Germany depth Study IGCSE Board powerpoint
- 2. Areas of focus 1.The impact of the world war on Germany ( Political, economic etc) 2.The Weimar Republic ( The three stages) • First stage 1919-23- stage of problems • Second stage 1923-29- Golden age – Stresemann’s era • Third stage 1929-32- Stage of destruction 3. Nazi Germany 1933-1945
- 4. Birth of Weimar republic • Before the war Germany had no real democracy. • Weimar republic was a democratic republic • Socialist leader Friedrich Ebert became the new leader of the republic • He faced opposition from both right and left ( left, communist spartacist rising , Bavarian revolt, Murder of Kurl Eisner ) from right ( Kaisers former advisers, people from judiciary, civil service and industry, Kapp putsch, Munich putsch )
- 5. First stage- 1919-23 The major problems 1. Opposition from both left and right 2. The treaty of Versailles 3. Economic problems- Ruhr invasion, hyperinflation 4. Constitutional problems ( article 48, proportional representation, coalition govt, no stability )
- 6. Opposition from the left- Spartacist rebellion • The Spartacists had been formed in 1905 as a minor faction of the SPD. • They were basically communists. • From 1914, they had opposed the war and they were deeply influenced by Lenin and Bolshevism. • They were led by Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg ( red Rosa ).. • They argued strongly against Ebert's plans for a democratic Germany • They wanted a Germany ruled by workers' councils or soviets. • Their revolt was suppressed by Ebert with the help of Freikorps ( a anti communist group consisted of ex army members led by WolfgangKapp
- 7. Bavarian revolt -1919 • Bavaria was an independent Socialist state led by Kurt Eisnet; who was Ebert's ally. • In Februaty 1919 he was murdered by political opponents. • The Communists in Bavaria seized the opportunity to declare a soviet republic in Bavaria. • Ebert used the same tactics as he had against the Spartacists. The Freikorps moved in to crush the revolt in May 1919. Around 600 Communists were killed.
- 8. Threat from the Right – Kapp putsch- 1920 • Ebert's government faced violent opposition from the Right. His right-wing opponents were largely people who had grown up in the successful days of the Kaiser's Germany. • They had liked the Kaiser's dictatorial style of government. • They liked Germany having a strong army • In March 1920 Dr Wolfgang Kapp led 5000 FREIKORPS into Berlin in a rebellion known as the Kapp Putsch • The army refused to fire on the Freikorps and it looked as if Ebert's government was doomed. However, it was saved by the German people, especially the industrial workers of Berlin. They declared a general strike • After a few days Kapp realised he could not succeed and left the country. He was hunted down and died while awaiting trial.
- 10. The Munich Putsch , 1 923 ( Beer Hall Putsch)
- 14. Economic problems • The Treaty of Versailles forced Germany to pay reparations to the Allies. • The reparations bill was announced in April 1921. It was set at £6600 million, to be paid in annual instalments. • This was two per cent of Germany's annual output. The Germans protested that this was an intolerable strain on the economy which they were struggling to rebuild after the wa1; but their protests were ignored.
- 16. Economic crisis – Hyper inflation
- 20. How did the Weimar Republic Survive 1919-24
- 22. Problems of Weimar constitution
- 23. Traditional institutions • Army • Universities • Civil services • Judiciary
- 24. Strengths and weakness of the Weimar constitution
- 26. How did the hyper inflation come to an end? • Hyperinflation ended in November/December 1923 as Stresemann introduced the Rentenmark, and signed the Dawes Plan, which meant America lent Germany money to help rebuild industry so they could pay the reparations.
- 27. Stresemann Years – second state- golden age (1924-29)