Weimar Weimar Germany and Germany and the Treaty of the Treaty of

Versailles, 1918-Versailles, 1918-19231923

Treaty of Brest Litovsk, March 1918Treaty of Brest Litovsk, March 1918

Germany defeats Russia on the Eastern front and imposes a harsh treaty on Lenin and the new Bolshevik government

War in the West, March 1918War in the West, March 1918The Ludendorff Offensive March 21The Ludendorff Offensive March 21stst

Germany launches her biggest attack since 1914 on the Western front in an effort to win the war before the US can bring pressure to bear. The gamble fails…..

War in the West, autumn1918War in the West, autumn1918The collapse of the Central PowersThe collapse of the Central Powers

September 29September 29 Bulgaria concludes armistice negotiationsBulgaria concludes armistice negotiations

October 3-4October 3-4 Germany and Austria send peace notes to US President Germany and Austria send peace notes to US President

Woodrow Wilson requesting an armisticeWoodrow Wilson requesting an armistice

October 30October 30thth

Turkey concludes an armistice with the AlliesTurkey concludes an armistice with the Allies

November 3November 3 Trieste falls to the Allies; Austria-Hungary concludes an armisticeTrieste falls to the Allies; Austria-Hungary concludes an armistice

November 7-11November 7-11 Germany negotiates an armistice with the Allies in Ferdinand Germany negotiates an armistice with the Allies in Ferdinand

Foch's railway carriage headquarters at CompiegneFoch's railway carriage headquarters at Compiegne

The Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicatesThe Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicates

On 9On 9thth November November 1918, Germany’s 1918, Germany’s wartime leader, wartime leader, Kaiser William II, Kaiser William II, abdicated and fled abdicated and fled to Holland. to Holland. Germany was Germany was declared a republicdeclared a republic

Germany’s New PresidentGermany’s New President

Following World War I, the Following World War I, the republic emerged from the republic emerged from the German Revolution in German Revolution in November 1918. November 1918.

Fredrich EbertFredrich Ebert, leader of , leader of the Social Democrat Party the Social Democrat Party (SPD) becomes the first (SPD) becomes the first president of Germany on 9 president of Germany on 9 November 1918November 1918

The Armistice was signed on The Armistice was signed on November 11November 11thth 1918 1918

Territory lost by Imperial Territory lost by Imperial Germany after Versailles 1918Germany after Versailles 1918

The left wing Spartacist Uprising in The left wing Spartacist Uprising in December 1918December 1918

Spartacists Spartacists (Communists) (Communists) seized control of seized control of Berlin in Berlin in December 1918December 1918

The Spartacists The Spartacists under under Rosa Rosa Luxembourg and Luxembourg and Karl Liebknecht Karl Liebknecht controlled Berlin controlled Berlin for a monthfor a month

Spartacist Leaders MurderedSpartacist Leaders Murdered

SpartacistSpartacist leaders leaders Rosa Luxembourg and Karl Rosa Luxembourg and Karl LiebknechtLiebknecht were murdered on 15 January 1919 by were murdered on 15 January 1919 by FreikorpsFreikorps (ex-soldiers) and the Spartacist Uprising (ex-soldiers) and the Spartacist Uprising collapsed.collapsed.

Weimar National AssemblyWeimar National Assembly

On 19 January 1919 elections were held for a National On 19 January 1919 elections were held for a National Assembly (parliament) Assembly (parliament) The National Assembly met in The National Assembly met in Weimar on 6 February 1919Weimar on 6 February 1919. . Their job was to write a new constitution for the new republicTheir job was to write a new constitution for the new republic

Versailles Treaty SignedVersailles Treaty Signed2828thth June 1919 June 1919

The Weimar ConstitutionThe Weimar Constitution

The National Assembly in Weimar presented their new The National Assembly in Weimar presented their new constitution on 11 August 1919constitution on 11 August 1919The new German republic was now known as the The new German republic was now known as the Weimar RepublicWeimar Republic

The Reparations CommissionThe Reparations Commission

In 1921, the Allies decided that Germany would have to In 1921, the Allies decided that Germany would have to paypay

£6,600 million£6,600 millionas war reparations to the defeated allies. as war reparations to the defeated allies.

This was the notorious This was the notorious War Guilt Clause, Article 231War Guilt Clause, Article 231

Problems facing the new Weimar Problems facing the new Weimar government also included:government also included:

Attacks from the Left wing and the Right.Attacks from the Left wing and the Right.

The Right wing supporters of Wolfgang Kapp in March 1920. The putsch failed

French and Belgian Invasion of the French and Belgian Invasion of the Ruhr in Jan.1923Ruhr in Jan.1923

Germany paid the first installment of Germany paid the first installment of £50 million in reparations in £50 million in reparations in 1921 but in 1922 nothing was paid1921 but in 1922 nothing was paidIn January 1923 French and Belgian soldiers entered the Ruhr and In January 1923 French and Belgian soldiers entered the Ruhr and began to take what was owed to them in raw materials and goodsbegan to take what was owed to them in raw materials and goodsGerman workers went on strikeGerman workers went on strike

Hyperinflation in Weimar Germany Hyperinflation in Weimar Germany in 1923in 1923

The German currency the mark, collapsed in November 1923The German currency the mark, collapsed in November 1923

In an attempt to solve the problem the govt. printed more money but In an attempt to solve the problem the govt. printed more money but the money was worthless.the money was worthless.

Hitler’s Munich Putsch Nov 1923Hitler’s Munich Putsch Nov 1923

In November 1923 Hitler’s National Socialists In November 1923 Hitler’s National Socialists attempted to seize the government in Bavariaattempted to seize the government in BavariaHitler was arrested and sentenced to nine months in Hitler was arrested and sentenced to nine months in Landsberg prison where he wrote Landsberg prison where he wrote Mein KampfMein Kampf