Flashcards in Development of Wiemar Government 1919-33 Deck (12)
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1
Q
Problems with coalition govenrments
A
- Caused by Proportional representation
- Weakened Wiemar Republic as there was no majority party
- Allows extremists parties were able to exist within the government
2
Q
Problems with the Wiemar Constitution
A
Article 48 threatened the stability of the WR:
- President allowed to pass laws at times of emergency
Proportional Representation:
- No majority, causes coalitions
- Allows extremists to exist within government
3
Q
Impact on Treaty of Versailles on armed forces
A
Forces reduced to: - 100,000 soldiers -15,000 sailors -6 battleships This weakened Germany as men became jobless, and G was surrounded by three countries and was unprotected
4
Q
Reparations
A
Had to pay £6.6 billion
- Class, social and economic divide even bigger
- Heavily relied on US economy Weakened its independence
- Hyperinflation of 250%
5
Q
War-guilt clause in Treaty of Versailles
A
Had to accept blame for the war which made Germany liable for war damage costs
6
Q
Wall street crash 1929
A
- USA recalled all their loans (this stopped world trade)
- Germany included - Dawes and young’s plan
- Trade in G increased
- Unemployment increased
7
Q
Munich Putsch - 1923
A
- Attempted to win support of Bavarian authorities & march to Berlin (failed)
- 4000 Nazis & Hitler Arrested
- Mild punishments (right wing bias didn’t want to lose support)
- Tried to take advantage of nationalists fury over ending of passive resistance
8
Q
Kapp Putsch - March 1920
A
- Disbanded Freikorps led by wolfgang Kapp
- Attempted to overthrow the govt.
- Ebert & his govt. Forced to flee Berlin
- Failed as lack of support from the workers
- Mild punishment
9
Q
Invasion of the Ruhr
A
- French & Belgian troops invade ruhr after default in payments of reparations
- Workers- passive resistance
- F&B + PR causes loss of money and materials for G
- Trade unions pressure Govt. to pay workers
- Govt. print more money to cope = hyperinflation
10
Q
Positives of hyperinflation
A
- Poorest gained - All debt written off
- G govt. debt significantly reduced (reparations)
- Radical groups failed to gain mass support
- Unemployment rate unaffected
11
Q
Negatives of hyperinlation
A
- provokes political unrest
- doubt with govt.s ability to handle crisis
- Poverty deepens
- Increasing antisemitism towards Jews (loan sharks)
- Class system disrupted
- Fixed incomes/ benefits/pensioners suffered
12
Q
political stability
A
- post 1923 govt. became more stable (no uprisings & no more were attempted)
- Stresemann - right of center (able to to gain more support
- parties dong well in elections (idea of democracy & weimar &gaining support so political stability