The Weimar Republic 1918-29
Strengths
Proportional representation - fair
Article 48 - president could take control
Men and women over 20 could vote
Chancellor needed majority to support
Weaknesses
Army wanted Kaiser to maintain status
Judges and senior civil servants disagreed
Article 48 - president could abuse power
Proportional representation - no majority
Threats
Spartacists
Jan 1919 - attempt to overthrow - uprisings
Reichswehr and Freikorps put rebellions down
disagreed with Weimar - wanted communist state
no real threat - strong army
radical communist, formed from SPD
Kapp
seized Berlin March 1920 - further uprisings
govt. moved to Dresden, army put down rebellion
wanted right wing government with Kapp as chancellor uproar- reducing army
big threat - had support from Reichswehr
made up of Freikorps - right-wing
Unpopular
"stab in the back"
Treaty of Versailles
Money - £6600 million
Blame - Germany
Army - 100,000 soldiers, no tanks
disliked Treaty - blamed republic leaders for signing it
Land - Ruhr, empire, Saar lost
soldiers forced to surrender when they could have won
Establishment
Germany suffering at end of war
Kaiser abdicates - can now negotiate softer end to war with USA
Coalition govt. formed
Weimar constitution finalised
Stresemann era - recovery
1923 - Year of Crises
Changes 1924 - 29
French occupation in the Ruhr
Weren't receiving reparations - took goods
Passive resistance - worker strike
Govt. continued to pay workers
Collapse in production
Hyperinflation
Printed more money - became virtually worthless
Food shortages - increased price
Farmers and business men benefitted
Sell food
Pay off debt
Weimar politicians blamed
Munich Putsch
Savings became worthless - affected middle classes
Angry government gave in to French
Agreed to pay reparations, resistance ended
Hitler arrested
International relations
Poor industry
French occupation in Ruhr
Extremist uprising
Hyperinflation
Extremist groups attempted to take over - problems
Support decreased as conditions improved
Adapt quickly - made things easier
New currency - Rentenmark - stabilise economy
Stop printing money
Lost savings - blamed government
Negotiate reparations
End passive resistance
1924 talks - Fr, USA, GB -->Dawes plan
Given in - admitting guilt
Germany received loans from US
Used to pay reparations to GB
Used to build factories, schools etc.
GB paid US war debts
Still had to pay back
Dawes plan
New factories, schools, roads, hospitals
Prosper, but reliant on loans
Locarno pact - Fr, GB, It, Ger, Be agree not to invade
Kellog Briand Pact 1928 - 69 countries agree not to go to war
Germany enters league of nations 1926
Improves relations, regain status
Criticised for not using power to negotiate Treaty of Versailles
Culture
Standard of living
Women
more prevalent in politics
social freedom
equal pay in civil service
men reclaimed jobs after war
married women criticised for working
homelessness reduced by 60% by 1928
increase in "real wages"
didn't benefit middle classes
hyperinflation - bankrupted no benefits
unemployment insurance
unemployment high among teachers, lawyers
theatre
cinema
architecture
art - negative aspects - war