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OriginsoftheWeimarRepublic

9thNovember1918,Kaiserabdicated. Germanywasthrownintoastateofflux(chaos). 11thNovember1918,WWIended. Manysoldiers,sailorsandworkers(indifferenttownsandcities)setuptheirowncouncilstogovernthemselves.

Therewasapowervacuum(nooneincharge). AnewgovernmentneededtobecreatedGermanpeoplewerenotusedtodemocracy.

Electionswereheld. NewgovernmentfirstmetinthetownofWeimarasthecapital,Berlinwasinchaos.

TheWeimargovernmentwastheoppositeofthatwhichwentbefore.o Parliamentarydemocracy.o Germanywasnotreadyfordemocracy.

Militarywasfuriousthatthewarhadended;furywastakenoutonthepoliticians.

VictoriouspowersacceptedWeimarastherulingeliteofGermanyforeignrecognition.

GermanybecomesthemostdemocraticcountryinEurope.o AdultSuffrageforallover21(votes).o PresidentialsystemBUTday-to-daypoweristheChancellors.

Proportionalrepresentation(coalitiongovernment).o Difficulttoagreesoperceivedtobeaweakgovernment.o Compromise;nooneagrees,nooneishappy.

PeopleweresuddenlygivenALOToffreedomandpeoplewerentusedtoitsodidntknowwhattodowithit.

TheArmistice,11thNovember1918

Newrepublicsentrepresentativestosignthearmistice. GermansbelievedthatthepeacesettlementthatwastobeworkedoutwouldbebasedonWilsons14points.

o GavetheimpressionthatALLcountrieswouldbetreatedthesameway(e.g.allcountrieswouldbeexpectedtodisarm).

WhendiscussionsaboutthetreatytookplacetheGermanswerenotallowedtotakepart.

TreatywaspresentedtotheGermans,May1919.o Shockedhowharshitwas.o Leadersweretoldtherewasnooptionbuttosign.

WeimargovernmentwasaccusedofhavingstabbedtheGermanarmyintheback.

OpponentsofthegovernmentcalledthemtheNovemberCriminals.

EffectsoftheTreatyofVersailles,June1919

Germanswereangry.o Humiliated.o BlamedforthewarWarguiltclause.

Unfair,allmajorcountries(victorioustoo)hadhelpedstartthewar.

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Blamingthem(andmakingthemaccepttheyweretoblame)wouldjustifymakingthempayreparations(6.6billion).

o Armedforceswerereduced(smallerthanBelgiums) 100,000men;notanks;nosubs;6battleships;noaircraft;notroopsintheRhineland.

Germanycouldnotdefenditselfifinvaded.o Lossofland:

AlsaceLorraineFrance. EastPrussiaandSilesiaPoland. EupenandMalmdyBelgium. Lostaround4millionpeopleandallcolonies.

NotallowedtojoinwithAustria(verysimilarcountries).

o GermanywasnotallowedtojoinLeagueofNations.Protestsanddemonstrations!o GermanpeoplewantedtokeepfightingGeneralssaidtherewasnochanceofvictory.

o Nationalmourningwasdeclared.

PoliticalProblems:theConstitutionsanditsGovernment

FreidrichEbertGermanyspoliticalleadersinceNovember1918. WorkedhardtostopCommuniststakingover. February1919EbertisfirstpresidentoftheWeimarRepublic.

o Hewasmoderate.o Hatedbytheleft-wingcommunistsandright-winggroupswhowantedthearmytorule.

WeimarConstitutiono Verydemocratic

Allover20sallowedtovote Allowedallpoliticalpartiestohaveasay(proportionalrepresentation-%ofvotesgained=%ofseatsinReichstag)

ChancellorneededsupportofsupportofmajorityintheReichstag.

PoliticalInstability

Politicalweaknesses:o Presidentcouldappoint/dismissChancellorwheneverhewanted.o (Iftherewasanemergency)Presidentcouldsuspenddemocracyandrulewithhisownlawsandbackingofthearmedforces.

o Proportionalrepresentationunlikelyany1partywouldgainmorethanhalftheReichstagseats(overallmajority). Alwayscoalition,somepartieswouldagreetoworktogethertogainamajoritywhenvoting.

Notallpartieswouldagree;noteveryonehappy;compromise.o IntheReichstagtherewererightwingandleft-wingparties.

Wantedtodestroydemocracy. Middle(moderate)partieshadtoworkhardtoprotectconstitutionfromtheextremeparties.

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o Mostjudgeswererightwing Reluctanttodealseverelywiththosewithsimilarpoliticalviews

o 1919election: MostsupportformoderatepartiesorpartieswillingtojoincoalitiongovernmentsinWeimar.

Stillsomesupportforextremeparties.ChallengestoWeimar,1919-1923

Littlefoodafterthewar;Germanswerestarving. 1918,Germanywasproducingjustoverhalfthefoodithadbeforethewar.

Alliedblockademadeitimpossibletoimportfood. Manyreturningsoldiershadnohomeorjobs. Winter1918-1919,manysuffered.

o MadeworsebySpanishFlu;overhalfamilliondied. TheSpartacists

o Communists.o WantedtocopyRussia(1917)withacommunistgovernment.o January1919,attemptedrevolutionBerlin.

AgainstEbertsgovernment. Badlyorganised. RosaLuxemburgandKarlLiebknecht(leaders)onlysupporteditafterithadstarted.

Laterwerecaughtandkilled. UprisingwascrushedbytheFreikorps,over100Spartacistskilled.

o Manycommunistrisingsoverthefollowingmonths;allstoppedbytheFreikorps.

E.g.Munich SovietRepublicwasdeclared(likeinRussia). Foodandclothing;takenfromrich,giventopoor. Redarmywasformed. Freikorpsenteredthecityandkilledover600communists.

Attemptedtakeoversbytherightwing.o TheFriekorps

Afterarmistice,armyofficersdidnotwanttobedemobilised;nohomeorjobs.

WantedGermanytobegreatagain,restoreGermanpride. HatedCommunistsandWeimar(forsigningtheTreatyofVersailles).

Formedthemselvesintounofficialunits(usedweapons/uniformsleftoverfromwar).

EbertusedtheseofficerstodefeattheSpartacists.

Gavethemcredibilityandself-belief.o TheKappPutsch,March1920

Over5,000Friekorpsupportersledaputsch.

Freikorpsaremostlyunemployed

ex-soldierswithextremeright-wing

views.Formedthemselvesinto

unofficialunitsinGermany.

Putschisarebellion;an

attempttoseizepower.

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Seizedcontrolofthecapital;namedDrWolfgangKappasGermanysnewleader.

Governmentfled;workersstrikeinallessentialservices. Paralysedthecity. AttemptedPutschfailed.Kappfled.

o MunichPutsch,November1923 NazipartyattemptedtotakeoverinMunich. Hitlerwasincharge.

EconomicProblemsLeadingtoHyperinflation

Priceshadbeenrisingduringwar;continuedtoriseafterthewar. Whenfirstreparationbillwasannounced(April,1921)panictookover,ledtohyperinflation.

InvasionoftheRuhr.o Reparationsfirstpaidin1921,nothingpaidin1922.o Governmentarguedthathyperinflationwascausingeconomicchaosandcouldnotpayin1923either.

Frenchthoughttheywereexaggeratingthesituationsothattheywouldnothavetopay

SO January1923,FrenchandBelgiumtroopsinvadedtheRuhr(Germanysmainindustrialarea).

Intendedoncollectinggoodstothevalueofthereparations, Germanywasoutraged;workersintheRuhrwentonstrike(passiveresistance).FrenchsentinFrenchworkers.

Bitternessincreasedandviolencebrokeout.SomeGermanswereshotforrefusingtowork.

Over150,000GermanswereremovedfromtheRuhr.o StrikesintheRuhrmadematerialshortagesworse,priceswereup.

Governmenthadtoprintmorenotestokeepup(triedtocutdownthenumberofnotesbeingprintedbyprintinglargernumbersonthem).

o Pricesspiralledoutofcontrol.

ConsequencesofHyperinflation

Causedmuchsuffering.o Pensionersorthoselivingoffsavingswereworsehit(income/savingsbecameworthless).

o Workerssufferedaswagerisescouldneverkeepupwithprices. Employershadtopayworkersdaily(sometimestwicedaily).

o Landownerswereprotectedfromtheworseeffects.o Long-termloserswerethemiddleclasswithbusinessesandsavingsdestroyed.

o Thosewithdebts/loansbenefittedcouldpaymoneybackatatinyfractionoftheoriginalcost.

o Thosedealinginforeigncurrenciescouldbenefit.o Richbusinessmenwereabletotakeoversmallcompaniesthathadgonebankrupt.

o DamagedWeimarRepublicsreputation.

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HowfardidtheWeimarRepublicrecoverunderStresemann?

TheroleofStresemannasChancellorthenForeignMinister

Chancellor:AugustNovember1923. Foreignminister:November1923October1929(died). Mainlyresponsibleforthequickrecoveryoftheeconomy(late1920s). ResponsibleforGermanybeingtrustedbyothercountriesintradeanddiplomacy.

TherecoveryoftheEconomy

Newcurrency.o September1923,StresemanncalledoffpassiveresistanceintheRuhr;resumedreparationpayments.

o Newcurrency:Rentenmark(oldcurrencywasscrapped).o Governmentwasbecomingmorestable

Attemptedputsch(Munich,ledbyHitler)wasdefeated.o FrenchandBelgiumtroopstakenoutoftheRuhrin1924.

TheDawesPlan,1924.o Newreparationsscheme.o CharlesDawes(Americanbanker)investigatedtheproblemsofGermanreparations.

o DrewupaplanacceptedbytheUSgovernment. Americanloans(800millionmarks)weremadeavailabletoGermany(tobeusedtohelptheeconomyrecoverbybuildingfactoriesmorejobsandwealth).

PaymentsofreparationswouldbecalculateddependingonwhatGermanycouldafford(first4yearssmalleramounts;gotlargerastheeconomyrecovered).

TheYoungPlan,1929.o Extendedthetimetopayoffallreparations,haduntil1988.o ReducedamountGermanyhadtopay,2.2billion.o Nationalistshatedbothplans;agreeingtopayreparationsmeantagreeingtheyhadcausedthewar.

o YoungPlanwasdestroyedbytheWallStreetCrash;ledtotheGreatDepression.

o 1932,alliesagreedtocancelreparationpayments.DevelopmentsinInternationalRelations,19241929

StresemannrestoredGermanyspositionasatrustedtradingpartnerinEurope.

NotalGermanswantedtofollowhispolicyofcooperation;toomuchbitternessinthecountry.

StresemanngotsupportfromWesternEuropeancountries;afraidthatotherwiseGermanymightjoinwiththeUSSR(communists!).

o GermanyhadalreadymadefriendswithUSSR Hadsecretlysignedatreaty(1922)meaningGermanycouldbuildfactoriesinRussia(airplanes,tanksandpoisongas). AllofthiswasforbiddenintheTreatyofVersailles.

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LocarnoTreaties,1925.o SignedbyGermany,France,Belgium,BritainandFranceo AgreedtoaccepttheboundariesofWesternEuropeassetoutintheTreatyofVersailles.

o MeanttheFrenchcouldnotinvadetheRuhragainINRETURN

o GermanyagreedtheRhinelandwouldstaydemilitarised.o GermanyandFrancebothagreedfuturedisputeswouldberesolvedthroughtheLeagueofNations.

LeagueofNations,1926.o StresemannpersuadedtheLeaguethatGermanyshouldbeallowedtojoinin1926.

o Germanywasgivenaseatasapermanentmemberofthecouncil.o Leaguewasnolongerseenasaclubprotectingtheinterestsofonlyvictoriouscountries.

Kellogg-BrandPact,1928.o Over60countries(includingGermany)agreedtonotusewaragainsteachotherinthefuture.

o Memoriesofwarwerestillfresh.o Peakofidealismininternationalrelations(1920s).o Nothingwassaidaboutwhatwouldhappenifacountrydidnotsticktotheagreement.

TheExtentofRecoveryintheLate1920s

Politically:seemedstable.o Reichstagelections,extremeparties(communists&Nazis)hadlesssupportthanmainstreamparties.

o Coalitiongovernment(focusedontheSocialDemocratparty)seemedtohavetheconfidenceofmostGermanpeople.

Economy:seemedtoberecovering.o 1928,industrialproductionwasgreaterthanbeforethewar,o Worldleaderasanexporterofmanufacturedgoods.

WeimarGermanywasverysuccessfulinculturalactivities.o Strictcensorshipsfrompre-warGermanywereremoved.o BerlinrivalledParisasculturalcapital.o Germansledthewayininnovativepainting,architectureanddesign.

Bauhausmovement,bolddesigns/unusualmaterialso Alsobecamethecentrefornewplaysandoperas.

Weresomeunderlyingproblems:o StillpoliticalopponentsofWeimar.o ManywantedtoberuledbytheKaiser.

Shownin1925;presidentEbertdied;Hindenburg(criticalofthenewdemocracy)tookhisplace.

Greetedbycheeringandblack,whiteandredflags(coloursofoldempire).

o Supportforcommunismincreased(Nazisgotmorevotesinelections).

o EconomyreliedonAmericanloans(couldbewithdrawnatanytime).Hadtoberepaid!

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o Moreimportsthanexports(tradingataloss).o Alotofunemployed.o Foodpricesfell(1927)farmersincomereducedanddebtsincreased.

o Culturally,manycriticisedtheartisticdevelopments(decadent,unpatriotic).

o Berlin,famousfortransvestiteparties.o Perceiveddeclineinmoralstandards(cabaretshows,nightclubs)o SeenbysomeGermansascorruptandsexobsessed.

HowfardidtheNaziPartydevelopitsideasandorganisation(upto1929)?

LifeandEarlyCareerofHitler

1889 BorninAustria

1907 LivedinVienna;triedtoearnalivingasanartist.

PickedupideassuchashatredofJews.1914 JointhearmyinMunich;wonmedalsforbravery.

1918 Badlygassed;inhospitalwhenarmisticewassigned.BlameddefeatontheCommunistsandJews(stabbedGermanyinthe

back).

1919 Stillinthearmy.Joinedasmallextremenationalistgroup(GermanWorkersParty,

foundedbyAntonDrexler).

1920 Helpedtodraftpartysprogramme.Renamed,NationalSocialistGermanWorkersParty(Nazi).

1921 BecameleaderofNaziParty.

FoundedtheSAtointimidateopposinggroups.

EarlydevelopmentofNaziParty

Hitlerwasconvincedhecouldtakepower. UsedtheSAtobreakupopposingpartymeetings.Encouragedviolenceinthestreets.

WeimarsreputationwasdamagedbyhyperinflationandtheinvasionoftheRuhr.

HitlerwantedtocopyMussolinissuccess(leaderwithsimilarpolicieshadtakencontrolofItaly,1922)

DesignedtheNaziflag.

GainedcontrolofThePeoplesObserver,allowedthemtospreadpropaganda.

MunichPutsch,8thNovember1923o Munich,meetinginabeerhall(ledbyGustavVonKahrheadofthegovernmentforBavaria).

o Nazidemonstrationbrokeout.o SAsurroundedthehall.o HitlersaidhewastakingoverBavaria;wouldnextmarchtoBerlin.

Kahr(whenatgunpoint)agreedtosupporthim.o Consequences

9thNovember,Hitler(andwar-heroGeneralLudendorff)andabout3000supportersmarchedintoMunich.

SA(stormtroopers).

Someformermembersof

Freikorps.WoreBrown.

LedbyErnstRhm.

Memberssworetotal

obediencetoNazis.

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Stoppedinanarrowstreetby100armedpolice(hadbeencalledbyKahrtostopthemarch).

1shotwasfired,policeopenedfire. 16Naziskilled.3policemenkilled.Hitlerfled. Hitler,LudendorffandRhmarrested;putontrialfortreason(February1924).

Hitlerusedcourtroomaspropaganda. Newspapersallreportedthecase;readerswereimpressedwithHitlersnationalistarguments.

Onlygivenafiveyearsentence(LandsbergCastleluxury). CouldntbeharshonHitler;wouldhavetobejustasharshonGeneralLudendorff(noonewouldwanttoseeawar-heroputintoprison).

Onlyserved9monthsofhissentence. Wheninprison,realisedheneededtowinpowerlegally(elections)andnottakeitbyforce.

MeinKampf(MyStruggle)o Hitlersautobiography,writteninprison.o Selectiveaccountofhislifesofar.o Setouthismainpoliticalideas.

Germansareasuperiorrace. DictatorshipisessentialtobuildupthestrengthofGermany. Communismmustbedestroyed. GermanysnaturalalliesandBritainandItaly.

DeclineinNaziSupportDuringtheStresemannYears:Consolidation

ofNaziOrganisationinLate1920s Nazishadlostalotofcredibility. PartydidntdowellinelectionsduringStresemannyears. LocalbranchessetuparoundGermany.o Nationwideparty.o Supportfromworkers,farmersandcraftgroups.o Stilltriedtoappealtoworkers.o Unhappyworkerssupportedcommunism.o HappyworkerscontinuedtosupporttheWeimarRepublic.o Gainedalotofsupportfrompeasants.

Werentsharingtheobvioussuccessfromthecities. Promisedtohelpfarming. Praisedtraditionallifestyleofpeasants.

o Gainedsupportfromconservativesbycondemning(assinful)theWeimarRepublicsachievementsinfilm,art,literatureandmusic.

o Late1920s,SAwasenlarged.o SSwascreated.

JosephGoebbels:inchargeofpropaganda. SSagroupformedin1925asapersonalguardunit

forHitler.