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Weimar Germany

The Weimar Republic 1924-1933

Creation of the Republic

• Government put into place following WWI.

• Liberal Constitution– Freedom of Expression in culture/art

– Multiparty System (proportional representation)

• Initial Problems– Signed Versailles Treaty

– “Jew Republic”

• 1919-1923 is a period of crisis

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Attempts at Revolution

• January 1919--Spartacist Movement

– Communist Revolution Attempt

• 1920 � Berlin Military Attempt, Communists in the Ruhr

• 1923� Rhenish separatist movement, Hamburg Communists, “Beer Hall Putsch”

National Socialist German Worker’s Party (NAZI)

Rosa Luxemburg [1870 – 1919] ---------------->

Initial Leadership

• The Social Democratic Party is the most powerful, so they create the Republic.

• 11/28/1918 � Kaiser Abdicates Throne

• S.D. Party uses Friekorps (right wing paramilitary organization)

• Coalition Government formed � Social Democrats, Centre Party, Democrats (75%)

Structure of the Government

• President– Article 48

• Reichstag

• Reichsrat

• Federal System/Referendum

• Rights Guaranteed

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Important Presidential Powers

• Article 48– Allows president to rule independently of the Reichstag in cases of “national security.”

• President has the right to call for a referendum.

Friedrich Ebert:

First President of the Weimar Republic

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The Reichstag

• Main legislative body of Weimar Republic.

• Proportional Representation

• Universal Suffrage for those over 20

• Leader of most powerful party is called the Chancellor.

• If there is a vote of no confidence, a new chancellor will be named.

The Reichsrat

• Second house of Parliament.

• Regional governments appointed members to this house.

• Offered advise or rejected legislation of the Reichstag.

Federal System

• Each state was given powers over its own State Parliament.

• Controlled education, police, judiciary, and other local affairs.

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WHAT TO DO…

1. On the back of the sheet, rewrite, in your own word, what each article is saying.

2. When finished, your group needs to see Mr. Caulfield for discussion questions that you will answer as a group.

3. You will hand in one copy of the discussion questions.

Weimar Republic

Economics

Structure of the Government(Review)

• President– Article 48

• Reichstag

• Reichsrat

• Federal System/Referendum

• Rights Guaranteed

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Important Rights Granted

• Localized self government

• Economic Freedom

• Religious Freedom

• Freedom of Trade Unions

• Welfare– Unemployment Benefits, sick pay, etc.

Weimar Culture

• The Weimar Republic was the most FREE society in the world.

• “Unusually creative and diverse”

• Very successful for middle class.

Foreign Policy

• Gustav Stresemann was best-known Foreign Minister

• Signed the Locarno Pactthat allowed Germany to join the League of Nations in 1926

• Also sets boundaries in Europe (Focus—Rhineland).

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The Weimar EconomyThe Weimar Economy

Economic CycleEconomic Cycle

• Crisis, 1923

• Stabilization, 1924-29

• Crash of Wall Street, 1929

1923 1923 �� A Year of CrisisA Year of Crisis

• World War I inflates the German economy.

• Weimar Republic wants to give social services to Germans.

• Why is this a recipe for disaster?

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The French in The French in the Ruhr River the Ruhr River Valley: 1923Valley: 1923

Goal� Extract Reparations!

Autumn 1923Autumn 1923

• Nightmare for Germans– 90 billion marks for a potato

– Workers paid 3x a day

– No incentive to use money

– Rhenish separatist movement

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StabalizationStabalization

• In late 1923, harsh measures stabalizethe economy:– No more credit

– Quadruple interest rates

– 150,000 permanent civil servants laid off

– 750,000 white collar employess laid off (mostly bankers)

– Technology takes jobs

““The The GoldenGolden TwentiesTwenties””

• Period from 1924-28

• United States government invests massive amounts of money in Germany—Why???

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“We’re living on a volcano. If anything happens and these American short-term loans are withdrawn, pulled back, we’re in deep, deep, deep trouble.”

Gustav Stresemann

Former Chancellor

Foreign Minister

Effect of the Great CrashEffect of the Great Crash• America calls its loans in.

• German economy collapses.– Industrial Production down 31% (1929-31)

• 1932 � Over 6 million Germans unemployed

Unemployment

Year Number

1928 1,862,000

1929 2,850,000

1930 3,217,000

1931 4.886.000

1932 6,042,000

Bankruptcies

Year Number

1928 10,595

1929 13,180

1930 15,486

1931 19,254

1932 14,138

Remember� Weimar Republic provides unemployment insurance. What will result?

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LetLet’’s Take A Looks Take A Look

• Answer the questions provided by taking a look at the packet of information you have been given.

Closing Question

On a sheet of paper, answer the following question in complete sentences.

– Imagine you are a citizen in Weimar Germany during 1923. How did hyperinflation change your life? Why might you fee about a radical politician like Hitler?

PoliticsPolitics

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Political PartiesPolitical Parties• Nationalsozialistische Arbeiterpartei; Nazis (NSDAP)

• Deutschnationale Volkspartei;

German National Peoples’ Party (DNVP)

• Deutsche Volkspartei; The German Peoples’ Party

(DVP)

• Bayerische Volkspartei; Bavarian Peoples’ Party

(BVP)

• Deutsche Demokratische Partei; German Liberal

Party (DDP)

• Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands; Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD)

• Kommunistische Partei Deutschlands;

Communist Party of Germany (KPD)

These Conditions are Perfect for the Rise of Hitler!!!

Let’s Take a Look at How it Will Happen

Project!Project!