Weimar Republic 1919-1922

Nota:

• A constitution is a set of rules and laws that set out how a country is run

1. Strengths
   1. everyone can vote - fair
   2. Article 48 - In an emergency laws can be passed by the President without going through the Reichstag - Strong Govt.
   3. Proportional representation - a very fair system of voting, gave everyone a say
2. Weaknesses
   1. Article 48 - could be abused - President could rule as a dictator
   2. Proportional representation - led to weak govts. Difficult to get a majority, therefore lots of coalitions, gave extremists a say
3. President - chooses the chancellor. Chancellor - runs the country. Reichstag - vote on laws. People - vote for members of the Reichstag

1. Blame
   1. Germany had to accept blame for start of war
   2. Article 231 - The War Guilt Clause
   3. Hated - Were told they were fighting war of self defence. Ger wasn't solely to blame - lots of countries involved
2. Reparations

   Nota:

   • Money paid in compensation for damage done in war
   1. £6.6 billion
   2. Germany was nearly bankrupt after 4 years of war
      1. Many people died as a result of starvation and disease - this would make it far worse
         1. German ports had been blockaded - no food could get in
3. Army
   1. Army reduced to 100,000 men
   2. Navy only allowed 6 battleships, 15,000 sailors, no subs
   3. Airforce - not allowed
   4. Why does it matter? Germans v patriotic - feel humiliated, vulnerable to attack. Loss of jobs - creates unemployment
4. Teritory
   1. Large amounts of territory was lost e.g. Alsace-Lorraine was given back to France, A strip of land was given to Poland to allow access to the sea (Polish corridor) all Germany's overseas colonies taken
   2. Why does this matter? Lose People - to other countries - makes patriots unhappy. Germany can't afford to lose money (industry) or food production (agriculture)
   3. 13% of land lost including 10% of industry and 15% agricultural
5. Reaction: Treaty seen by nationalists as a 'stab in the back' - felt they had been betrayed by the politicians. Hitler and the Nazis played on this to gain more votes. HIitler called the politicians who signed the treaty 'The November Crimnals'

1. Kapp Putsch March 1920
   1. Led by: Dr Wolfgang Kapp
   2. Made up of the Freikorps
      1. Ex soldiers - lost jobs due to treaty
   3. Want to destroy the Weimar Govt and set up a strong right wing govt
   4. Events - March on Berlin - Govt runs away to Dresden - Army refuses to stop them, they are sympathetic to their cause. Govt calls a general strike, very successful - society grinds a halt, transport, public services etc. Putsch is at an end but Govt can't punish without support of army.
   5. Why does it matter? Shows people don't like the Govt. Govt doesn't have loyalty of army. However Govt does have support of most people - success of strike. Politicians are clever - manage to defeat putsch without army
2. The Sparcacist Rising Jan 1919
   1. Led by Rosa Luxembourg and Karl Liebknecht
   2. German communist uprising - want to set up a communist system of govt. and destroy Weimar Govt.
   3. Manage to capture telegraph bureau and govt newspaper buildings but nothing more.
   4. Govt ends the uprising by using army and Freikorps to crush.
   5. Rosa and Karl are murdered by Freikorps
   6. Why does it matter? Shows the left wing hate the Weimar Republic and want to destroy it. Shows Govt had to rely on the Freikorps - they are weak.

1. Nazi Party set up in 1919
   1. Run by Anton Drexler
   2. A very right wing or nationalist party
   3. The Nationalist Socialist German Workers party
      1. Tries to appeal to all people - left and right wing
2. Hitler takes control of party in 1921. Initially he had been in charge of propaganda
3. Small, regional party - only really exists in Munich until 1923
4. Feed on unpopularity of Weimar Republic