Recall & Recap What made the Weimar Republic sow weak?

Recall & Recap

1923 Hyperinflation 1920 Kapp Putsch – right wing enemies of the Republic occupied Berlin January Munich Beer Hall Putsch November The Spartacist Uprising (attempted communist take over).

1919 January The Spartacist Uprising (attempted communist take over) Kapp Putsch – right wing enemies of the Republic occupied Berlin Hyperinflation 1923 November Munich Beer Hall Putsch.

To what extent was the Treaty of Versailles at the core of Germany’s problems? Why did the Weimar Republic face such a series of crises in this period? What were the social and economic problems of ?

To what extent was the Treaty of Versailles at the core of Germany’s problems? Why did the Weimar Republic face such a series of crises in this period? What were the social and economic problems of ?

To what extent was the Treaty of Versailles at the core of Germany’s problems? Why did the Weimar Republic face such a series of crises in this period? What were the social and economic problems of ?

Prestructural: The point or concept has not been understood. The student may have a number of unconnected ideas but cannot distinguish relevance. Unistructural: One relevant idea is explained. Can separate relevant from non-relevant ideas. May be a couple of simple and obvious connections but their significance isn’t grasped. Multistructural: Several relevant ideas on the topic. Several connections may be made but their significance to the whole isn’t grasped. Relational: Understands and explains complex relationships related to the idea or concept. Understands relationship of parts to the whole. Extended Abstract: Shows profound understanding. Transfer takes place. Makes new connections. Can apply to wider contexts and new applications.

Economic Problems of the Weimar Republic The Occupation of the Ruhr (1923): The Treaty of Versailles ordered Germany to pay £6600 million in reparations. In 1922 the German government announced it could not pay reparations any longer. The French invaded the Ruhr industrial region to get reparations by force. The French took control of the Ruhr’s factories, steelworks, mines and railways. The Weimar Government could not defend itself because Versailles had limited the size of the German armed forces. The French shot 132 Germans and expelled 150,000 Germans from the region for refusing to obey the orders of the French military controlling the Ruhr. As a result of the occupation of the Ruhr and the resistance against it industrial production in Germany ground to a halt. Hyperinflation (1923): To pay for reparations the German started printing money but this caused hyperinflation because the more money it printed the more worthless it became. As a result of hyperinflation prices would rise, which led to the demand for wages to rise, which led more money being printed, which led to prices to rise more. The price of goods always tended to rise faster than workers wages. Workers were seen carrying their wages home in wheelbarrows. The rise in prices meant that incomes were too small to live on. People struggled to buy food, clothes and to heat their homes. People with savings in banks now found that their savings were worthless. People on fixed incomes like pensioners suffered the most. Only people who had debts or had taken out loans benefited from hyperinflation. Hyperinflation increased the unpopularity of the Weimar government.

Why was a period of crisis for the Weimar Government?

A BAD START Germany had no tradition of democracy and had always had strong leaders. Germans weren't ready for democracy. Germans had suffered very badly because of the war. Many were starving and many were furious at the loss of the war - they blamed the new government. NO AGREEMENT There were huge political divisions in German society. Opinion was polarised with extremists on the left (Spartacists and socialists), and on the right, (nationalists and conservatives) both getting a lot of support. There were many small political parties. WEIMAR CONSTITUTION Proportional representation meant that the lack of political consensus was reflected closely in elected parties. There were many political parties and frequent changes of government. It was very difficult to establish stability or even get laws passed. TREATY OF VERSAILLES The Treaty had been very hard on Germany and the Weimar Government had been forced to accept it. Many Germans hated and resented the loss of territory, the reparations and the war guilt clause It wasn't their fault but the Weimar government tended to get the blame EXTREMIST ATTACKS The Spartacists Rebellion 1919 The Munich Communist Soviet 1919 The right wing Kapp Putsch 1920 The assasination of foreign Minister Rathenau 1922 Hitler's failed Munich Putsch 1923 CRISES reparations crisis. France invaded the rich industrial Ruhr area in retaliation. Weimar ordered passive resistance on the part of Germans in the Ruhr. Weimar printed more money to try and solve the problem (hyperinflation) Hitler's Munich Putsch