In this document, you will find notes and a summary of the topic of Weimar Republic and Nazi Germany for history GCSE. It begins in 1918 with the creation of the Weimar Republic and the initial problems they faced after losing WWI. The notes then explore how Hitler cleverly made his way into power ...
Weimar and Nazi Germany Notes
The Weimar republic
The origins of the republic, 1918-19
Creation of the WR – When Germany’s defeat was imminent after USA had joined the allies, Friedrich Ebert
accepted the Armistice and announced there could be an election on 19 January 1919.
Weimar republic was set up in the end of 1918. No single party had a majority of seats meaning there was a
coalition government. They chose Friedrich Ebert of the Social Democratic Party to be the new president.
The constitution included:
Article 48 – president could make laws and keep Chancellor in office without support of the Reichstag
President – elected every seven years (also supreme commander of the army).
Chancellor – chosen by president and had to have a majority of the Reichstag.
The strengths of the constitution were that women and men could vote at age 20 whereas in Britain it was 21.
Chancellor had to have support by most of the Reichstag. Proportional representation meant that you could
get the number of seats based on percentage.
Weakness included: who had more power? – article 48 that the president could just easily pass any law,
challenge from the army – leaders of the army wanted the Kaiser to return because their status would be
maintained under him, proportional representation – there had to be a coalition government as there was too
many parties and it was also very easy for extremist parties and small parties to be in the constitution.
The early challenges to the Weimar Republic, 1919-23
The Treaty of Versailles – The armistice was signed on 11 November 1918, but it was not until 28 June 1919
that the Treaty of Versailles was signed. It included that Germany had to accept all responsibly for actions and
damages caused in World War One. This was truly unfair as it made all the other agreements harsher.
They had to pay reparations of £6.6 billion.
Their army could not exceed 100,000 soldiers and no naval vessels be greater than 10,000 tons.
All colonies given back to allied powers and Alsace - Lorraine was returned to France.
This whole signing led to the ‘stab in the back’ theory. From most Germans this was total humiliation. A
scapegoat was needed for losing the war so was blamed on Ebert and the Weimar Politicians and Germany
had not officially lost the war, so it was seen that they backstabbed the army. They also took great pride in
their army and it was so disappointing for them to see it collapse.
Challenges from the left and right – Several uprisings came to the Weimar Republic across Germany. Its
politicians were criticised for ending the war, accepting the TOV and introducing high taxes to better pay the
allies reparations. As a result of a British naval blockade, there was a shortage of food and inflation. People
wanted to take it in their own hands to change the government. There was an agreement that Ebert and
Groener (leader of army) made that they would support each other. This dependency on the army weakened
the authority of the WR.
The Spartacist uprising (Left wing): several groups emerged from the German Social Democratic Party. The
most radical was the Spartacist league led by Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg who had communist ideals.
In December 1918, the Spartacists’ demonstrations against the government led to 16 deaths. They then again
attempted on 6th January 1919 to create a communist state. They were however no match for the Freikorps
and Liebknecht and Luxemburg were captured and killed.
The Kapp Putsch (Right wing): they have a very right-wing belief. The cause of the putsch came from the
signing of the Treaty of Versailles with meant they had to reduce the size of the army, so Ebert the leader of
, the Weimar republic disbanded the Freikorps. Because of this there was a massive uprising. The leader of the
Freikorps and Wolfgang Kapp produced a plan to seize Berlin. This was successful, so Ebert told the normal
army to put down the Kapp Putsch but the commander in chief did not want to. The putsch collapsed because
Ebert told the people of Berlin not to support the Kapp Putsch and because trade unionists and civil servants
supported the Government they went on strike. Very few people involved were punished. Even after it ended
it showed how weak the Weimar Republic was and so many uprisings followed.
Hyperinflation – French invasion of the Ruhr:
1922: Germany asks for a delay in reparation payment – three years.
January 1923: French invade and take over the rich industrial region called the Ruhr as Germany
didn’t pay reparations and they needed to pay off USA debts. They take the goods and resources as
payment. The problem is the German workers go on strike and support the Weimar Republic. To
support the workers, the Weimar Republic, print money to pay them – the trigger of hyperinflation.
People with a fixed income found themselves penniless and were quick to blame the Weimar politicians. It did
however benefit: Businessmen who had borrowed from the banks, farmers as people now needed food as
there were shortages, foreigners who were in Germany could exchange their money and afford things that
many couldn’t.
The recovery of the Weimar Republic, 1924-29
Name What it was How it helped Germany
Dawes Plan – September 1924 Reparation payments were 1 1. More manageable and based
Stresemann realised that billion marks for first year and on how much they could pay
Germany couldn’t afford the would increase over a period of 2. Use the Ruhr for economic
reparations from the TOV and four years to 2.5 billion marks. growth like before
persuaded the allies to change Ruhr area to be evacuated by 3. Helped recovery and pay
the payment terms. Allies in 1925. reparations.
USA give loans to Germany to
help pay starting at 800 million
marks and over 6 years gave $3
billion.
Rentenmark – November 1923 It was issued in limited Restored confidence of the German
Hyperinflation destroyed the amounts and was based on people in the currency and the
value of German mark, so property values rather than following year the Reichsmark was
Stresemann introduced the gold reserves. back and a new currency back by
temporary Rentemark. gold reserves.
Young Plan – 1929 Owen Young a US banker came The reparation payments became
Even though the Dawes plan up with a plan and reduced the much easier and allowed the
reduced payments the German reparations from £6.6 billion to German economy to grow easier.
government were still not happy. £1.85 and over 59 years so 2.05
billion marks a year
Locarno Pact – 1925 Signed this pact and marked Because relations improved it
Stresemann was determined to Germany’s return to the means that the Allies started to feel
improve relations with France and European international scene bad for the harsh TOV and so were
Britain and to reduce worst and began a period or co- less harsh like reducing reparations
features of TOV operation. and overlooking them increasing
army.
League of Nations – 1926 Then in 1926 were given a Confirmed Germany’s return to
For the Locarno pact to go into permanent seat great power and Stresemann used
operation Germany needed to be his position in the League to being
a member of the LON. about the young plan.
Kellogg-Briand Pact – 1928 Agreed that they would keep Showed further improved relations
armies for self-defence and between USA and the leading
solve all international disputes European nations and full confirmed
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