Summary EDEXCEL GCSE HISTORY WEIMAR AND NAZI GERMANY -- 12-mark Explain Why Question Plans

Explain why there were challenges to the Weimar Republic in the
years 1919-23.

Treaty of Versailles

 Germans were very nationalist - War Guilt Clause (Art. 231) was
unpopular & humiliating for Germany

 Harsh reparation terms led to inflation & higher taxes.

 Weimar Republic inherited weakened state: Germany poor & facing
food shortages due to British blockade.

 Weimar politicians widely disliked & scapegoated for economic
problems caused by Treaty of Versailles.

 Called “November Criminals” for signing Armistice.

 Dolchtoss Theory spread and caused Weimar politicians to become
more unpopular.

 Therefore led to humiliation for the Weimar Republic and caused
public to dislike the new democracy.

The low standard of living led to demonstrations and uprisings

 Treaty of Versailles crippled Germany as they had to repay £6.6bil.
to the Allied forces  led to bad living conditions which created
resentment for Weimar Republic leading to uprisings.

 E.g Spartacist Uprising Jan 1919, inspired by Bolshevik Revolution in
Russia. Led by Rosa Luxembourg and Karl Liebknecht, who wanted
to turn Germany into a communist state.

 Threat for Weimar Republic as communism was an appealing
solution to some living in poverty.

 Another challenge: Kapp Putsch March 1920, led by nationalist right-
wing politician Wolfgang Kapp. Freikorps took over Berlin and
Reichswehr refused to fight against them.

 Demonstrated lack of control Weimar government had over
army  humiliating.

Economic problems caused by invasion of the Ruhr

 Missed reparations payments - France invaded Ruhr in retaliation
(Jan 1923)

 Not only did Germany lose significant amounts of money as Ruhr
was industrial zone now occupied by Allied forces, workers on strike

, or who sabotaged factory equipment as acts of resistance also
decreased Germany’s overall income as fewer goods produced.

 France response: 132 workers killed & around 150,000
expelled from Ruhr.

 However Weimar government encouraged passive resistance
& printed off more money to pay them wages  money lost
value very quickly  hyperinflation.

 Nov. 1923: £1=1,380,800,000,000,000 marks (1914,
£1=20 marks).

 Led to very poor living conditions + hatred
towards gov & uprisings e.g Munich Putsch (Nov.
1923) & rebellion of nationalist group “Black
Reichswehr”.

 Therefore Weimar Republic also faced severe economic challenges
in the years 1919-23.

,Explain why the Weimar Republic recovered in the years 1924-29.

Achievements abroad

 Locarno Pact (1925): keep existing borders between Germany,
Belgium, & France.

 Significant: marked Germany’s return to international
cooperation & prestige.

 Germany was allowed entry to League of Nations (Sep. 1926) 
further recovered in terms of international relations as they returned
to their powerful status

 Also allowed Stresemann to bring about the Young Plan (Aug
1929) & help Germany recover economically.

 Kellogg-Briand Pact (1928) along with 64 other nations: armies for
self-defence & disputes to be settled peacefully.

 Demonstrated Germany’s return to position as leading nation
& better relations.

 Therefore Germany recovered in terms of international relations and
prestige.

 Allies willing to renegotiate reparations  Dawes Plan (1924):
reduce reparations to more manageable amounts & agreed that US
would loan Germany money.

 US$3000 million loaned to Germany from US by 1930.

 Meant Germany could make reparations payments & avoid
repeat of invasion of Ruhr  no passive resistance = more
income.

 Also Weimar Republic able to fund public work schemes to
build new architecture, such as theatres and sports stadiums,
leading to cultural Golden Age.

Gustav Stresemann

 Became Chancellor of Germany Aug 1923 (during hyperinflation
crisis)

 Called off passive resistance in Ruhr.

 Less strikes = more income + government no longer needed
to pay wages to striking workers.

 Better relations with Allied forces = more open to negotiate =
economic recovery.

,  This, along with promise to Allies to pay reparations,
meant France & Belgium agreed to end occupation of
the Ruhr by 1925.

 Rentenmark (Oct 1923) money rose in value  stabilised
economy.

 Rise in value of money = increase in value of wages (almost
10% by 1928)

 Germany had some of Europe’s best-paid workers.

Culture flourished

 Germany certainly recovered in terms of culture in years 1924-29 --
Golden Age.

 Weimar artists tried to portray everyday life as part of new approach
of “new objectivity” (some famous artists associated with this:
George Grosz & Otto Dix)

 Significant: pre-war censorship removed & free speech
encouraged.

 Film, theatre, & literature also conveyed underlying anti-war
messages and a range of political views (e.g The Cabinet of Dr
Caligari - horror film with underlying anti-war message) - signals
Weimar Republic’s recovery from war & from their hatred of the
Allies.

 Suggests Weimar Republic was entering a period of peace &
recovering from soured international relations caused by
Treaty of Versailles.

 More women also entered work, became involved in politics, &
gained much more freedom socially than before the war (e.g Art. 22
in constitution)

 Overall Weimar Republic not only recovered culturally in the years
1924-29, but significantly flourished.