Germany Revision - 1918-1945

The Wiemar Republic

Friedrich Ebert

A new democratic constitution

Friedrich Ebert

A nearly perfect democratic system for Germany

By proportional representation

By secret ballot and universal vote, held at least every 4 years.

There was never a majority party and this meant there was a constant need for coalitions. However these coalitions often broke down due to disagreements. One party broke down due to the flag they should use.

Surrender from the War. This made the German government resent the Wiemar republic as they believed that they would win the war. They nicked name the government the 'November Criminals'. The army also stated that the government had "stabbed them in the back" and also kept saying "Deutsche denkt daren!"(Germany never forgets)

The Treaty of Versaillies. Nicknamed the 'Diktat'. As he Germany had to sign it and there was negotiation on the terms.

War Guilt Clause

War Reparations

Military Restrictions

Territorial Changes

War Guilt Clause - Meant that Germany was responsible for ALL the damage and loss from WW1. This Clause meant that the German citizens had a lowered moral.
War Reparations - The government had to pay a £6600 million bill made Germany poor and begun to start loaning money from other countries. If they didn't pay they would be invaded
Military Restrictions - The German army was restricted to 100,00 men. This meant many lost their jobs and the army already disliked the government from surrendering WW1. The German navy was restricted to 6 battleships and no submarines. Germany was not allowed an airforce. This left Germany defenseless and vulnerable to attack from other countries. Also the Rhineland had been demilitarised making Germany vulnerable to attack from France.
Territorial Changes - The size of Germany was reduced and the German colonies were given to France and Britian as 'mandates'. This reduced the communication between Germans and also once German citizens may no longer be citizens.

The League of Nations was created with all the countries in the world apart from Germany. This meant that Germany would have been out-casted from the rest of the countries and the relationship between her and other countries would be quite tense as Germany wouldn't know what the League of Nations were discussing.

The army would support the Weimar Government in exchange for power and autonomy.

They didn't have any experience in running Germany and didn't know how to challenge problems.

Strikes & Street Disorders

Publicly Discredited - "November Criminals","Stabbing the army in the back"

The Spartacist uprising - January 1919

The Kapp Putsch - March 1920

German communists wanted a revolution like the one in Russia in 1917.
In Jan '18, Communist activists led by Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg seized power in Berlin and the Baltic ports.
However, within weeks all the rebels had been crushed by regular troops and Freikorps. The leaders were assassinated.

In March 1920, Wolfgang Kapp and a group of Freikorps seized power in Berlin.
Kapp was not supported by Betlin factory workers. They organized a strike in support of the government. Supplies of gas, water and coal quickly came to a halt.
After 4 days Kapp and co gave up and fled Berlin.

They believed the new Weimar Republic was a symbol of Germany's defeat in the war. Moreover, most Germans weren't used to democracy and some want the return of the Kaiser. Also the government's constitution was weak.

1922

The French government insisted Germany must continue to pay the reparations, however the German government were unable to do this.

As the Government were unable to send troops for armed resistance, the German workers used passive resistance against the invaders and refused to work for the foreign army who occupied them. Factories closed and the German economy ground to a halt. Some set factories on fire and sabotaged plumbing. Some even had clashes with French troops, causing many strikers to be shot.

The Weimar Republic printed more money, as the strike meant goods weren't being produced . But as a result inflation rose causing hyperinflation.

$1= 4 marks
$1 = 4.2 billion marks

Their were massive price rises, especially in food.

Savings became worthless.

People on fixed incomes (e.g. pensioners) suffered badly, as their incomes didn't increase.
People starved as they could not afford food or fuel.

Those in employment were generally secure as their wages increase but always lagged behind price rises.

Many lost their faith in the Weimar Republic and were convinced that it was unable to deal with serious economic problems.

However businessmen found that they were able to payback borrowed money and wipe their debts. Others were able to take over smaller businesses that were going bankrupt.

Also farmers benefited from the rise in food prices in a time when the farming industry was struggling.

Gustav Stresemann

He stopped the printing of worthless paper money in Nov '23
He created a new currency - the Rentenmark
He called off the passive resistance against the French occupation in the Ruhr.

New currency - Rentenmark
Ruhr industries restarted production
Stresemann signed Dawes Plan
German industry benefitted from new investment and unemployment fell sharply

A arrangement, made in 1924, giving Germany loans from the USA and making reparations payments easier. The Dawes Plan reorganised Germany's reparation payments.

9th November 1923

He was determined to overthrow the Weimar Republic by organising a successful revolution in Bavaria and then organising a march on Berlin, with his supporters.

The timing seemed ideal for an armed uprising. The Weimar Republic were more unpopular due to the terrible effects of hyperinflation. Also the nationalists were outraged when Stresemann's government called off the passive resistance in the Ruhr and continued to pay war reparations.

Hitler was influence by Benito Mussolini, who successfully overtook the Italian government after a march on Rome.

The Bavarian Leaders, Gustav von Kahr and General von Lossow, had been plotting against the Weimar government and Hitler was convinced that they would support the Putsch.

Hitler and the SA interrupted a Bavarian government meeting, on the 8th November 1923. He held Gustav von Kahr captive in a room, which he escaped from and tried to persuade everyone to support him.

The party appeared to be ready to seize by force. Hitler was an established leader, the party had 50,00 supporters and its own private army, the SA.

In addition, Hitler had developed a close relationship with the former army leader, General Ludendorff. Hitler believed that Ludendorff would pursaude the German army to desert the government and side with the Nazis.

The Putsch happened in Munich.

General Ludendorff and about 3,000 supporters, who hoped to win public support.

There was a gun battle between police and marchers. 16 Nazi marchers were shot, but Hitler was able to escape. Lundendorff and other marchers proceeded to the next square but they were arrested by police.

Lunderdorff was released without a prison sentence. The other Nazi leaders were given short prison sentences.

He was arrested on the 11th November 1923 for his part in the uprising.

In February 1924, Hitler was put on trial with Kahr as a witness. The charge was treason, however Hitler turned his trial into a propaganda success using it to accuse the Weimar Republic of treason for signing the treaty of Versaillies.

The trial proved Hitler's popularity and the courts were sympathetic towards Hitler and gave him a 5 year sentence (the normal charge for this offence was death).

9 months

While in prison Hitler was given special conditions. He was allowed many vistors and spent most of his time dictating his autobiography, Mein Kampf. The book gave his version of his life and also set out the aims of the Nazi party.

The removal of the Jews.

The destruction of Communism.

Expansion of Germany.

Hitler recieved national press during his trial and he soon became a household name; Many people found him charismatic. He also won the trust of the authorities who found him charming & fascinating while he was on trial.

As he was a well known figure, with well known ideas, it would only take another government crisis for the public to consider Hitler as Germany's leader.

Many people wanted to read his book Mein Kampf which also shared his views.

Hitler was a well known opponent to the Treaty of Versailles and had the courage to stand up for his beliefs. Hitler was an alternative, for a country who felt weak & inferior, to the Social Democrats.

The Nazi party only gain the support of 3,000 men. Hitler hoped for 50,000.

The party was to divided for the Putsch to be a success. Hitler was naive to think that others in the Nazi party shared his goals.

The Nazi party was banned & on Hitlers release he was forbidden from speaking publicly until 1927.

When the police intervened, on 9th November, 16 Nazis were shot. Many more were arrested and put on trial for treason.

Ritter von Kahr, a leading Nazi who refused to support Hitler, called the police to inform them of the Putsch.

After the method of force was a failure, Hitler released that the only method for him to gain power would be by being elected in.

Hitler had behaved impulsively throughout the putsch and this made him appear unstable.

It would be another 10 years before he could try to come to power again.

To get Germany accepted again as a member of the international community

The Locarno treaties
He agreed to accept the Treaty of Versailles, setting out the borders between France, Belgium and Germany.

Germany was accepted into the League of Nations in 1926.

1924: Nazis win 14 seats in the Reichstag - and in 1928: 12. Hitler was building a small but firm base of support.

Communists were also organizing themselves: they created the Roter Frontkämpfer-Bund (RFB) and regularly fought street battles with the Nazi Sturmabteilung (SA). In 1928: Communists held 54 seats in the Reichstag.

Cinema developed - produced stars such as Marlene Dietrich.
Artists such as Grosz and Dix led New movements in the visual arts.
Theatre flourished, producing world-renowned writers such as Brecht.
Gropius' Bauhaus School developed new ideas in the design of buildings and furniture, and became one of the 20th century's most influential artistic movements.

It relied heavily on American loans.

Stresemann stated "Germany is in fact dancing on a volcano. If the short term credits are called in by the USA, a large section of our economy would collapse." He knew that the recovery is superficial.

Some groups such as shopkeepers small business men and farmers.

Many US banks recalled their loans and German companies were unable to pay. As a result, businesses closed and millions list their jobs.

Also this Stresemann, who fixed Germany's first economic downturn, died two weeks before the wall street crash so there was nobody to fix the problem.

2.5 to 6 million.

As unemployment rose, more and more people felt key down by the Weimar government and began to support extremist parties.

1930 election: Communist seats increased to 77.
Nazi seats increased to 107 - now second largest party.

It caused a period of chaos in Germany.
No government was able to take control and solve the terrible economic problems.
Hitler was able to convince the German people he could get them back into work. He therefore gained support from wealthy and powerful industrialists.

The Nazi's anti-Communist stance appealed to them as they were alarmed by many of their workers voting Communists. (Fear of Communism)

The Weimar Republic were seen as 'The November Criminals' & people felt they had 'Stabbed the army in the back' by surrendering from war.

They signed the Treaty of Versailles in June 1919

Since 1918 the country had been in huge debt, unemployment never went below 1.3 million, the French had invaded the Ruhr and government action led to hyperinflation

The Munich Putsch 1923 showed that anyone could attack the government.

Following the Wall Street Crash over 6 million people were unemployed is Germany by 1932 & approximately half of all 16-30 years olds couldn't find work

Proportional representation meant no party had the majority and when coalitions were formed the soon broke down. During the depression there were 4 different chancellors in 3 years

Stresemann died a few weeks before the Wall Street Crash

The Nazi party were known as 'The People's Party' as they were able to appeal to everyone.

'November criminals' and Jews

To build a better Germany;Tear up the Treaty of Versailles; and re-arm Germany. Hitler said that he would ensure full employment for everyone as leader of Germany.

He was suspicious of Hitler.

Franz von Papen

Von Papen had little support in the Reichstag and to achieve his aims he needed to win more support.

They believed they would be able to control him once he was in power.

Marinus van der Lubbe, a Communist.
Exploit the fire for their own purposes and blame the Communists.

So he could put thousands of Communist supporters in Prison in order to increase his share of votes.

The emergency degree also allowed the police to search houses, consificate property and detain people without trial

He ordered his SA to continue intimidating the opposition, by surrounding the Reichstag building until the law was passed
The 81 Communist members of the Reichstag were expelled.

The right to pass laws for the next 4 years without having to obtain the support of members of the Reichstag.

July 1933: using the powers of the Enabling Act, Propaganda to gain votes, he outlawed all other parties, making Germany a one-party state.

The German army saw the SA as a rival. The army would not support Hitler unless the SA was disbanded.
Some members of the SA wanted Hitler to follow a socialist programme of reform. Hitler was opposed to this as he would lose the support of wealthy industrialists.
Röhm was a threat to Hitler's dominance of the Nazi party.

They promised to support him as commander-in-chief of the armed forces if the SA was disbanded, and if he started a programme of rearmament.

The SS (Hitler's bodyguards)

400

As Hindenburg died in August 1934.

Chancellor, President and commander-in-chief of the armed forces.

Der Führer for life. He also called this the "Third Reich."

Joseph Goebbels

To spread Nazi ideas and encourage all Germans to be loyal to Hitler.

Newspapers: only allowed to print stories favourable to the Nazis.
Film: all films had to depict strong images of Nazi idealism.
Olympics: the 1936 Olympics were used to suggest the superiority of the Aryan race.
Radio: 70% had short range radios, they were in public street and schools. They played the German message and people were encouraged to listen to them.
Mass rallies: hundreds of thousands of supporters sang songs and watched sporting events and firework displays. Goebbels also took advantage of air flight and charted planes so Hitler could attend rallies all over Germany

Supporters of the Treaty of Versailles
Communists and socialists
Democrats and liberals
Jews

Criticized

Trial

Teachers had to belong to the (German Teachers League) and follow a Nazi curriculum.
Textbooks were rewritten.
Children taught superiority of Aryan race.
Parents encouraged to send children to join youth groups organized by the Nazis, where they were indoctrinated with Nazi ideology (e.g. Hitler Jugend, Bund Deutscher Mädel)

The Catholic Church in Germany signed a concordat with Hitler. Both sides agreed not to interfere with each other's policies or actions.

The Nazis closed down a number of church organizations and set up the Reich Church.

Hitler announced women's role was to look after Children, stay in the kitchen and go to church
Marriage loans were given to women who gave up their jobs.
There were restrictions on the employment of women as civil servants and in the professions.

The German Labour Front (DAF) replaced trade unions. Workers could not quit without government permission, and strikes were made illegal.
From 1935, six months' work for the Reich Labour Service was made compulsory for all young men.

DAF's 'Strength through Joy' provided workers with sports facilities, cheap holidays and entertainments.
It also ran a scheme for workers to save up and buy a Volkswagen.

Jews could no longer be German citizens
Marriages between Jews and Aryans were forbidden

The Nazis boycotted all Jewish businesses. Their shops were marked with the star of David and 'Jude'.

They were intimidated and taught that Jews were unclean and responsible for Germany's defeat in WWI.

On 7 November 1938: a Polish Jew shot a German diplomat (von Rath) in Paris.
Hitler ordered an immediate attack on Jews and their property in Germany.
From 9-10 Nov: thousands of Jewish businesses were attacked and 200 attacked.

The Gestapo

A group of any officers led by Colonel von Stauffenberg attempted to blow up Hitler in his Prussian headquarters.
The bomb killed four people but Hitler survived.
The plotters were arrested, put on trial and executed.

-Thousands of Germans were employed in public works schemes created by the Nazis. New roads, houses, hospitals schools were built.
-Businesses were paid subsidies to hire more workers.
-Some took over jobs formerly held by Jews.

Arms and ammunition production was significantly increased.
Compulsory military service was introduced in March 1935.
Iron and coal production rose rapidly and made wealthy Nazi industrialists even richer.
The German army, air force and navy were enlarged, despite restrictions imposed by the Treaty of Versailles.

Unemployment fell from over 6 million to 250,000 between 1933 and 1939.
By 1938, Germany was the wealthiest country in Europe.

The Nazis spent a large large proportion of the country's wealth on maintaining huge numbers of people in the armed forces.
Many of the former unemployed were in non-productive jobs that did not contribute to the economy.
Germany's worsening relations with its neighbours caused are

Food and Clothes rationing began in late 1939.
All German industry became devoted to the war effort.
From 1942 onwards there were serious food shortages
A shortage of houses due to bombing.
Goebbels had to organize teenagers and old men to fight the invading forces.