How successful was the Weimar Republic between 1918 and 1923? Learning objectives: LO1: To analyse what happened in Germany between 1918 and 1923. LO2: To assess how successful 1918 to 1923 was for the Weimar Government.

Success? Consider each point and then we will discuss whether it was a success of the government’s or not at the end! LET’S NOT FORGET: Weimar Republic= 1st ever democracy in Germany's history

Unification Bismarck Chancellor of Prussia Happening for long time War between Austria and Prussia Prussia’s Kaiser Wilhelm I became Kaiser of Germany Officially set up 1870 then French war

Effects of WW1 Naval blockade Spanish flu Kaiser abdicates- power vacuum Armistice signed Ex soldiers returning armed from war Kiel Mutiny- failure to put down

Can stop laws proposed by the Government but can not make laws German Constitution 1914 Kaiser Wilhelm II (hereditary monarch) Government Chancellor Ministers Reichstag (elected) Can stop laws proposed by the Government but can not make laws Electors Men over 25 can vote The Army Appoints Calls/Dismisses Controls

Weimar constitution 1918 The President The Chancellor The Parliament (Reichstag) The German People Elect Chooses Article 48 In an emergency the President can rule on their own.

In an emergency the President can bypass Reichstag. Article 48 In an emergency the President can bypass Reichstag. (used 136 times by Ebert!!)

Weimar constitution Strengths: Everyone equal rights PR- proportional Strong president keep control in emergency States keep some traditions Weaknesses: 1919 many enemies of state PR- lots of small, extreme parties President easily dictator (Article 48 vague) States hostile

Spartascists uprising Communists- wanted Russian style revolution Led by Rosa Luxembourg and Karl Lieberknecht January 1919 Freikorps put down uprising Showed weakness of government because Freikorps keep control

Kapp putsch Led by Wolfgang Kapp- Freikorps Government put down by general strike March 1920 Army not stop Very worrying

Treaty of Versailles Article 231- war guilt. Hated by Germans 100,000 soldiers in army, no air force, 15,000 sailors. Compensation- £6600 million 13% of land taken Politicians betrayed Germany- stab in back theory

The three crisis of 1923 Arguably the worst year for The Weimar Government Started with the invasion of the Ruhr Which caused hyperinflation The Nazi Party organised the Munich Putsch

The invasion of the Ruhr Germany can’t afford to pay reparations France and Belgium take over industrial heartland Government starts passive resistance- workers strike Gov not able to pay bills so prints more money. Means...

Money loses its value and goods become wildly more expensive. Hyperinflation A period of rapidly accelerating inflation where the price of goods rises continuously and dramatically. Money loses its value and goods become wildly more expensive.

Hyperinflation Gov not able to pay bills- prints more money Notes worthless Middle class worst hit- saving lost! Kaiser borrowed to pay for war- exchange rate fell T of V accelerated decline Stresemann stopped passive resistance Also introduced new currency

July 1914 £1 = 20 marks January 1919 £1 = 35 marks January 1920 £1 = 256 marks January 1921 January1922 £1 = 764 marks January 1923 £1 = 71,888 marks September 1923 £1 = 1,413,648 marks October 1923 £1 = 3,954,408,000,000 marks November 1923 £1 = 1,680,800,000,000,000 marks

The Munich putsch In November Hitler decided to overthrow Weimar government Took over beer hall meeting Kahr told government Next day 3000 Nazis stopped by armed police, Hitler ran Put on trial for treason- given 5 years served 9 months Wrote Mein Kampf in prison

By 1923, the Nazi party had 55,000 members Situation in Germany Hyperinflation and occupation of Ruhr Growth of Nazis By 1923, the Nazi party had 55,000 members The SA Hitler had a huge army of storm troopers Help Hitler thought he would be helped by important nationalist politicians in Bavaria. Causes of the Munich Putsch Stresemann’s government Stresemann getting on top of problems Crackdown on extremist groups The army had recently put down a left-wing revolt in Saxony. Hitler could see a crackdown on right-wing groups coming next.

After 1923! Stresemann introduced new currency- stabilisation Golden Twenties Nazis try to win power democratically, fall in support 1929- Wall Street Crash, The Great Depression Hitler becomes Chancellor

So what was a success? Weimar constitution? Spartiscist uprising? Kapp Putsch? Treaty of Versailles? Invasion of the Ruhr? Hyperinflation? Munich Putsch?

The Question How could the Nazis come to power in one of the world leaders at the time, could this happen in this day and age? Maybe in Britain?