Weimarer Republik

A German Republic Wilson demands representative gov’t in Germany prior to Armistice Kaiser Wilhelm II (grandson Queen Victoria) abdicates November 9, 1918 June 1919 Treaty of Versailles signed and creates the Weimar Republic Most Germans upset with government signing the treaty; riots and rebellions all over Germany

Weimar Republic A national assembly adopts new constitution after meeting at Weimar, Germany from Feb. 6 to Aug. 11, 1919 No name for the new country gains any widespread acceptance Commonly called “Deutsches Reich”; the pre-1918 Imperial name (German Reich) After 1933 called Weimar Republic

Weimar Republic Lasted 14 years Head of state: president, elected for seven years Nominate Chancellor Dissolve Reichstag Veto Reichstag laws Commander of armed forces Declare state of emergency and rule by decree Reichstag Large number of political parties, 20 different coalition governments over 14 years Von Hindenburg elected President 1925 (served until death 1934, influential in Hitler’s rise to power)

Political Parties Republic Left Right 4 main SPD-Social Democrats, largest Zentrum-set up in 1870 to defend Catholic interests, in every government until 1933 Left 2 main KPD-Communists Right NSDAP-founded 1919, at first violent, eventual works within government, 1930 won 18% vote, 1932 largest party in Reichstag

Hyperinflation Extremely rapid price increases and erosion of the value of the local currency April 1919 it costs 12 Marks to buy 1 US dollar, December 1923 it costs 4.2 trillion marks Early 1919 a loaf of bread costs 1 mark, by 1923 the same loaf of bread is 100 billion marks

Gustav Stresemann Chancellor August 1923, Foreign Minister November 1923-October 1929 Germany had defaulted on reparations; he set up with GB, Fr, and US a revision of the reparation terms Massive loans for next five years from US, allowed reparation payments and eased inflation

Depression 1929 to 1939 Stock market crash October 1929 Banks need capital, loans called in 33% unemployment People turn to Nazi and Communist parties, they both win big in 1930 election Inflation returns (not quite as bad)

Heinrich Bruning Chancellor 1930-1932 Increased taxes, reduced salaries, reduced unemployment assistance Many laws had to be enacted under emergency powers Bruning replaced as chancellor 1932 Election of 1932 saw rise of Communists in Reichstag, alarms many in govt and industry January 30, 1933 Adolph Hitler apptd Chancellor by President Hindenburg