Europe in 1919Europe in 1919

Maimed German WW I VeteranMaimed German WW I Veteran

The “Stabbed-in-the-Back” Theory

The “Stabbed-in-the-Back” Theory

Disgruntled German WWI veteransDisgruntled German WWI veterans

German “Revolutions” [1918]German “Revolutions” [1918]

German FreikorpsGerman Freikorps

Sparticist PosterSparticist Poster

The Spartacist LeagueThe Spartacist League

Rosa Luxemburg[1870-1919]

murdered by the Freikorps

Rosa Luxemburg[1870-1919]

murdered by the Freikorps

Karl Liebknecht[1871- 1919]

Murdered by the Freikorps

Friedrich Ebert:First President of the Weimar

Republic

Friedrich Ebert:First President of the Weimar

Republic

The Parliament

• Constitution established a two house parliament– – Lower house= Reichstag – Allotted seats to the parties in direct proportion

to the percentage of votes they polled in the election

– Positive: assured representation to minor parties– Negative: encouraged the development of a

multi party system which made it impossible for anyone party to have a majority

The Parliament cont…

– Upper house: Reichsrat– Consisted of representatives elected by

the parliaments of the eighteen German states

– It had the power to delay the passage of legislation but could not permanently block bills favored by the Reichstag.

The German Government: 1919-1920

The German Government: 1919-1920

The French in the

Ruhr: 1923

The French in the

Ruhr: 1923

The French Occupation of the Ruhr

The French Occupation of the Ruhr

The GermanMark

The GermanMark

The German MarkThe German Mark

The Beer Hall Putsch: 1923The Beer Hall Putsch: 1923

The Beer Hall Putsch Idealized

The Beer Hall Putsch Idealized

Hitler in Landesberg PrisonHitler in Landesberg Prison

Mein Kampf [My Struggle]Mein Kampf [My Struggle]In the book Hitler: gives a semifictionalized account of his lifeExpresses his ideas of:

• German racial superiority•German nationalism•Anti- Semitism•Anti- Marxism

Set forth what German foreign policy should beGermany was vigorous and growing country that needed lebensraum (living space

European Debts to the United States

European Debts to the United States

The Dawes Plan (1924)The Dawes Plan (1924)

Main Points1. The Ruhr area was to to be evacuated by Allied occupation troops2. Reparation payments would begin at “one billion marks the first year and increase to two and half billion annually after five years”3. The German Reichsbank would be reorganized under Allied supervision4. The sources of reparation money would include

transportation, and taxes

Main Points1. The Ruhr area was to to be evacuated by Allied occupation troops2. Reparation payments would begin at “one billion marks the first year and increase to two and half billion annually after five years”3. The German Reichsbank would be reorganized under Allied supervision4. The sources of reparation money would include

transportation, and taxes

Results1.Short term economic benefits to the German economy2.Softened the burden of war reparations3.Stabilized the currency4.Brought increased foreign investment and loans to the German market5.Made the German economy dependent on foreign markets and economy

The Young Plan (1930)The Young Plan (1930)

For three generations, you’ll have to slave away!

$26,350,000,000 to be paid over a period of 58½ years.

For three generations, you’ll have to slave away!

$26,350,000,000 to be paid over a period of 58½ years.

Timeline

1925- Paul von Hindenburg wins presidential election in Germany

1930- World Depression strikes Germany (Banks fail, foreign trade declines, factories close, millions are unemployed)

1930- von Hindenburg names Heinrich Bruning chancellor (Reichstag majority disagrees and Hindenburg invokes article 48 of the constitution which authorizes him to rule by decree)

1930- extremist parties make substantial gains (Nazis & communists)

Weimar Germany: Political Representation

[1920-1933]

Weimar Germany: Political Representation

[1920-1933]

Political Parties in the Reichstag

May 1924

Dec. 1924

May1928

Sep.1930

July1932

Nov.1932

Mar.1933

Communist Party (KPD)

62 45 54 77 89 100 81

Social Democratic Party (SDP)

100 131 153 143 133 121 120

Catholic Centre Party (BVP)

81 88 78 87 97 90 93

Nationalist Party (DNVP)

95 103 73 41 37 52 52

Nazi Party (NSDAP)

32 14 12 107 230 196 288

Other Parties

102 112 121 122 22 35 23

Nazis

• Fascist Party of Germany

• Won the support of the lower middle class and peasantry

• Voters were strongly nationalistic in their political views

• Most Nazi supporters were Protestant (German Catholics remained loyal to the Catholic Center Party)

League of Nations MembersLeague of Nations Members

Washington Naval Conference[1921-1922]

Washington Naval Conference[1921-1922]

U. S. Britain Japan France Italy 5 5 3 1.67 1.67U. S. Britain Japan France Italy 5 5 3 1.67 1.67

The Maginot Line

The Maginot Line

Locarno Pact: 1925Locarno Pact: 1925

Locarno Pact: 1925Locarno Pact: 1925

GustaveStresemann(Ger.)

GustaveStresemann(Ger.)Aristide

Briand(Fr.)

AristideBriand

(Fr.)

Austin Chamberlain (Br.)Austin Chamberlain (Br.)

Guaranteed the common boundaries of Belgium, France, and Germany as specified in the Treaty of Versailles of 1919.

Germany signed treaties with Poland and Czechoslovakia, agreeing to change the eastern borders of Germany by arbitration only.

Guaranteed the common boundaries of Belgium, France, and Germany as specified in the Treaty of Versailles of 1919.

Germany signed treaties with Poland and Czechoslovakia, agreeing to change the eastern borders of Germany by arbitration only.

Kellogg-Briand Pact: 1928Kellogg-Briand Pact: 1928

15 nations committed to outlawing aggression and war for settling disputes.

Problem no way of enforcement.

15 nations committed to outlawing aggression and war for settling disputes.

Problem no way of enforcement.

The Great Depression [1929-1941]

The Great Depression [1929-1941]

Paris in 1930Paris in 1930

London in 1930London in 1930

German Unemployment: 1929-1938

German Unemployment: 1929-1938

The Great Depression [1929-1941]

The Great Depression [1929-1941]

German Election Results in 1933

German Election Results in 1933

The “New Napoleons?”The “New Napoleons?”