1. The Weimar Republic The Rise of the Nazis Life in Nazi Germany
Germany 1918 to 1939
The Weimar Republic
The Rise of the Nazis
Life in Nazi Germany

2. Doomed from the start? Task 1
Summary
At the end of the First World War, the Kaiser was kicked out of Germany, and in 1919 the Weimar Republic was set up.   Before 1914, the government of Germany had been a military autocracy; after 1919, it was a parliamentary democracy.
     The question is: was the new government doomed from the start?
Task 1
Explain why a German republic was set up under Friedrich Ebert on 10 November 1918?
Use pg 332 and 333. Talk about:-
The reasons why the revolution began
The reasons why Germans supported it
How and when the republic was set up

3. The Republic begins…
At the end of October 1918, the German navy mutinied. Rebellion spread throughout the country. In November Germany was forced to drop out of the First World War. Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicated and fled the country.
A new Republic was declared. In January 1919, elections were held for a new Reichstag and in February 1919, in the town of Weimar, a new government was agreed.
Freidrich Ebert was elected President of the new Republic.
Germany did not just get a new government. The Allies made sure that Germany got a different kind of government. Before 1914, the government of Germany was almost a military autocracy; after 1919, it was a parliamentary democracy.
Because of the Spartacist uprising the new government had to meet in the town of Weimar..

4. The threat from the left: The Spartacist uprising
As soon as the new German government was set up it faced its first threat. A communist group called the Spartacists immediately posed Ebert his first challenge…
Events of uprising
Background and aims
Task 1. Use pages 33 to 335 to complete your own version of the diagram opposite
Spartacists
Consequences (importance)

5. Were there any weaknesses in the new Weimar Republic?
Aims
Be able to explain how the new Weimar constitution worked.
Decide what were the strengths/weaknesses of the new constitution.
Begin to understand the impact of the treaty of Versailles on the new government.

7. Complete the following table using pg 336
Principle
Strength
Weakness
Equal rights
Proportional representation
Presidential powers

8. The treaty of Versailles
Use pg 337 to 339 to
List all the reasons why the Germans disliked the treaty. (Literally a list)
Explain how the treaty undermined the Weimar Republic

9. The Treaty of Versailles was hated…
‘Diktat’ that blamed them for the war.
Germans were also vulnerable and economically weak. Many were very bitter about lost land.
The new government was associated with this
The opponents of the government labelled them the ‘November criminals’
Germany could not afford to pay reparations

10. Source analysis
q. What can we learn from source 3 about the state of Germany after the first world war?
I can infer that Germany is was in a state of chaos at the end of WW1. There was threats to law and order from workmen and soldiers.
I can also infer that German people were suffering from a lack of supplies due to the allied blockade and that the situation was at breaking point.

11. Do Source 2 and 3 agree about the impact of war on Germany?
Agreement – Source 2 shows people so desperate for food they are picking through rubbish and source 3 agrees with this by suggesting there is a shortage of food. Both of the sources seem to being showing a desperate situation.
Differ- Source 3 however provides a lot more information as it is describing the whole situation. As source 2 is a photograph it only shows a small snapshot of the impact of war.

12. Why did the right wing pose a threat to the republic?
Aims
Be able to describe the threat of the Freikorps and the events of the Kapp putsch
Work on source skills, focusing on utility.

13. How close was the Weimar Republic to breaking point after the French Invasion of the Ruhr?
Aims
To be able to explain why the French and Belgians decided to invade the Ruhr in 1922.
Understand the reasons for and the results of Hyperinflation.

15. Goods The economy needs to be balanced in order to work.
The paper money only represents the wealth a country has.
Goods
Paper Money

16. Goods If there is more money than goods
then the value of that money decreases.
The government has to print more
so people can buy basic things
Goods
Paper Money

17. Goods The more there is of something the less it is worth.
The Germans were now millionaires but their money was
virtually worthless.
Paper Money
Goods

18. In 1922, a loaf of bread cost 163 marks. 
By September 1923, this figure had reached 1,500,000 marks
At the peak of hyperinflation, November 1923, a loaf of bread cost 200,000,000,000 marks.

19. Task
Using the information on page 341 describe hyperinflation in your own words.

20. Activity
Using the information on page 342 complete the activity on page 343.

21. Event
What happened
Importance/effect
Revolution October 1918
Kaiser forced to abdicate. Germans were war weary.
Republic created with Ebert as leader. New government signed armistice the next day.
Spartacist uprising 5th January.
Communists rebel against government. They were quickly defeated by Freikorps.
Showed left wing threat to government. The army given too much power (Freikorps)
The Weimar Constitution
New constitution that gave everyone the vote. Created Reichstag and presidency.
Although fair the constitution had many weaknesses e.g. Article 48 and proportional representation.
The Treaty of Versailles.
Germany have very harsh terms dictated to them
Greatly angers the Germans who party blame the Weimar government for the humiliation.
Kapp Putsch
Right wind rebellion against Government. A general strike defeated them.
Showed right wing threat. No support form army but Berlin workers saved governement.
Invasion of the Ruhr
French invade Ruhr to take reparations payment. Workers told to strike.
German people united behind the government. Had disastrous effects on the economy.
Hyperinflation
The German mark lost all its value as a result of overprinting and lack of goods.
Many lost everything. The government needed to take effective action…

22. How did the republic recover between 1924 and 1929?
Aims
Be able to describe the reasons the Weimar Republic survived its early setbacks.
To answer the key question ‘Was 1924 to 1929 a golden era in German history?’ concentrating on the role of Gustav Stresemann.

23. Recovery 1. Briefly explain who Gustav Stresemann was.
2. Explain what the Dawes plan and the Young plan were.
3. Why was Germany more politically stable?
4. Describe Stresemann’s success in Foreign policy.

24. Stresemann became chancellor in August 1923
Stresemann became chancellor in August He helped to solve Germany's economic problems by agreeing to start reparations again and ending the Ruhr strike
Stresmann helped negotiate the Dawes Plan in This was a loan of 800 million marks from the USA to help stimulate the economy
This was followed by the Young Plan in 1929 to reduce reparations
Because the economy was stable so were politics…
FOREIGN POLICY
More international agreement
Locarno treaty 1925
League of nations 1926
Kellogg Briand Pact 1928
POLITCS
Less extreme political parties
More agreement
There was a also a huge cultural revival. Germany became a centre for artists, musicians and filmmakers .

25. Dancing on a volcano!
‘The German economy is doing well only on the surface.   Germany is in fact dancing on a volcano.   If the short-term loans are called in by America, most of our economy will collapse.’
from a speech made by Gustav Stresemann shortly before his death on 3 October 1929
Stresemanns success is often likened to dancing on a volcano. The image suggests he was only just holding back Germany’s problems and that they could erupt at any second.

26. Dancing on a volcano Task:-
Have a look through the information on page 346. It questions just how succesful the ‘Golden age’ really was. There is a lis of problems that were bubbling away under the surface, ready to explode at any time.
Use these to create an illustration of Stresemann ‘Dancing on a volcano’