his wage slaves… there, step by step, we must seize the means of power from the rulers and take them into our own hands… And we must not forget that the revolution is able to do its work with extraordinary speed.’ Rosa Luxembourg, 30th December 1918 Events of the Revolution • On 5th January they began an armed takeover of Berlin. Hundreds of workers were given weapons and Berlin became paralysed by street fighting. • Meanwhile, Chancellor Ebert organised over 3,000 former soldiers called Friekorps to come to Berlin. The Friekorps were fiercely nationalist and anti-communist and on the 10th January, began to attack the Sparticists. Who were the Freikorps? • Veterans, returning defeated from the First World War • Alienated from civilian life, membership of a Freikorps offered some kind of stability within a military structure. • The fact that a Social Democrat Leader like Ebert could use this right wing militia would cause great bitterness on the left towards the Weimar Republic. • Between 1918-19 something like 150 separate Freikorps were formed in Germany. They varied in size from over 10,000 men to fewer than 500. In 1919 total Freikorps strength was in excess of 250,000 men. • Motives for joining a Freikorps were varied. Some Freikorps volunteers were straightforward mercenaries, attracted by relatively generous rates of pay. Others were motivated principally by anti-Communism. For the most part, however, the ethos of the Freikorps was right-wing, antisocialist and anti-Semitic. • They defended it because they saw it as the lesser of two evils the greater evil being a communist Germany. Events of the Revolution • After 3 days of fierce street to street fighting, Liebknecht and Luxemburg had been captured. Luxemburg was beaten to death with rifle butts and her body thrown into a canal. Liebknecht was shot in the head. • About 100 Sparticists and 17 Friekorps were killed in the fighting. Ebert had regained control of Berlin but had to rely on the extremely right-wing nationalist volunteers – the Friekorps. This undermined the credibility of the new government. Events of the Revolution • In April 1919, Communists in the southern state of Bavaria attempt another revolution, taking over the capital, Munich and declaring an ‘Independent Soviet Republic’. • In May, the Soviet was attacked by 9,000 German Army soldiers and over 30,000 members of the Freikorps. • Over 1,700 Communists were killed in Munich. By the Summer of 1919 the threat from the Communists were over. Ebert’s new SPD government had survived. Effects of the Revolution 1. Short Term - New government agrees an armistice on 11th November. Germany had to withdraw from all land won and pull back 30 miles into Germany. 2. Medium-Term – Politics in Germany became very unstable as extreme left-wing (Communists/Sparticists) and right-wing groups (Friekorps) fought for power. 3. Long Term – The Weimar Republic formed after the Kaiser abdicated but Ebert’s new government cannot form new constitution until mid-1919 due to political turmoil. The Creation of the Weimar Republic To evaluate the terms, strengths and weaknesses of the new constitution Forming a new government • After the abdication of the Kaiser, there was unrest all around Germany. • Armed groups with extreme political views clashed with the army and even claimed control. • Ebert slowly began to take control and a temporary government was formed – ‘Council of People’s Representatives’. Forming a new government • This temporary government organised elections for a National Assembly on 19th January 1919. The winners met on 6th February 1919 to create a new constitution. • Due to unrest in Berlin, the Assembly met in Weimar. The new constitution was signed into law by the Assembly on 11th August 1919 – thus the Weimar Republic was born. Constituent Assembly Results January 1919 % Seats SPD 38 163 Zentrum 20 91 DDP 19 75 DNVP 10 44 USPD 7.6 22 DVP 4.4 19 Political Parties in Weimar Germany Activate: Weimar democracy Chancellor (Head of Government) chose ministers and ran the country but to pass laws need majority support in the Reichstag Reichsrat could delay new laws unless overruled by a 2/3 majority in the Reichstag Reichstag dominant house of new parliament. Controlled taxation. Members elected every 4 years. All men & women over 20 could vote. Proportional Representation was used. Weimar democracy President (Head of State) directly elected every 7 years 21/02/2016 Germany after the First World War 44 Weaknesses of the Constitution One major problem for the Weimar Republic was that its constitution had two serious flaws. 1. Proportional representation (PR). All votes were counted up centrally to divide seats fairly between parties. 2. Article 48. This was a clause that gave the president of the Weimar Republic the right to dismiss parliament and rule by himself if he decided there was a ‘state of emergency’. The new voting system adopted Proportional Representation Activate: First Past the Post • In many countries the voting system is known as First Past the Post. • Each voter, over the age of 18, gets to cast a vote for the person they want to represent their interests in Parliament. • Each constituency (area/region) has a seat in parliament and the MP/deputy with the most votes gains (wins) that constituency seat. • The party with the majority of votes gains the majority of seats in parliament and therefore has control of Government. First Past the Post: Image a country existing only of Bavaria, Saxony and Prussia. They have three seats in the Reichstag First Past the Post: Bavaria Saxony Prussia 100 voters 100 voters 100 voters 1 seat in the Reichstag 1 seat in the Reichstag 1 seat in the Reichstag First Past the Post: Bavaria Saxony Prussia Nationalists: 51 Nationalists: 1 Nationalists: 51 Socialists 49 Socialist 99 Socialists 49 Nationalists Win! Socialists Win Nationalists Win! Nationalist Parliament Bavaria Saxony Prussia Nationalist MP Socialist MP Nationalist MP Proportional voting: All county’s are merged into one and a PERCENTAGE (%) of votes determines who gets the seats. Proportional Represntation Bavaria Saxony Prussia Nationalists: 51 Nationalists: 1 Nationalists: 51 Socialists 49 Socialist 99 Socialists 49 ADD THEM ALL UP AND TAKE A PERCENTAGE Proportional voting: 300 voters 197 vote Socialist 103 vote Nationalist Socialist’s Win – A Socialist Parliament Parliament: Nationalists seats 34% (1 seat) Socialist seats 66% (2 seats) Same number of votes – completely different result! LO: To explain the political spectrum in Germany Proportional Representation Think and Share Considering what you have just learnt, what problems can you predict coming from proportional representation? In reality by using a percentage you end up with lots of different parties in the Parliament – e.g. Parliament with a 100 seats: Nationalists: 30% 30 seats Socialists: 45% 45 seats Z Party 25% 20 seats Nazis 4% 4 seats KPD 1% 1 seat Socialists are the biggest party but can’t rule with a MAJOIRTY so must rely on winning over other parties to pass laws Activate: Understanding Proportional Representation •Proportional representation instead of voting for an single MP, Weimar Germans voted for a party. • Each party was then allocated seats in the Reichstag exactly proportional to the number of people who had voted for it. • This resulted in dozens of small parties, in parliament with no party strong enough to get a majority. 60 of 10 © Boardworks Ltd 2009 Proportional representation and Article 48 Proportional representation made it difficult for one party to get a majority. Weimar governments were usually weak coalitions of parties who had different ideas about how the country should be run. Between 1919 and 1932 Germany had 21 different governments. It was difficult to pass laws in the Reichstag because the government was so weak. The president increasingly used his powers under Article 48 to pass legislation. In 1930, three times as many laws were passed by the president as were passed by the Reichstag. Forming a new government • Friedrich Ebert was elected by the Assembly as the first President. He gradually gained control of the country by: 1. Promising General Groener, the head of the German Army, that there would be no reform of the armed forces. 2. He reassured the industrialists’ leader, Hugo Stinnes, that there would be no nationalisation of private business. 3. He ensured support of trade unions by promising their leader, Karl Legien, a max working day of 8 hrs. Why was the Treaty of Versailles unpopular in Germany? To evaluate the terms of the ToV and to identify its effects upon the Weimar Republic The Paris Peace Conference • The armistice was signed by Matthias Erzberger for Germany on 11th November 1918. • The Allied leaders – David Lloyd George (Britain), Georges Clemenceau (France) and Woodrow Wilson (United States) – then spent several months drawing up the peace treaty at the Paris Peace Conference in 1919. Who were the key players? Georges Clemenceau President of France. He was a fiery politician nicknamed ‘The Tiger’. David Lloyd George British Prime Minister. Lloyd George was an experienced politician. Woodrow Wilson The American President. He had brought the US into the war in 1917. Treaty Provisions • 440 articles including: – Territorial Losses • Creation of new buffer states between Germany and Russia! • Plebiscites encouraged » Austria specifically prevented from holding a plebiscite! – Punitive actions to reduce Germany to a minor power • Army 100,000, 6 ships, no tanks or aircraft – Reparations • Ominously to be decided! – ‘Blank Cheque’ J M Keynes – War Guilt Clause THE MAIN TERMS OF THE TREATY OF VERSAILLES MNEUMONIC: GARGLE Guilt – clause 231: Germany accepted blame ‘for causing all the loss and damage’ of the war. Armed forces reduced – army: 100,000/ no submarines/ no aeroplanes/ 6 battleships/ Rhineland de-militarised Reparations – £6,600 million – in instalments, until 1984. Germany lost land – Alsace-Lorraine to France/ Saar to France (15 years)/ West Prussia and Upper Silesia to Poland/ Danzig a ‘free city’/ German colonies became ‘mandates’ of the League of Nations. League of Nations set up. Extra points – forbade Anschluss. Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania independent states. • Territorial Losses: FADE MAP • • • • • • • Free Danzig (free port city) Alsace-Lorraine to France Denmark to have Schleswig Eupen-Malmedy to Belgium Memel to Lithuania Austria never to unite with Germany Poland to have PUPS – • • • • Posen Prussia (West) (look at the map to see how significant this was!) Silesia (Upper – 2/5ths of it anyway) Saarland – proceeds of industry would go to France (for 15 years, then a plebiscite would be held to determine its future) • • • • • • • • Lost its colonies: Togoland and the Cameroons Britain & France, German South West Africa South Africa, German East Africa Britain, Mariana Islands Japan, Marshal Islands Japan, Caroline Islands Japan, Shatung Provice & Port of Kiaochow (China) Japan, New Guinea Australia, Western Samoa New Zealand Military clauses: CARTS Conscription forbidden Army reduced to 100,000 men Rhineland de-militarized Tanks forbidden Submarines forbidden Germany after the First World War 70 The Diktat • When finished, the Germans were given 15 days to respond to this ‘peace treaty’. • Germany had to accept blame for the war, pay reparations and agree to reductions in the armed forces and territory. • The Germans were not allowed to make changes so they called the treaty a ‘diktat’ (dictated peace). Philipp Scheidemann who was the German Chancellor in June 1919 resigned rather than sign the treaty, saying, “May the hand wither that signs this treaty.” Scheidemann proclaiming the new German Republic in 1918. German Reactions to the ToV • Because of Germany’s military collapse, they had no choice but to accept. • On 28th June 1919, the German delegation signed the Treaty of Versailles at the Palace of Versailles, outside Paris. • The ToV was unpopular and became a focus of resentment for the next 20 years. Rathenau, the foreign minister, was assassinated in 1922 for signing the treaty! Dolchstoss! • After the war many people were looking for someone to blame. The army hadn’t been destroyed and Germany was not invaded. So who stabbed Germany ‘in-the-back?” Malcolm asked him: “Do you mean, General, that you were stabbed in the back?” Ludendorff’s eyes lit up and he leapt upon the phrase like a dog on a bone. “Stabbed in the back?” he repeated. “Yes, that’s it, exactly, we were stabbed in the back.” And thus was born a legend which has never entirely perished. • The term was attributed to General Ludendorff whilst in conversation with British General Sir Neill Malcolm in 1919. He asked Ludendorff why it was that he thought Germany lost the war. Ludendorff replied with a list of excuses, including that the home (Virginia Quarterly Review, front failed the army Spring 1938, USA) 1924 right-wing German political cartoon Philipp Scheidemann politician who proclaimed the Weimar Republic and was its second Chancellor Stabbing the German army ‘in the back’ Matthias Erzberger an anti-war politician who signed the armistice Before long the myth caught on and the politicians whoHe with the Allies. was later signed the Armistice Agreement became known as the assassinated of this. ‘November Criminals’ who stabbed the army inbecause the back. When the Nazis came to power in 1933 they made the legend an integral part of their official history of the 1920s, portraying the Weimar Republic as the work of the November Criminals and the Jews Reaction of the German People • The ‘stab-in-the-back’ myth seriously undermined the legitimacy and credibility of the new Weimar Republic. The myth accused the new government of overthrowing the Monarchy and betraying the army . • Despite it being untrue many people believed it and this belief in the new government as ‘backstabbers’ was confirmed in the minds of many when they signed the Treaty of Versailles in June 1919. Conclusion: Reaction of the German people The Treaty of Versailles was hated by Germans. Rathenau, the foreign minister, was assassinated in 1922 for signing the treaty. The Armistice had not led to a fair settlement. The Weimar politicians who signed it were called November Criminals because people felt they had betrayed Germany. The Treaty therefore had lasting effects on Germany: 1.) It weakened the popularity of the Weimar Republic 2.) It stirred up political protest 3.) It harmed Germany’s economy Weimar Germany 1919 - 1929 POLITICAL PROBLEMS OF THE WEIMAR REPUBLIC Political problems: revolts and rebellions The first five years of the republic saw riots, strikes, shootings and attempts to overthrow Ebert’s coalition government. Two of the most important opposition groups were the Communists and the Friekorps. Communists felt that Ebert and the socialists had failed to complete the revolution because they had not abolished private property. The Freikorps (private armies) felt that Ebert and the socialists had ‘stabbed Germany in the back’ by signing the Treaty of Versailles. LO: Understand and explain the nature and significance of political problems faced by the new republic. Impact of the Treaty 1: Soldier’s Revolt • Prussian Military Tradition undermined by Treaty – Officer corps horrified by savage cuts – Freikorps units were no longer in legal limbo they were now illegal • Frustrated army unable to turn on victorious Allies – Turn on Weimar Government instead! • Luttwitz – Berlin Army Commander • Erhardt – German Marine Commander • Kapp – Prussian Civil Servant/Leader of the Fatherland Party The Kapp Putsch 1920 • The Plan – March on Berlin – Expel Socialist government – Place Kapp as civilian figurehead of a new military government • An Open Secret? – Plotters asked Seeckt, Ludendorff and other generals for their support • No support received • But no hostility either – Nobody reported the plotters – Plotters assumed that German soldiers would not fire on German soldiers! The Trigger • February 1920 – Forced Demobilisation of army • A requirement of the Treaty of Versailles • 12,000 Freikorps ordered to disband in Berlin – Commander Luttwitz refuses Who will defend the Republic? • Chancellor Bauer asks General Seeckt to restore order – General refuses • “Troops do not fire on troops; when Reichswehr fires on Reichswehr all comradeship within the officer corps has vanished!” – Wait and See policy (See who wins?) – Most Soldiers remain neutral – But government forced to flee Berlin • To Dresden and then to Stuttgart – Nationalist Von Kahr takes advantage to regain control of Bavaria from Communists • Would become a centre of right wing tolerance Who will defend the Republic? • The Left comes to the rescue – General Strike ordered by Trade Unionists with support of most working classes and even Communists • 80,000 communists take control of Ruhr – Refuses to cooperate with the new Kapp Government • Kapp Ineffectiveness – 4 days of rule were pretty ineffective • Could not announce victory to newspapers as they could not even find a working typewriter • Banks refused to issue loans or currency on behalf of the unrecognised government • Strike paralysed business and industry Who will defend the Republic? • Dilemma for Government – What to do with the German Army? • It had demonstrated that it could not be relied on in times of crisis to defend the Republic from attacks from the Right • However, it was still needed to defend the Republic from threats from the left! – Eg 80,000 Communists in the Ruhr » They would not lay down arms after the fall of the Kapp Government » Army more than happy to shoot left wing rebels! ‘The enemy is on the Right’ Political assassinations Left Right Murders Committed 22 354 (326 of which completely unpunished) Sentenced to death 10 0 Severely punished 17 1 June 1920 Elections 1919 % 1920 % SPD 38 21 Zentrum 20 8 DDP 19 18 DNVP 10 15 USPD/KPD 7.6 19 DVP 4.4 14 June 1920 Elections • Disaster for the SPD – The writers of the Weimar constitution were punished by its own provisions – Associated with Treaty of Versailles, Hunger, Defeat, Instability, Poor economic conditions, etc… etc… – SPD withdrew into opposition • The future of the Weimar Government passed to weak coalition governments who were at best hostile to the Weimar constitution Wirth picks up the ‘poisoned Chalice’ • New coalition formed – Zentrum, SPD and DDP – Appoints DDP Rathenau as foreign minister • Highly talented Jewish DDP politician • Wirth attempts a complicated tactic – Fulfillment policy • Attempt to honour repayments in order to show that Germany is incapable of repaying such a huge bill – Sow seeds of hyperinflation » Government did not fully try to control spending – Subtlety lost on Allies » France not concerned at any suffering on part of Germans » Britain needed to repay loans taken from US – Subtlety lost on German public » Blamed everything on Treaty of Versailles or on Weimar governments attempting to honour Treaty of Versailles The Bill arrives • April 1921 – Germany to pay £6.6 billion for damage caused during First World War • +6% interest over 50 years of repayment plan • To be paid in Gold Marks • 7% of annual German Income • Centrist Chancellor Fehrenbach resigns in horror! Upper Silesia Plebiscite • Requirement of Treaty of Versailles – Allowing locals to determine national identity • Join Germany or Poland – 717,122 votes to join Germany – 483,514 votes to join Poland • Clear majority and yet Poles claimed cheating and started an insurrection – British troops sent to region to stop the fighting • League of Nations compromise – Germany to receive 2/3rds of area – But Poland got the industrial 1/3 with most of the coal mines • German ‘fulfillment’ policy in tatters – Why bother working with Treaty of Versailles institutions if they are only going to work against Germany – no matter what! – Serious credibility blow for the government Treaty of Rapallo, 1922 • First political success for Weimar Government • Negotiated by Rathenau – Designed to outflank France • Pariah Treaty – The enemy of my enemy is my friend • USSR and Germany agreed: • • • • No reparations demands on each other Close economic ties Normalise diplomatic ties Secret military clauses – Germans to be able to train in USSR – USSR to receive German technical assistance in weapons production • Diplomatically useful but domestically dangerous – Confirmed to nationalists that Weimar was secretly sympathetic to communist form of government (+ Jewish connection) – Rathenau assassinated in June 1922 by right wing terror group Economic problems faced by the Weimar Republic LO: Understand and explain the economic problems faced by the Weimar Republic Gathering Economic Crisis • Currency markets concerned at impact of reparations on German government finances – German mark begins to slide • 103,208,000,000 Marks – Total budget for1922 • 187,531,000,000 Marks – Amount of reparations required by Allies in 1922 (in gold marks) • France unwilling to bend – Annoyed at Treaty of Rapallo – Unconcerned at German difficulties • Finance minister Wirth resigns November 1922 Inflation Inflation is when the value of money decreases, so that people have to pay more and more for goods and services. Political instability was increased by economic problems. The German economy had been weakened by the war. French demands for Germany to start to pay reparations immediately led to great financial strain. The result was that Germany suffered from inflation. LO: Understand and explain the economic problems faced by the Weimar Republic The Ruhr Crisis: 1923-24 Invasion of the Ruhr (1923) Germany managed to make its first reparations payment on time, but because of inflation, Germany could not pay the second instalment in 1922. The French were determined to enforce the treaty. On 11th January 1923, French and Belgian troops occupied the industrial Ruhr region of Germany in order to take their reparations by force. The German workers in the Ruhr went on strike and refused to produce goods for the French to take. The workers became German heroes, but the strike only made the economic situation in Germany worse. In our cafes we put up signs saying, ‘No Dogs or French allowed!’ Hyperinflation The invasion of the Ruhr caused mere inflation to escalate into hyperinflation. Prices in Germany rose so fast that people could barely keep up. Workers had to be paid twice a day and given halfhour breaks so that they could spend their wages before they became worthless. People had to carry their money around in wheelbarrows and laundry baskets. Shops had to resort to measuring notes Unemployment rose. by weight, as counting them took too long. People’s savings were completely wiped out. LO: Understand and explain the economic problems faced by the Weimar Republic Weimar Republic hyperinflation from one to one trillion paper Marks per gold Mark. LO: Understand and explain the economic problems faced by the Weimar Republic A 50,000,000 (50-million) mark banknote from 1923 LO: Understand and explain the economic problems faced by the Weimar Republic Germany, 1923: banknotes had lost so much value that they were used as wallpaper LO: Understand and explain the economic problems faced by the Weimar Republic Postage stamps of Weimar Germany during the hyperinflation period of early 1920s A 1/2 Million Mark Notgeld coin from 1923 issued by the city of Hamburg, Germany LO: Understand and explain the economic problems faced by the Weimar Republic LO: Understand and explain the economic problems faced by the Weimar Republic Hyperinflation Two men sell paper money by weight. Their sign indicates that money is worth more than bones, but less than rags. LO: Understand and explain the economic problems faced by the Weimar Republic Free Fall Losers from Hyperinflation Lenders Middle Classes State Workers Pensioners – those on fixed benefits Mittelstand Weimar Republic Jews (incorrectly blamed) German Government Politically Winners from Hyperinflation Borrowers Speculators Landowners Areas close to borders Foreigners German Government Financially Restoring Economic Order • Streseman came to power August 1923 –How did he go about restoring order? Restoring Economic Order • Stresemann’s Fulfillment policy? – New currency created • Rentenmark – 1 Rentenmark = 1,000,000,000,000 Reichsmarks • Supply of new currency strictly limited – 3,200,000,000 in total – Backed by bonds – Cut government expenditure • Redundancies for 700,000 government workers – Called off Passive resistance in Ruhr and repaid some reparations • Allow France to withdraw from Ruhr • A commission set up to look at reparations payments – Dawes Plan Threats to Stresemann • Economic Threats – Difficulties and sacrifices required to stabilise new currency • Regional Threats – Saxony and Thuringia • Communists had cooperated with Socialists to take control of these states – Bavaria • Concerned at the Communist takeover of neighbouring States, The Right wing Kahr requests German Army declare loyalty to him before to Berlin The Munich Putsch • Adolf Hitler’s attempt to take power in Munich and march to Berlin to replace the Weimar government. – Why did it take place in Bavaria? – Why did this take place in November 1923? The Munich Putsch • Why Bavaria? – Very Conservative Catholic Region • Hostile to Weimar Cosmopolitan attitudes • Deeply hostile to anti-religious sentiments of Communism – Von Kahr’s Right Wing Government • Took power in 1920 Putsch – Replaced Communist Government – Violent overthrow culturally acceptable? • was deeply hostile to communists and socialists – Allowed Right wing groups to thrive – Persecuted Left wing groups The Munich Putsch • Why November 1923? – Inspired by Mussolini’s March on Rome, 1922 – Clock is ticking • National Socialists thrive on discontent • Stresemann’s economic reforms are already kicking in – Stability returning to Germany – Stresemann getting the credit – Misread Kahr and Lossow • Thought they were allies • They were conservative monarchists who were deeply uneasy about some of the socialist aspects of National-Socialism A comedy of errors? • Poorly organised – Lack of coordination – Did not have necessary arms – Poor communications systems • Relied on Blackmail – They required the support of Kahr and Lossow to allow a march on Berlin to have any chance of success • Errors – Ludendorff’s Traditional value system • German officer’s couldn’t lie! • Allowed Kahr and Lossow to reassure their wives! • Indecisive – Hitler had a nervous collapse when he found out Kahr had gone – Ludendorff had to decide to march to city centre • Army remains loyal to right wing Kahr – Why shouldn’t they? More Nationalist less Socialist than Nazis • Cowardice – Hitler does a runner when the man next to him is shot – Ju-Jitsu lady disarms frantic Hitler Why did the Weimar Republic Survive 1919 – 1923? • Did the Weimar Government stand a chance? – Which of the following posed the greatest threat to Democracy taking root in Germany: – Place them in an order of greatest threat to democracy: • • • • • • • • Limited Nature of the 1918 German Revolution The Weimar Constitution The Treaty of Versailles Right Wing Extremism Left Wing Extremism The Economic Crisis Attitudes of the German elite Attitudes of ordinary Germans THE WEIMAR REPUBLIC UNDER GUSTAV STRESEMANN 1924 – 1929 ‘The Golden Age’ of Weimar? How did the Weimar Republic recover under Stresemann? To evaluate the successes and failures of Stresemann’s economic and foreign policies “What economic, social and political problems did I face when I became Chancellor in August 1923?” Who was Gustav Stresemann? • A month after the armistice of November 11th, 1918, Stresemann formed the German People's Party and was elected to the national assembly which gathered at Weimar in 1919 to frame a new constitution. He was elected to the new Reichstag in 1920 and spent the next three years in opposition. • From August 13 to November 23, 1923, Stresemann was Chancellor of a coalition government. In 1924 Stresemann was chosen as Foreign secretary, an office he was to fill with such distinction under four governments that he was called ‘the greatest master of German foreign policy since Bismarck’. • He died on 3rd October 1929 – the year he won the Nobel Peace Prize. 1.) The Rentenmark: 1923-1924 • Germany’s biggest problem in 1923 was Hyperinflation. • He introduced a new, temporary currency called the Rentenmark in November 1923. If the currency failed, the government promised to exchange the money for shares in land or industry. • Confidence was restored and in August 1924, he introduced the Reichsmark which was controlled by the newly independent national bank, the Reichsbank. • Confidence rose further. Deposits in Germany banks rose from 900m marks at the start of 1924 to 4,900m marks at the end of 1926. 2.) The Dawes Plan: 1924 • The effects of the Dawes Plan were: • Germany resumed reparations payments • The French left the Ruhr • The German economy recovered • Coal output rose from 275 million tons in 1924 to 350 million tons in 1929. • Manufactured goods sales doubled 1923-1929. Unemployment fell in 1928 to the lowest level for 10 years. 2.) The Dawes Plan: 1924 • Next he tackled reparations. Germany was unable to pay in 1922 – they were too high. • In April 1924, Stresemann negotiated the Dawes Plan with the Allies: • Annual Payments were reduced to an affordable level. • American banks agreed to invest 800 million marks in German Industry. How did the Dawes Plan work? The USA lends Germany money. The Allies pay back war debts to the USA THE DAWES PLAN Germany pays reparations to the Allies The German economy prospers Foreign Policy Stresemann showed real skill in foreign policy – 1925 1. Locarno Treaties – 1925 2. 1926 – Germany joined the League of Nations 3. Young plan - 1929 After a number of years in the wilderness Germany was accepted back into the international community 3.) The Locarno Pact: 1925 • In October 1925 Stresemann signed What was the effect of the Locarno Pact with Britain, France, the Locarno Pact on Italy and Belgium. Germany’s international image? • Germany agreed to keep to its new 1919 border with France and Belgium. • In return, the Allies agreed to remove troops from the Rhineland and discuss German entry to the League of Nations. How would right-wing nationalist parties respond to the Locarno Pact? How would the Locarno Pact help improve Germany’s economy? 4.) The League of Nations: 1926 • In 1919, the Allies founded the League of Nations to work for world peace. Germany was excluded. Why is it important for • In 1926, Stresemann persuaded Germany to be trusted the League to accept Germany as in the world? How could a member. this help Germany? • Germany was now trusted and treated as an equal. Germany even got a place on the League’s Council. Why did the Nazis feel that by joining the LoN’s, Stresemann had betrayed Germany? 5.) The Kellogg-Briand Pact: 1928 • In August 1928, Germany became one of 65 countries to sign the Kellogg-Briand Pact. • This was an international agreement by states not to use war to achieve their foreign policy aims. • The effect of this was to show Germany as a respectable member of the international community. 6.) The Young Plan: 1929 • In August 1929, the Young Plan cut reparation payments from £6.6 billion to £2 billion, with 59 more years to pay. • This strengthened the Weimar Republic. WHY? • However repayments were still £50 million per year – to be paid until 1988. Hitler said this was ‘passing on the penalty to the unborn’. However....... • Stresemann wasn’t popular with either the extreme nationalists like Hitler and the Nazis, or with the Communists • Hitler disliked the League because it supported the Treaty of Versailles and he saw Locarno as a capitulation (giving in) • Communists hated Dawes and Young Plan and Locarno as saw it as anti-USSR • BUT both the Nazis and the Communists made little progress in these years because people were much better off and their EXTREME ideas did not appeal to people Other features of the Stresemann Years • Golden age of German cinema • Night life, cabaret POSITIVES • Removal of censorship • Unemployment and poverty still high • Growing prosperity based on USA loans – • what would happen if USA wanted the money back ? • Many did not like the new culture n e g at iv e s The extent of recovery in the late 1920s - Politics • Politically, the Weimar Republic appeared stable. In the Reichstag elections, extremist parties such as the Communists and the Nazis received less support than the more mainstream parties. • Stresemann arranged a ‘Great Coalition’ of the moderate pro-democracy parties (SDP, the Centre Party and DVP). • United together, they were able to resist the criticism from smaller extremist parties, and in this way, overcame the effects of proportional representation – the government had enough members of the Reichstag supporting it to pass the laws it needed. The extent of recovery in the late 1920s - Economics • The economy appeared to be recovering. Inflation came under control and German people found that they had more disposable income, meaning they could buy more products so the standard of living increased. • American loans meant Germany could build infrastructure like roads, railways and factories. This provided jobs and boosted the economy. • By 1928, industrial production was greater than pre-war levels. Germany was becoming a world leader as an exporter of manufactured goods. The extent of recovery in the late 1920s - Culture • In the area of cultural activities Germany became world famous. The strict censorship of pre-war Germany was removed. Berlin rivalled Paris as the cultural capital of Europe. • Germans led the way in innovative painting, architecture and design. Some artists, like George Grosz, used art to criticise society. He was a communist but criticised the communist part as he hated any form of dictatorial authority. • Architecture and design were heavily influenced by the Balhaus movement led by Walter Gropius. He used bold designs and unusual materials with distinctly odd results. The extent of recovery in the late 1920s - Culture • Germany also became the centre for new plays and operas. The most famous playwright was Bertolt Brecht. • There were big advances in cinema technique with silent movies like Metropolis which was an early sci-fi film. Films stars like Marlene Dietrich became world famous. • Even novelists began to be more critical of the establishment. All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Remarque described the horrors of the First World War and sold over 500,000 within 3 months in 1929. Art and Culture under the Kaiser Art and Culture in Weimar Germany Cinema – the Blue Angel Architecture - Bauhaus Cabaret and nightlife – the Kit-Kat Club Painting - Otto Dix German Theatre Painting - Paul Klee Painting – Hannah Hoech Painting - George Grosz Source A Source B Source C Source D Source E Source F Source G Source H Source I Source K Source L Source M Source N Source O Otto Dix, the artist, is a very good example of the changes taking place in the cultural life of Germany. Have a look at the following slides – can his paintings highlight change? German Politicians Cafe dwellers My family My friend Reclining Woman on a Leopard Skin Two street children Sunday family Gas Attack Despair in the trenches Mealtime in the trenches Conversation in the trenches Uprisings in the streets of Berlin Underlying Problems of the Weimar Republic - Politics • Politically, there were still opponents of the Weimar Republic and its democratic system. Many wished for a return to rule by the Kaiser and many still hated the Republic as ‘November Criminals’. • This was seen when President Ebert died suddenly in 1925. In his place Field Marshal Hindenburg, aged 78, was elected. • He had been a critic of the new democracy, and in Berlin he was greeted by cheering crowds waving black, white and red flags, the colours of the old empire. Underlying Problems of the Weimar Republic - Politics • Support for Communism increased during this period, and the Nazis were making advances in some local elections. • Stresemann’s ‘Great Coalition’ collapsed due to the moderate prodemocracy parties arguing. • As the economic problems went away, they didn’t feel like they had to support the government out of duty in a crisis. Different groups wanted to take the credit for the rising prosperity. Underlying Problems of the Weimar Republic - Economics • Economically, Germany relied heavily on American loans, which could have been withdrawn at any time. • Imports were rising faster than exports, which meant that Germany was trading at a loss. • There was still substantial unemployment. As food prices fell rapidly worldwide in 1927, farmer’s income was greatly reduced and this increased their debts. Underlying Problems of the Weimar Republic - Culture • Culturally, many people criticised the new artistic developments as decadent and unpatriotic. There was also a perceived decline in moral standards, as shown in the number of cabaret shows and nightclubs in Berlin. • The city became famous for its transvestite parties, where men and women shared each other’s clothes. Berlin was seen by many Germans in other areas of the country as corrupt and obsessed with sex. • Then cameThen came………… 1929 And everything was to change