An essential resource for students preparing for the Edexcel exam. This guide covers key aspects of Weimar Germany, from its formation after World War I to its collapse, and the rise of Nazi Germany under Adolf Hitler. It includes detailed summaries on the Treaty of Versailles, hyperinflation, the ...
WEIMAR AND NAZI GERMANY REVISION
Impact of WW1
11 million Germans fought in the war, with 2 million of them dying, and over 55% casualties as well.
The war also trebled Germany’s debt from 50 million marks to 150 million marks.
The German people also suffered because the British Navy blockaded the German ports which
resulted in 750,000 Germans dying of starvation.
Because of the heavy impact of the war on Germany, it was already crumbling from within and Kaiser
Wilhelm had already lost control of Germany.
German revolution 1918-19
The German revolution had begun in November 1918 with the Kaiser losing control of several parts
of Germany to riots and strikes. Some towns had even set up their own unofficial governments to
replace the Kaiser.
On 9th November 1918, the Kaiser was told by his own ministers to step down and he refused. But
eventually he listened as he had now lost support of the German army and stepped down on the
same day.
On 9th November, the day the Kaiser stepped down, Berlin was packed, some people were even
collecting guns. But the SPD(the biggest party in Germany) and their leader were in the Reichstag
and announced that the Kaiser had stepped down. They wanted to make the transition into
democracy peaceful.
The SPD were very quick to establish the republic. On 9 th November, the Kaiser’s chancellor handed
over his office to Friedrich Ebert, leader of SPD. On 10 th November, Ebert worked with General
Groener for the army to keep the communists out of power. He also set up the Council of People’s
Representatives to run the government until a new constitution was agreed.
On 11th November, the representatives of the SPD signed the armistice which declared the end of
WW1. They also signed the Treaty of Versailles and this was the government’s first major
international decision.
Setting up the Weimar Republic
Ebert took key steps to keep people happy with the Republic:
Civil servants were going to work alongside the workers’ councils to help the state keep
running smoothly and performing tasks such as collecting taxes.
He worked with Groener to ensure the German army was not reformed, instead it would be
used to help keep the Republic in power.
He reassured huge business owners that they would not take over land and also they would
not nationalise industry. This helped to run businesses smoothly.
He won the support of Trade Unions and worked for having an 8 hour working day.
Extreme political parties were still not satisfied and riots were still common. However, Ebert did get
enough control to set up the new constitution.
,In November 1919, Ebert announced there would elections in January to elect a National Assembly.
The National assembly would have the duty of agreeing a new constitution for Germany. The
elections took place in January 1919 and 82% of eligible voters voted. The biggest party at 40% was
the SPD whereas the Centre Party won 20%.
The National Assembly first met in February 1919 and had agreed the new constitution by July. The
republic they governed was now known as the Weimar Republic.
Strengths and weaknesses of the Weimar Constitution
Strengths:
Article 1 stated that Germany would be democratic. Women could now vote and the voting
age was reduced to 21. It was a system of proportional representation, where every 60,000
votes would have a seat in the Reichstag for a party. This was to help smaller parties have a
say.
The president had the power to choose the chancellor, who would normally be from the
majority party and dismiss the Reichstag. He could call new elections and control the army.
But a new president was elected every 7 years.
The chancellor could decide which laws to pass, but these would only be allowed if the
majority of the Reichstag voted for them.
The government now also had more power than it did under the Kaiser.
Weaknesses:
The proportional representation meant that no party had a clear majority. This led to parties
forming coalition governments(where parties join together) but this meant there were a lot
of arguments and the governments also fell apart quickly.
The lack of a single party rule meant that decisions during a crisis were now as swift as they
should be. Article 48 stated that the chancellor could pass laws without the vote of the
Reichstag which made the government seem weak.
It was based on violence. During the revolution, the army had to take control of public riots.
It was made out of violence.
Unpopularity of the Republic
The politicians who had set up the Weimar Republic(members of the SPD) had also signed the
armistice in the First World War. Therefore, they were always linked with surrender and the harsh
terms of the Treaty of Versailles.
The armistice was signed on 11th November as there was no alternative because America had just
entered the war as well. Starting the republic with surrender was not a good start.
Treaty of Versailles 1919
The Treaty of Versailles were a set of peace terms agreed by the allies. This was signed in June 1919.
The German population liked the idea of peace but the terms of the Treaty of Versailles were not as
, popular. This is because the treaty was a “diktat” meaning it was imposed, not agreed. The Germans
did not like the terms of the Treaty and opposed them, but any changes were refused.
Article 231 of the Treaty of Versailles stated that Germany were responsible for the war and since
they had caused the war, they had to pay reparations to victorious nations. To avoid starting another
war, their army size was reduced heavily as well. The Germans hated this.
Key terms of the ToV
Germany had to pay £6.6 billion in reparations.
They were to lose all their colonies in Africa.
Their military was reduced to 100,000 men, no heavy artillery. The navy was limited to just 6 ships
and 12 torpedo boats and no submarines were allowed. They would not be allowed an air force. The
Rhineland was also demilitarised.
Germany also lost land to other European countries. Furthermore, the output of the Saar coalfields
was to go to France. Altogether Germany lost 10% of the population as well as 13% of their territory.
They lost 50% of iron and 15% of their coal reserves as well.
Dolchstoss – Stab in the back theory
Another reason the Treaty was unpopular was because Germans believed their army had not been
defeated and instead they had surrendered. Critics said they had been “stabbed in the
back”(Dolchstoss).
Overall, the Treaty of Versailles left a significant impact on Germany. They lost a lot of their territory
as well as huge industrial outputs from the Saar coalfields. The reparations meant that their
economy would suffer as well. The people who signed the Treaty became known as the “November
Criminals” as they were the ones who had surrendered.
Challenges to the Weimar Republic
Germans opted to vote for moderate parties such as the SPD who got 40% of the votes. However,
extremists from both the left and right wing did not support the constitution.
Extreme right wing groups wanted a return to the traditional ways. They wanted capitalism and the
return of the Kaiser. They wanted their army back and supported business owners. They also valued
traditional German values.
Extreme left wing groups wanted Germany to be controlled by the people. They opposed capitalism
and wanted the nationalisation of all industry and land.
The challenge from extremist parties in the Reichstag was evident when in the 1920 elections, the
extremist parties won 20% of the seats each. During the 1920s, the moderate parties were
constantly being attacked by extremist parties.
Spartacist Revolt – a left wing uprising
The KPD was the German communist party and was funded by the Socialist party based in Berlin. On
4th January 1919, Ebert decided to sack a popular police chief which led to thousands of workers
protesting in the streets. The Spartacists saw this as a chance to topple the government and called
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