Past Paper Questions on the Weimar Republic and its reasons for failure

Past Paper Questions: Germany Depth Study

Key Question 1: Was the Weimar Republic doomed from the start?

Describe conditions in Germany after the end of the First World War. After the First World War, Germany was virtually bankrupt, due to spending too much on building weapons. Due to this, the country had an inflation and the food prices shot up. There were a lot of food shortages due to the British navy blocking the sea. People were virtually starving and the war had left a lot of women as widows and left children without fathers. Worse, there was a flu spreading across Europe, which killed more people than the war did; 30 million people died from the disease. Because of the inflation, medicine could not be created or be bought.

Why was the new Weimar Republic unstable up to 1923? Firstly, at the end of the war, Germany was in an unstable position. People were starving and food prices shot up due to inflation. Moreover, a flu was spreading across Europe and 30 million people died from this disease. This disease particularly affected Germany as she had no money to make medicines. People wanted the war to end and that the Kaiser to abdicate. The success of the new government depended on the German people accepting an almost instant change from the traditional, autocratic German system of government to this new democratic system. However, the German people were unaware of this sudden change and needed time to get over the change. Secondly, the government was very unpopular. The army was spreading the myth of the ‘stab in the back’ by the politicians. The German word for the myth was ‘Dalschtoss’. The politicians who signed the Armistice to end the war were called the November Criminals.. After that, Germany also had to sign the unpopular Treaty of Versailles. When the terms of the Treaty were announced in May 1919, people were angry because there was no mention of Wilson’s Fourteen Points. They called the treaty a ‘Diktat’ and blamed Fredrich Ebert and the politicians were blamed. Thirdly, the new Weimar republic faced a lot of problems due to attempts to overthrow the government. There was a serious threat from the Communist Spartacists, who launched their bid for power in 1919. Fortunately, they were defeated by the Freikorps, but there were other Communist outbreaks in the Ruhr and Bavaria. The Republic faced a serious attack from the Right with Dr.Kapp’s Putsch. Ebert was fortunate that the workers went on a general strike to defeat the putsch. The Republic faced huge economic problems and could not pay the reparations. French and Belgian troops entered the Ruhr. To pay for a general strike, the Government printed money and caused hyperinflation.

Describe the Communist threat to the Weimar Republic between 1919 and 1920? A Communist group, known as the Spartacists, wanted Germany governed like Russia after the October 1917 Revolution. The leaders were Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht. They tried to seize power in January 1919 but the revolution was defeated by the Freikorps and both leaders were killed. Another outbreak occurred in Bavaria but Ebert again used the Freikorps to crush the revolt in May 1919. Over 600 Communists were killed. In 1920, there was more Communist agitation in the Ruhr industrial area. Again police, army and Freikorps clashed with Communists. There were 2000 casualties.

Why was the Dawes Plan needed by Germany in 1924? Firstly, in 1919, Germany was close to being bankrupt because they had little money to improve their economies. This is because they spent all the money on the war. To improve the economy, they needed the Dawes Plan to pay to improve for their economies. So, employment could be increased. Trade also could start with the loans and they could increase their profits. Secondly, 1n 1923, Germany suffered a hyperinflation. The government was printing out more and more money. However, it made things worse. The value of the mark was falling rapidly and prices of food shot up. The value of $1 was equal to 1.4 billion German marks. They needed to get out of this situation and the Dawes Plan helped Germany. A new currency was introduced and Germany got a massive loan due to Gustav Stresemann. Thirdly, Germany had to pay a reparations bill of 6.6 billion pounds according to the terms of the Treaty. Germany’s attempts to pay these made things worse. Germany requested for some more time until her economies recovered. They refused and Germany could not pay the reparations in the given time. Due to this, in January 1923, the French occupied the Ruhr to seize goods from the factories and mines. Germans had a strike and due to this strike the German economy could not keep on going. The Dawes Plan gave a loan to help pay the early installments.

What were the main features of the Weimar Constitution? The Weimar Constitution was the first democratic government in Germany, formed in 1918. The President was the head of state and he was elected every seven years. When there was an emergency, the President had the rights to make a law. He could stop the Reichstag and head the government by himself. The President appointed the chancellor, who was like a Prime Minister. Everyone over 21 could vote for the MPs. The votes were decide by proportional representation. However, it made it unlikely that any party would overall control resulting in coalition governments.

Why was the Weimar Republic in danger of collapse in 1919-1920? Firstly, at the end of the war, Germany was in an unstable position. People were starving and food prices shot up due to inflation. Moreover, a flu was spreading across Europe and 30 million people died from this disease. This disease particularly affected Germany as she had no money to make medicines. People wanted the war to end and that the Kaiser to abdicate. The success of the new government depended on the German people accepting an almost instant change from the traditional, autocratic German system of government to this new democratic system. However, the German people were unaware of this sudden change and needed time to get over the change. Secondly, the government was very unpopular. The army was spreading the myth of the ‘stab in the back’ by the politicians. The German word for the myth was ‘Dalschtoss’. The politicians who signed the Armistice to end the war were called the November Criminals.. After that, Germany also had to sign the unpopular Treaty of Versailles. When the terms of the Treaty were announced in May 1919, people were angry because there was no mention of Wilson’s Fourteen Points. They called the treaty a ‘Diktat’ and blamed Fredrich Ebert and the politicians were blamed. Thirdly, the new Weimar republic faced a lot of problems due to attempts to overthrow the government. There was a serious threat from the Communist Spartacists, who launched their bid for power in 1919. Fortunately, they were defeated by the Freikorps, but there were other Communist outbreaks in the Ruhr and Bavaria. The Republic faced a serious attack from the Right with Dr.Kapp’s Putsch. Ebert was fortunate that the workers went on a general strike to defeat the putsch. The Republic faced huge economic problems and could not pay the reparations. French and Belgian troops entered the Ruhr. To pay for a general strike, the Government printed money and caused hyperinflation.

Describe the activities of the Freikorps, 1919-1920. When Communist Spartacists tried to overthrow the Weimar government, the Freikorps defeated them and killed the two leaders Liebknecht and Luxemburg. In March 1919, when the French invaded the Ruhr, the Germans had a strike, the Freikorps stopped these strikes. In May 1919 they defeated the Munich Soviet Republic. In March 1920 members of the Freikorps attempted to overthrow the government in the Kapp Putsch, but the attempt failed. In 1920 many of the Freikorps joined Hitler and the NSDAP.

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Explain why the Weimar Republic faced severe difficulties in 1923. Firstly, this is because In January 1923, the French occupied the Ruhr to seize goods from the factories and mines. Germans had a strike and due to this strike the German economy could not keep on going. Germany requested for some more time until her economies recovered. They refused and Germany could not pay the reparations in the given time. The French reacted by killing over 100 workers. Secondly, Due to the strike in the Ruhr, economies did not continue. There were no good produced, so no goods to be traded. The governments printed more money. The money became worthless. 1.4 billion marks were equal to $1. Prices of food shot up. Germany suffered a hyperinflation. Businesses went out due to bankruptcy. People lost their jobs and their savings. Thirdly, on 9 November 1923, Hitler and his Nazis marched into Munich to seize power. However, police came and there was short fight. The police killed 16 Nazis. Hitler was arrested and put into prison for 9 months. Because of its financial difficulties, Hitler believed the Republic was on the verge of collapse. Although it failed, the Putsch gave Hitler publicity.’