Origins

 of  the  Weimar  Republic  

• 9th  November  1918,  Kaiser  abdicated.  
• Germany  was  thrown  into  a  state  of  flux  (chaos).  
• 11th  November  1918,  WWI  ended.  
• Many  soldiers,  sailors  and  workers  (in  different  towns  and  cities)  set  up  
their  own  councils  to  govern  themselves.  
• There  was  a  power  vacuum  (no  one  in  charge).  
• A  new  government  needed  to  be  created  –  German  people  were  not  used  
to  democracy.    
• Elections  were  held.  
• New  government  first  met  in  the  town  of  Weimar  as  the  capital,  Berlin  
was  in  chaos.  
• The  Weimar  government  was  the  opposite  of  that  which  went  before.  
o Parliamentary  democracy.  
o Germany  was  not  ready  for  democracy.  
• Military  was  furious  that  the  war  had  ended;  fury  was  taken  out  on  the  
politicians.  
• Victorious  powers  accepted  Weimar  as  the  ruling  elite  of  Germany  –  
foreign  recognition.  
• Germany  becomes  the  most  democratic  country  in  Europe.  
o Adult  Suffrage  for  all  over  21  (votes).  
o Presidential  system  BUT  day-­‐to-­‐day  power  is  the  Chancellors.  
• Proportional  representation  (coalition  government).  
o Difficult  to  agree  so  perceived  to  be  a  weak  government.  
o Compromise;  no  one  agrees,  no  one  is  happy.  
• People  were  suddenly  given  A  LOT  of  freedom  and  people  weren’t  used  
to  it  so  didn’t  know  what  to  do  with  it.  
 
The  Armistice,  11th  November  1918  
• New  republic  sent  representatives  to  sign  the  armistice.  
• Germans  believed  that  the  peace  settlement  that  was  to  be  worked  out  
would  be  based  on  Wilson’s  14  points.  
o Gave  the  impression  that  ALL  countries  would  be  treated  the  same  
way  (e.g.  all  countries  would  be  expected  to  disarm).  
• When  discussions  about  the  treaty  took  place  the  Germans  were  not  
allowed  to  take  part.  
• Treaty  was  presented  to  the  Germans,  May  1919.  
o Shocked  how  harsh  it  was.  
o Leaders  were  told  there  was  no  option  but  to  sign.  
• Weimar  government  was  accused  of  having  stabbed  the  German  army  in  
the  back.  
• Opponents  of  the  government  called  them  the  ‘November  Criminals’.  
 
Effects  of  the  Treaty  of  Versailles,  June  1919  
• Germans  were  angry.  
o Humiliated.  
o Blamed  for  the  war  –  ‘War  guilt  clause’.  
 Unfair,  all  major  countries  (victorious  too)  had  helped  start  the  
war.  
  Blaming  them  (and  making  them  accept  they  were  to  blame)  
would  justify  making  them  pay  reparations  (£6.6  billion).  
o Armed  forces  were  reduced  (smaller  than  Belgium’s)  
 100,000  men;  no  tanks;  no  subs;  6  battleships;  no  aircraft;  no  
troops  in  the  Rhineland.  
 Germany  could  not  defend  itself  if  invaded.  
o Loss  of  land:  
 Alsace  Lorraine  →  France.  
 East  Prussia  and  Silesia  →  Poland.  
 Eupen  and  Malmédy  →  Belgium.  
 Lost  around  4  million  people  and  
all  colonies.  
 Not  allowed  to  join  with  Austria  
(very  similar  countries).  
o Germany  was  not  allowed  to  join  League  of  Nations.  
• Protests  and  demonstrations!  
o German  people  wanted  to  keep  fighting  –  Generals  said  there  was  no  
chance  of  victory.  
o National  mourning  was  declared.  
 
Political  Problems:  the  Constitutions  and  its  Government  
• Freidrich  Ebert  –  Germany’s  political  leader  since  November  1918.  
• Worked  hard  to  stop  Communists  taking  over.  
• February  1919  →  Ebert  is  first  president  of  the  Weimar  Republic.  
o He  was  moderate.  
o Hated  by  the  left-­‐wing  communists  and  right-­‐wing  groups  who  
wanted  the  army  to  rule.  
• Weimar  Constitution  
o Very  democratic  
 All  over  20s  allowed  to  vote  
 Allowed  all  political  parties  to  have  a  say  (proportional  
representation  -­‐  %  of  votes  gained  =  %  of  seats  in  Reichstag)  
 Chancellor  needed  support  of  support  of  majority  in  the  
Reichstag.  
 
Political  Instability  
• Political  weaknesses:  
o President  could  appoint/dismiss  Chancellor  whenever  he  wanted.  
o (If  there  was  an  emergency)  President  could  suspend  democracy  
and  rule  with  his  own  laws  and  backing  of  the  armed  forces.  
o Proportional  representation  –  unlikely  any  1  party  would  gain  more  
than  half  the  Reichstag  seats  (overall  majority).  
 Always  coalition,  some  parties  would  agree  to  work  together  to  
gain  a  majority  when  voting.  
 Not  all  parties  would  agree;  not  everyone  happy;  compromise.  
o In  the  Reichstag  there  were  right  wing  and  left-­‐wing  parties.  
 Wanted  to  destroy  democracy.  
 Middle  (moderate)  parties  had  to  work  hard  to  protect  
constitution  from  the  extreme  parties.  
 o Most  judges  were  right  –wing  
 Reluctant  to  deal  severely  with  those  with  similar  political  views  
o 1919  election:  
 Most  support  for  moderate  parties  or  parties  willing  to  join  
coalition  governments  in  Weimar.  
 Still  some  support  for  extreme  parties.  
 
Challenges  to  Weimar,  1919-­1923    
• Little  food  after  the  war;  Germans  were  starving.  
• 1918,  Germany  was  producing  just  over  half  the  food  it  had  before  the  
war.  
• Allied  blockade  made  it  impossible  to  import  food.  
• Many  returning  soldiers  had  no  home  or  jobs.  
• Winter  1918-­‐1919,  many  suffered.  
o Made  worse  by  Spanish  Flu;  over  half  a  million  died.  
• The  Spartacists  
o Communists.  
o Wanted  to  copy  Russia  (1917)  with  a  communist  government.  
o January  1919,  attempted  revolution  –  Berlin.  
 Against  Ebert’s  government.  
 Badly  organised.   Freikorps  are  mostly  unemployed  
 Rosa  Luxemburg  and  Karl   ex-­‐soldiers  with  extreme  right-­‐wing  
Liebknecht  (leaders)  only  supported   views.  Formed  themselves  into  
it  after  it  had  started.     unofficial  units  in  Germany.  
• Later  were  caught  and  killed.  
 Uprising  was  crushed  by  the  Freikorps,  over  100  Spartacists  
killed.  
o Many  communist  risings  over  the  following  months;  all  stopped  by  
the  Freikorps.  
 E.g.  Munich  
• Soviet  Republic  was  declared  (like  in  Russia).  
• Food  and  clothing;  taken  from  rich,  given  to  poor.  
• Red  army  was  formed.  
• Freikorps  entered  the  city  and  killed  over  600  communists.  
• Attempted  takeovers  by  the  right  wing.  
o The  Friekorps  
 After  armistice,  army  officers  did  not  want  to  be  demobilised;  no  
home  or  jobs.  
 Wanted  Germany  to  be  great  again,  restore  German  pride.  
 Hated  Communists  and  Weimar  (for  signing  the  Treaty  of  
Versailles).  
 Formed  themselves  into  unofficial  units  (used  
weapons/uniforms  left  over  from  war).  
 Ebert  used  these  officers  to  defeat  the   Putsch  is  a  rebellion;  an  
Spartacists.   attempt  to  seize  power.  
• Gave  them  credibility  and  self-­‐belief.  
o The  Kapp  Putsch,  March  1920  
 Over  5,000  Friekorp  supporters  led  a  putsch.  
  Seized  control  of  the  capital;  named  Dr  Wolfgang  Kapp  as  
Germany’s  new  leader.  
 Government  fled;  workers  strike  in  all  essential  services.  
• Paralysed  the  city.  
• Attempted  Putsch  failed.  Kapp  fled.  
o Munich  Putsch,  November  1923  
 Nazi  party  attempted  to  take  over  in  Munich.  
 Hitler  was  in  charge.  
 
Economic  Problems  Leading  to  Hyperinflation  
• Prices  had  been  rising  during  war;  continued  to  rise  after  the  war.  
• When  first  reparation  bill  was  announced  (April,  1921)  panic  took  over,  
led  to  hyperinflation.  
• Invasion  of  the  Ruhr.  
o Reparations  first  paid  in  1921,  nothing  paid  in  1922.  
o Government  argued  that  hyperinflation  was  causing  economic  chaos  
and  could  not  pay  in  1923  either.  
 French  thought  they  were  exaggerating  the  situation  so  that  
they  would  not  have  to  pay  
SO…  
 January  1923,  French  and  Belgium  troops  invaded  the  Ruhr  
(Germany’s  main  industrial  area).  
 Intended  on  collecting  goods  to  the  value  of  the  reparations,  
 Germany  was  outraged;  workers  in  the  Ruhr  went  on  strike  
(‘passive  resistance’).  French  sent  in  French  workers.  
 Bitterness  increased  and  violence  broke  out.  Some  Germans  
were  shot  for  refusing  to  work.  
 Over  150,000  Germans  were  removed  from  the  Ruhr.  
o Strikes  in  the  Ruhr  made  material  shortages  worse,  prices  were  up.  
 Government  had  to  print  more  notes  to  keep  up  (tried  to  cut  
down  the  number  of  notes  being  printed  by  printing  larger  
numbers  on  them).  
o Prices  spiralled  out  of  control.  
 
Consequences  of  Hyperinflation  
• Caused  much  suffering.  
o Pensioners  or  those  living  off  savings  were  worse  hit  
(income/savings  became  worthless).  
o Workers  suffered  as  wage  rises  could  never  keep  up  with  prices.  
 Employers  had  to  pay  workers  daily  (sometimes  twice  daily).  
o Landowners  were  protected  from  the  worse  effects.  
o Long-­‐term  losers  were  the  middle  class  with  businesses  and  savings  
–  destroyed.  
o Those  with  debts/loans  benefitted  –  could  pay  money  back  at  a  tiny  
fraction  of  the  original  cost.  
o Those  dealing  in  foreign  currencies  could  benefit.  
o Rich  businessmen  were  able  to  take  over  small  companies  that  had  
gone  bankrupt.  
o Damaged  Weimar  Republic’s  reputation.  
  
How  far  did  the  Weimar  Republic  recover  under  Stresemann?  
 
The  role  of  Stresemann  as  Chancellor  then  Foreign  Minister  
• Chancellor:  August  –  November  1923.  
• Foreign  minister:  November  1923  –  October  1929  (died).  
• Mainly  responsible  for  the  quick  recovery  of  the  economy  (late  1920s).  
• Responsible  for  Germany  being  trusted  by  other  countries  in  trade  and  
diplomacy.  
 
The  recovery  of  the  Economy  
• New  currency.  
o September  1923,  Stresemann  called  off  passive  resistance  in  the  
Ruhr;  resumed  reparation  payments.  
o New  currency:  Rentenmark  (old  currency  was  scrapped).  
o Government  was  becoming  more  stable  
 Attempted  putsch  (Munich,  led  by  Hitler)  was  defeated.  
o French  and  Belgium  troops  taken  out  of  the  Ruhr  in  1924.  
• The  Dawes  Plan,  1924.  
o New  reparations  scheme.  
o Charles  Dawes  (American  banker)  investigated  the  problems  of  
German  reparations.  
o Drew  up  a  plan  –  accepted  by  the  US  government.  
 American  loans  (800  million  marks)  were  made  available  to  
Germany  (to  be  used  to  help  the  economy  recover  by  building  
factories  –  more  jobs  and  wealth).  
 Payments  of  reparations  would  be  calculated  depending  on  
what  Germany  could  afford  (first  4  years  –  smaller  amounts;  got  
larger  as  the  economy  recovered).  
• The  Young  Plan,  1929.  
o Extended  the  time  to  pay  off  all  reparations,  had  until  1988.  
o Reduced  amount  Germany  had  to  pay,  £2.2  billion.  
o Nationalists  hated  both  plans;  agreeing  to  pay  reparations  meant  
agreeing  they  had  caused  the  war.  
o Young  Plan  was  destroyed  by  the  Wall  Street  Crash;  led  to  the  Great  
Depression.  
o 1932,  allies  agreed  to  cancel  reparation  payments.  
 
Developments  in  International  Relations,  1924  –  1929  
• Stresemann  restored  Germany’s  position  as  a  trusted  trading  partner  in  
Europe.  
• Not  al  Germans  wanted  to  follow  his  policy  of  cooperation;  too  much  
bitterness  in  the  country.  
• Stresemann  got  support  from  Western  European  countries;  afraid  that  
otherwise  Germany  might  join  with  the  USSR  (communists!).  
o Germany  had  already  made  friends  with  USSR  
 Had  secretly  signed  a  treaty  (1922)  meaning  Germany  could  
build  factories  in  Russia  (airplanes,  tanks  and  poison  gas).  
• All  of  this  was  forbidden  in  the  Treaty  of  Versailles.  
 • Locarno  Treaties,  1925.  
o Signed  by  Germany,  France,  Belgium,  Britain  and  France  
o Agreed  to  accept  the  boundaries  of  Western  Europe  as  set  out  in  the  
Treaty  of  Versailles.  
o Meant  the  French  could  not  invade  the  Ruhr  again  
IN  RETURN…  
o Germany  agreed  the  Rhineland  would  stay  demilitarised.  
o Germany  and  France  both  agreed  future  disputes  would  be  resolved  
through  the  League  of  Nations.  
• League  of  Nations,  1926.  
o Stresemann  persuaded  the  League  that  Germany  should  be  allowed  
to  join  in  1926.  
o Germany  was  given  a  seat  as  a  permanent  member  of  the  council.  
o League  was  no  longer  seen  as  a  club  protecting  the  interests  of  only  
victorious  countries.  
• Kellogg-­‐Brand  Pact,  1928.  
o Over  60  countries  (including  Germany)  agreed  to  not  use  war  
against  each  other  in  the  future.  
o Memories  of  war  were  still  fresh.  
o Peak  of  idealism  in  international  relations  (1920s).  
o Nothing  was  said  about  what  would  happen  if  a  country  did  not  stick  
to  the  agreement.  
 
The  Extent  of  Recovery  in  the  Late  1920s  
• Politically:  seemed  stable.  
o Reichstag  elections,  extreme  parties  (communists  &  Nazis)  had  less  
support  than  mainstream  parties.  
o Coalition  government  (focused  on  the  Social  Democrat  party)  
seemed  to  have  the  confidence  of  most  German  people.  
• Economy:  seemed  to  be  recovering.  
o 1928,  industrial  production  was  greater  than  before  the  war,  
o World  leader  as  an  exporter  of  manufactured  goods.  
• Weimar  Germany  was  very  successful  in  cultural  activities.  
o Strict  censorships  from  pre-­‐war  Germany  were  removed.  
o Berlin  rivalled  Paris  as  cultural  capital.  
o Germans  led  the  way  in  innovative  painting,  architecture  and  design.  
 Bauhaus  movement,  bold  designs/unusual  materials  
o Also  became  the  centre  for  new  plays  and  operas.  
• Were  some  underlying  problems:  
o Still  political  opponents  of  Weimar.  
o Many  wanted  to  be  ruled  by  the  Kaiser.  
 Shown  in  1925;  president  Ebert  died;  Hindenburg  (critical  of  the  
new  democracy)  took  his  place.  
 Greeted  by  cheering  and  black,  white  and  red  flags  (colours  of  
old  empire).  
o Support  for  communism  increased  (Nazis  got  more  votes  in  
elections).  
o Economy  relied  on  American  loans  (could  be  withdrawn  at  any  
time).  Had  to  be  repaid!  
 o More  imports  than  exports  (trading  at  a  loss).  
o A  lot  of  unemployed.  
o Food  prices  fell  (1927)  farmers’  income  reduced  and  debts  
increased.  
o Culturally,  many  criticised  the  artistic  developments  (decadent,  
unpatriotic).  
o Berlin,  famous  for  transvestite  parties.  
o Perceived  decline  in  moral  standards  (cabaret  shows,  nightclubs)  
o Seen  by  some  Germans  as  corrupt  and  sex  obsessed.  
 
How  far  did  the  Nazi  Party  develop  its  ideas  and  organisation  (up  to  1929)?  
 
Life  and  Early  Career  of  Hitler  
1889   Born  in  Austria  
1907   Lived  in  Vienna;  tried  to  earn  a  living  as  an  artist.  
Picked  up  ideas  such  as  hatred  of  Jews.  
1914   Join  the  army  in  Munich;  won  medals  for  bravery.  
1918   Badly  gassed;  in  hospital  when  armistice  was  signed.  
Blamed  defeat  on  the  Communists  and  Jews  (stabbed  Germany  in  the  
back).  
1919   Still  in  the  army.  
Joined  a  small  extreme  nationalist  group  (German  Workers’  Party,  
founded  by  Anton  Drexler).  
1920   Helped  to  draft  party’s  programme.  
Renamed,  National  Socialist  German  Workers’  Party  (Nazi).  
1921   Became  leader  of  Nazi  Party.  
Founded  the  SA  to  intimidate  opposing  groups.   SA  (storm  troopers).  
  Some  former  members  of  
Early  development  of  Nazi  Party   Freikorps.  Wore  Brown.  
• Hitler  was  convinced  he  could  take  power.   Led  by  Ernst  Röhm.  
• Used  the  SA  to  break  up  opposing  party  meetings.   Members  swore  total  
Encouraged  violence  in  the  streets.   obedience  to  Nazis.  
• Weimar’s  reputation  was  damaged  by    
hyperinflation  and  the  invasion  of  the  Ruhr.  
• Hitler  wanted  to  copy  Mussolini’s  success  (leader  with  similar  policies  –  
had  taken  control  of  Italy,  1922)  
• Designed  the  Nazi  flag.  
• Gained  control  of  ‘The  People’s  Observer’,  allowed  them  to  spread  
propaganda.  
• Munich  Putsch,  8th  November1923  
o Munich,  meeting  in  a  beer  hall  (led  by  Gustav  Von  Kahr  –  head  of  the  
government  for  Bavaria).  
o Nazi  demonstration  broke  out.  
o SA  surrounded  the  hall.  
o Hitler  said  he  was  taking  over  Bavaria;  would  next  march  to  Berlin.  
 Kahr  (when  at  gunpoint)  agreed  to  support  him.  
o Consequences  
 9th  November,  Hitler  (and  war-­‐hero  General  Ludendorff)  and  
about  3000  supporters  marched  into  Munich.  
  Stopped  in  a  narrow  street  by  100  armed  police  (had  been  
called  by  Kahr  to  stop  the  march).  
 1  shot  was  fired,  police  opened  fire.  
 16  Nazis  killed.  3  policemen  killed.  Hitler  fled.  
 Hitler,  Ludendorff  and  Röhm  arrested;  put  on  trial  for  treason  
(February  1924).  
 Hitler  used  courtroom  as  propaganda.  
• Newspapers  all  reported  the  case;  readers  were  impressed  
with  Hitler’s  nationalist  arguments.  
 Only  given  a  five  year  sentence  (Landsberg  Castle  –  luxury).  
• Couldn’t  be  harsh  on  Hitler;  would  have  to  be  just  as  harsh  
on  General  Ludendorff  (no  one  would  want  to  see  a  war-­‐
hero  put  into  prison).  
• Only  served  9  months  of  his  sentence.  
• When  in  prison,  realised  he  needed  to  win  power  legally  
(elections)  and  not  take  it  by  force.  
• Mein  Kampf  (‘My  Struggle’)  
o Hitler’s  autobiography,  written  in  prison.  
o Selective  account  of  his  life  so  far.  
o Set  out  his  main  political  ideas.  
 Germans  are  a  superior  race.  
 Dictatorship  is  essential  to  build  up  the  strength  of  Germany.  
 Communism  must  be  destroyed.  
 Germany’s  natural  allies  and  Britain  and  Italy.  
 
Decline  in  Nazi  Support  During  the  Stresemann  Years:  Consolidation  
of  Nazi  Organisation  in  Late  1920s  
• Nazis  had  lost  a  lot  of  credibility.  
• Party  didn’t  do  well  in  elections  during  Stresemann  years.  
• Local  branches  set  up  around  Germany.  
o Nationwide  party.  
o Support  from  workers,  farmers  and  craft  groups.  
o Still  tried  to  appeal  to  workers.  
o Unhappy  workers  supported  communism.  
o Happy  workers  continued  to  support  the  Weimar  Republic.  
o Gained  a  lot  of  support  from  peasants.  
 Weren’t  sharing  the  obvious  success  from  the  cities.  
 Promised  to  help  farming.    
 Praised  traditional  lifestyle  of  peasants.  
o Gained  support  from  conservatives  by  condemning  (as  sinful)  the  
Weimar  Republic’s  achievements  in  film,  art,  literature  and  music.  
o Late  1920s,  SA  was  enlarged.  
o SS  was  created.  
• Joseph  Goebbels:  in  charge  of  propaganda.   SS  a  group  formed  in  1925  
as  a  personal  guard  unit  
for  Hitler.