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Challenges facing the Weimar Republic 1919-33 (Political Weakness (Treaty…
Challenges facing the Weimar Republic
1919-33
Political Enemies
Assassinations
Several politicians who argued Germany had no choice but to sign Treaty of Versailles assassinated
Revolution from the Left
January 1919
- Spartacist Uprising - 5th Jan, Spartacus League (communist party) tried to set up communist govt, organised revolt - occupied govt newspaper and telephone offices + tried to bring about general strike
Govt turned to Freikorps who hated communism - communist leaders Rosa Luxemburg + Karl Liebknecht shot by Freikorps fighters
Uprising defeated but did not end threat of communism, e.g. during 1920s, German Communist Party 2nd largest in Europe + Nov 1932 elections - won 100 seats
Revolution from the Right
Freikorps - ex-soldiers unable to adjust to civilian life after war, unemployed due to Treaty of Versailles
March 1920
- Freikorps revolted - marched to Berlin, declaring Dr Wolfgang Kapp as Germany's new leader (extreme nationalist + had support of army officers)
Ebert moved govt out of city + encouraged public to go on general strike to stop revolt - essential supplies e.g. gas, water + electricity disrupted - city unable to function
Kapp fled to Sweden, govt returned to Berlin, Freikorps disbanded
Political Weakness
Treaty of Versailles
Signing of Treaty of Versailles angered many Germans, politicians who signed treaty labelled 'November Criminals'
Article 231 - War Guilt Clause - Germany had to accept blame for war - then forced to pay reparations - £6,600 million to Allies
Military forces cut - no tanks, no submarines, no air force, navy limited to: 6 battleships, 6 cruisers, 12 destroyers, 12 torpedo boats, army limited to 100,000 men for internal use only
Problems in the constitution
lack of commitment between politicians to solve political division and economic damage
proportional representation required co-operation + compromise, German people had no experience in running this type of political system
Number of coalitions
Proportional representation led to creation of small parties so coalitions had to be made in order to obtain majority - coalitions often fell apart due to disagreements between parties
series of short-term governments - e.g. 5 out of 7 chancellors who were in office between 1919 and 1923 were in office for less than a year
Examples of different political parties: Communists, Social Democrats. Centre Party, National Party, Nazis (founded 1920)
Undermining democracy
Article 48 - in emergencies, would allow president to pass laws without Reichstag approval
Economic Vulnerability
Farmers
Since mid-1920s the prices of farmers goods were increasing
farmers in debt
US loans
800 million gold marks boosted German industry
Reparations payments lowered to 1,000 marks for first 5 years
Reliance on USA - Dawes Plan of 1924
Middle class fears
millions of middle class germans were thrown into poverty as a result of hyperinflation
blamed Weimar republic for their problems
desperate for change in government to solve economic problems
Economic Crisis
Treaty of Versailles
Germany lost 50% iron reserves + 15% coal, damaging economy
Forced to pay reparations of 136,000 million marks
Great Depression
USA recalls loans made to Germany from Dawes Plan - not enough to pay reparations
Over 50% people aged 16-30 were unemployed
4/10 factory workers couldn't get a job
Businessmen struggled as people had less money to spend on goods
Hyperinflation
1919 - 1923: government prints more banknotes to deal with economic crisis- 300 paper mills + 200 printing shops printing money
1 dollar worth 4 German marks in 1919, 1 dollar worth 4.2 billion German marks in Nov 1923
Prices rose rapidly, resulting in millions of Germans being forced into poverty