Life in the Weimar Republic: Uprising and Inflation

Let’s Review Germany’s Treaty of Versailles Punishments… Loss of territory Huge reduction of military King must step down— Democracy must replace monarchy Acceptance of Guilt for WWI — ” Guilt Clause ” Reparations—Billion dollar payments to England, France, Russia, USA

Weimar Republic, what was it? Born out of defeat in WWI Weimar is the new Democratic system of government in Germany Named for the city in which the constitution was developed

Basic overview: 1919–1923 At first the Weimar Republic had great difficulties: Left wing rebellions All people were angry with it Right-wing rebellions and terrorism Invasion and inflation Munich Putsch

Loss of territory: Alsace- Lorraine, Poland Clause 231: blame for war, along with allies Reparations: Large amounts of money owed Demilitarized Rhineland; allies to occupy area until 1935 France to mine Ruhr for 15 years Military dramatically reduced to defensive use Europe, at 1919, with stripes showing territory lost by Germany and Russia

Problems Anger directed at the government for signing the Treaty of Versailles Economic problems as all profit is sent directly to the Allies as reparations pay-outs Rise of extremist groups attempting to wrestle power from the de-stabilised government The Communist Spartacists in 1919, defeated by the right-wing militia of the Freikorps 1919 Friekorps in Bavaria also put down the strengthening Bavarian Communist Movement The right-wing Kapp Putsch, defeated by a general strike

The Kapp Putsch (1920) Events: Putsch: A plotted revolt or overthrow of the govt Right wing journalist opposed Weimar Government Along with two key military officers (General Luddwitz and General Ludendorff) and the paramilitary Friekorps he seized control of Berlin and declared a new right wing government Government called on the people to organize a nationwide strike. The strike was effective and made the coup unsustainable Showed there was not universal support for the Weimar Government but some would still stick up for the government

1923 Gustav Stresemann Chancellor Aug-Nov 1923, then foreign minister Abandoned passive resistance in Ruhr; cooperated with France to avoid ruinous government spending Helped create new stable currency Stresemann became foreign minister, and renegotiated reparations and border disputes

Basic Overview: 1923–1929 The Republic survived and (after Gustav Stresemann became Chancellor in 1923) did well: Economic Prosperity Foreign Policy successes Cultural flowering

Prosperity and Culture

Germany’s reparations paid over a longer period America lent money to German industry and also to the Government to pay reparations German currency reorganised USAGermany GB & FRANCE loans Rep’s War debts *By 1929, German industrial output had surpassed its pre-1914 levels

Locarno Treaties Germany, France, Italy, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Poland met at Locarno in Switzerland. Signed a number of treaties to settle disputes between themselves 1.France, Belgium and Germany agreed to accept borders as drawn up by Treaty of Versailles 2.Rhineland stayed demilitarised 3.France would protect Poland and Czechoslovakia if attacked by Germany 4.Germany would not use force to settle disputes with neighbours

Other features of the Stresemann Years Golden age of German cinema Night life, cabaret Night life, cabaret Removal of censorship Removal of censorship Unemployment and poverty still high Unemployment and poverty still high Growing prosperity based on USA loans – Growing prosperity based on USA loans – what would happen if USA wanted the money back ? POSITIVES n e g at iv e s

#TheHaters Stresemann wasn’t popular with either the extreme nationalists like Hitler and the Nazis, or with the Communists Hitler disliked the League because it supported the Treaty of Versailles BUT both the Nazis and the Communists made little progress in these years because people were much better off and their EXTREME ideas did not appeal to peopleThere would need to be a major change to the economy for these extremists to gain power

The Beer-Hall Putsch Occurred November Hitler and his followers attempt a putsch in Munich 2000 supporters clash with police officers Police and government successfully put down the uprising, Hitler arrested and sent to jail 16 Nazis and 4 policemen die in the event The putsch really put Hitler’s name out there and showed he was gaining influence in Germany

Inflation in Weimar Germany

Understanding Inflation & Hyperinflation Inflation: Rise in the price of any good or service Hyperinflation: when the inflation rates exceeds 50% a month Germany in 1923 experienced 322% inflation * If a cup of coffee cost you $1 in 2009, by 2010 it will cost you $322.00!!!

Inflation in Germany According to the provisions of the Treaty of Versailles, Germany was required to make reparation payments for war damages. In April, 1921, the Allied Reparations Commission determined that Germany owed 132 billion marks (33 billion U.S. dollars), payable in annual installments of 2.5 billion marks. In 1921, the new German republic, known as the Weimar Republic made its first payment.

Inflation in Germany By the end of the war, the German mark had lost half of its value. People experienced this phenomenon as a doubling of the prices they were paying for goods and services.

German MarkYearU.S. Dollar $ $ $1 18,000 January, 1923$1 350,000 July, 1923$1 5,000,000 August, 1923$1 4.2 trillion November, 1923$1

Germany 10 Million Marks would buy: –1/2 lb. of meat or 4 eggs or 2 lbs. of potatoes –Bread was 2 million marks per loaf

Here we have a 1000 Mark banknote over- stamped in red with 1 billion !!!

Inflation & Devastation Leads To Change: Hitler in jail, sought a new legal way to gain power in Germany As living conditions deteriorate in Germany, Nazis are gaining some of the popular vote The poor economic conditions are now present for people to be willing to support those on the extremes of the political spectrum This, along with the poor decisions by new German Chancellor Heinrich Bruning and Franz von Papen created opportunity for the Nazi Party (NSDAP)

Heinrich Bruning Appointed the new Chancellor by President Hindenburg in March 1930 Thought he could stop Hitler and the Nazis growing power Saw what happened in Russia with the Revolution and feared the same thing would happen in Germany Wanted to move poor city families to the rural country to work Hindenburg did not like this a fired him He fled Germany when Hitler rose to power and became a university professor in the United States

Franz von Papen A senile Hindenburg chooses von Papen as Germany’s next Chancellor  He was a bad choice His friends described him as “superficial, blundering, untrue, ambitious, vain, crafty and an intriguer” To appease the Nazi Party he ended the ban on the right-wing SA (Sturmabteilung) who were the Nazis paramilitary group  This decision caused many communists to take to the streets and riot Violence broke out between the SA and the Communists (Spartacists) Because of this, along with the poor economy led the Nazi party to grow in popularity

Franz von Papen: July 1932 Election Von Papen held an election in July 1932… He was shocked when the Nazis gained 132 seats and became Germany’s largest elected party Hitler’s popularity had grown due to the shortcomings of the Weimar government as well as strategic propaganda and organized rallies which he promised a better future than the Weimar government could give Germany

Hitler 1932 Election Speech:

Weimar Republic Speech Assignment In this assignment you are the elected leader of the Weimar Republic right before the Election of 1932 Your goal will be to write a speech for the German people to try and gain their support in the upcoming election and defeat Hitler and the Nazi Party 1.In your speech you will have to highlight the successes of the Weimar Government during since it’s creation in 1919 as well as explain any failures or shortcomings Mention the work of your predecessors (Stresemann, von Papen, etc.) 2.You should also mention Hitler and the Nazis and other enemies of the Weimar Government and why they should not be elected 3.You should also mention your plan for Germany’s future and what you are going to do to help Germans if they vote for you

Your speech written out should be around 500 words min. (two pages single-spaced) (can be typed or hand-written) Can write in three large paragraphs if you wanted to with each paragraph covering each expectation Marks : Your speech will be marked on the following: Historical Accuracy and Understanding (understand material and implemented specific criteria) /10 Persuasiveness of speech (your speech will convince the German people to once again support Weimar Germany) /5 Total: /15