Download What Problems did the Weimar Republic Face From 1918 to 1923?

What Problems did the Weimar
Republic Face From 1918 to 1923?
In 1919, the Kaiser had gone from Germany which brought a new democratic
government to arrive- The Weimar Republic. It was led by Socialist leader
‘Friedrich Ebert’. As soon as he became leader, he signed an armistice (peace
agreement) with the Allies, the war was then over. He told Germans that the
new Republic would be able to offer them a freedom of speech, freedom of
worship and better working conditions.
Germany use to be under a dictatorship which meant they were ruled by one
leader who was The Kaiser; But when he had gone, the government wanted
Germany to be under democracy so that it would let the people of Germany
have their own rights and freedom.
This Republic suffered from many problems after the war had ended. One of the
problems they suffered was Hyperinflation. This was when the government
printed off more money after the devastation of the war and the problems from
the treaty of Versailles. But instead of it becoming a success, it became more of
a failure to the German society and economy.
Also, Political fighting and bloodshed occurred during arguments over both
political parties the Left and Right. When the Treaty of Versailles was established
and signed, it created enormous problems for Germany; Germany was in chaos.
Germany agreed to it and signed it to help Germany become better, stronger
and more successful; but it ended up doing the exact opposite.
Another problem began at late 1922 when Germany could not pay back
reperations to France. Then in early 1923 France invaded the Ruhr which was in
a border between France and Germany. They took all goods from Germany and
also killed many German soldiers leaving many Germans devastated.
The Weimar Government tried to introduce Democracy into Germany. In 1914,
Germany was a strong country, had a strong leader -Kaiser, had a large army
and navy to help fight and were looking for world domination. But now, after
the government signed the treaty everything changed, this became a first of
many problems. So after the signing of the treaty, they were branded as the
November Criminals; the treaty had caused numerous problems. Such as in April
1921, the treaty was forcing Germany to pay back Reparations of £6,600 million
to France after the First World War. Also, the anger coming from the German
people over the treaty and it’s problems, Armed forces were reduced such as
the army an navy, Despair amongst the people from the problems, War Guilt
from the defeat of the war and they were to blame and Loss of Land. In other
words, Germany was humiliated.
The time got to the worst after the war had ended when extreme poverty and
hunger struck amongst them; they were so poor they could not afford food.
Everyone was getting sick, a disease called Flu Epidemic killed thousands of
Germans, Clothes Shortage; they could not afford to receive clothing, young
babies had to sleep wrapped round in newspapers; everything was disastrous.
The Left Wing Party posed a threat to the Weimar Republic demanding Equality
and communism (also known as The Reds) attempt to take control of Germany in
1919. The Left party was also known as the Sparticist Revolt. It was led by ‘Karl
Liebknecht’ and ‘Rosa Luxemburg’. They believed in ‘Democracy’. They argued
powerfully in order for Germany to become democratic. The Sparticists decided
to gain power by forming rebel soldiers and sailors together.
However, a Freikorps was formed by the anti-communist ex-soldiers (which from
an agreement with Friedrich Ebert) tried to insult the revolt to help the
government, this lead to fighting in streets with a number of casualties. Between
the Sparticists and Freikorps, the Freikorps won the battle. This was known as
the Kapp Putsch.
A threat was posed from the Right Wing Party, they insisted of a dictatorship.
Their leader was called ‘Wolfgang Kapp’. This party was known to be quite
violent towards Ebert’s government. One of the reasons was because many of
these people had lived prospered growing up from the strong leader ‘The Kaiser’
and preferred living with a strong Germany and a strong army.
In March of 1920, The Kapp Putsch and 5000 Friekorps tried to control Germany
by using force into Berlin as a rebellion but ended up failing. The workers strike
forced Friekorps/Kapp to back down and the capital received no transport,
power or water.
The Right posed another threat. In November 1923, The Nazi Party which was
led by Adolf Hitler tried to use force and violence to take control. This was what
was known as the Munich Putsch. Hitler had ex-soldiers with him including SA
(Brown shirts) Leader Ernst Rohm working in a Private Army.
Hitler was jailed for 5 years but only served 9 months for persuading the Judge
and arguing for Germany’s rights. Also, the judge that served Hitler that trial was
the exact same judge who tried him for disorder 2 years ago, he got released
twice. So it seemed that the members in the Right Wing had many friends
working in high places. The Party’s and Hitler’s main phrase was; ‘Germany for
the Germans’.
In 1921, Germany had paid £50 million worth of reperations to France but at the
end of 1922, nothing was paid which meant France received nothing from
Germany. France was not at all happy and they also had war debts to pay back
to USA which made them more frustrated. So early in January 1923, France
decided to invade The Ruhr which is on the border between Germany and
France. Its steel works and railways are very crucial to Germany and its
economy. Belgian and French troops entered the Ruhr (legally under the treaty)
and took what they were owed (materials and goods). In a total, approximately
132 Germans lost their lives by French soldiers. The whole of Germany where
furious for what had happened; which created more instability for the Weimar
Republic. Both parties on the left and right were very unhappy.
Another enormous problem for the Weimar Republic was Hyperinflation in
1923. The government had no supplies to trade after the war and treaty of
Versailles that Germans were devastated from; So they decided to print off
more money, they considered this to be a great idea at first, but it did not go
according to plan. Because of the Increase of money being printed, Prices of
goods and wages began to rise too which was not at all a good thing. Everyone
began to realize that the German Mark became worthless. Everyone suffered
from this event; Poor people and especially rich people, those who had savings
lost everything. One of the rising prices of a popular good was bread; people
soon could not afford to purchase bread! In Berlin in 1918 the price of bread
was 0.63 marks, then in 1922 the price of bread increased to 163 marks, in
January 1923 the cost of bread became 250 marks, in July 1923, the cost of
bread rose to 3465 marks, September of 1923 the value of bread came to
1,512,000 marks and in November 1923 the price of bread came to an
astonishing 201,000,000,000 marks! Which a middle class family’s savings which
may have been able to buy a house in 1921 then could not even buy a loaf of
bread in 1923!
In conclusion; I would like to sum up the main points and problems of the Weimar
Republic. Signing of the Treaty that created massive problems for Germany which
lead to poverty including starvation, Flu Epidemic killing thousands of Germans,
Reperations of £6600 million to be paid back to France, Armed Forces had to be
reduced and also lost land. Another main problem was the Invasion of the Ruhr,
this occurred when Germany could not pay back £50 million worth of reperations
to France. In the early 1923, France then invaded the Ruhr taking goods from
Germany and also killing many Germans leaving everyone devastated.
Hyperinflation was a main and serious problem for the Republic; In 1923, the
government printed off more money which also meant wages and prices had
risen. Leaving many people especially the rich devastated as the rich had saved
up for so long which could have been very useful in the future but then could
not even afford to buy them a loaf of bread! The German mark became
worthless and became another problem for the Weimar Government.
There were two political parties, the left and right wings. Both argued over what
they thought was right. A threat from the left demanded Communism (The
Reds) and equality, they believed in Democracy. Trying to take control of
Germany, they were also known as the Sparticist Revolt.
The Right Wing Party posed 2 threats. They demanded of a dictatorship. First
threat was in early 1920 when The Kapp Putsch and 5000 Friekorps tried to
control Germany into Berlin by using force. They did not succeed and failed.
Second threat was when Adolf Hitler and ex soldiers -the brown shirts with leader
Ernst Rohm used violence to take control of Germany known as the Munich
Putsch. Hitler ended up being jailed for 5 years but only served 9 months in total.
In my opinion, I thought that the main problem for the Weimar Republic was
Hyperinflation. This is because of the huge devastation which struck Germany
because of Hyperinflation. During 1923 just after the war had ended and the
problems of the treaty had begun, Germans were devastated. The government
then decided to print more money off hoping to help Germany but it did not. The
wages and prices of goods rose when more money was being printed off.
For example in Berlin, the cost of bread at the year if 1918 was 0.63 marks and
at November of 1923, the cost of bread increased to an enormous value of
201,000,000,000 marks! Also in 1921, the equivalent amount of marks to £1
would be 500 marks and at the year of 1923, £1 then was equivalent to
14,000,000,000,000 marks! Workers needed wheelbarrows to take home their
wages and wages had to be paid daily soon instead of weekly. The German Mark
became worthless to everyone.
Those who had savings lost everything; all money that they had saved up for a
new house, goods etc then would not even be able to get them one loaf of bread!
It got so bad that children were playing with money by the millions! The
pensioners also suffered, Pensioners found that their monthly pension would not
even been able to buy a cup of coffee. Overall, Germany suffered a terrible period
not being able to purchase simple products such as a loaf of bread!