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German Revolution of 1918 and Kaiser Wilhelm II resigns
Because he lost the support of the military and of the German Revolution 0f 1918 underway, Kaiser Wilhelm II was forced to abdicate and flee from Germany to Holland. The power in the German government then went to the leader of the left-wing Social Democratic Party, Friedrich Ebert.
Picture: Anti-Spartacist demonstration by the German Democratic Party in Berlin during German revolution (1918-1919) -
Ebert-Groener Pact
Both in fear of the spread of communism, Ebert and General Wilhelm Groener made a secret deal for the army to support the budding government on the condition that the authorities of current officers would be upheld. Photo is of Friedrich Ebert, who played a key role in the pact (hence the name). -
Armistice ending WW1
Signed at Le Francport near Compiègne, this ended the fighting between the allies and Germany, the last of their opponents. This ended the fighting on land, in air, and on water. This is the final armistice but previous ones were made between the allies and other opponents.
Picture: Missouri Newspaper announcing the signing of the armistice -
Grand Coalition of Weimar Germany
1919-1933
In German politics, the grand coalition describes a governing coalition of the SPD, the Catholic Centre Party, and the liberal parties, the DDP and DVP. The goal of the coalition was to have a stable government, although it wasn’t successful as the KDP and Nazi party maintained their power, and the Nazi Party eventually was the only party in power
Picture: Ten years after their coalition: Willy Brandt (left) and Kurt Georg Kiesinger (center), with then Chancellor Helmut Schmidt (right) -
Spartacist Revolt: January 5, 1919 to January 12, 1919
After WW1, many Germans were starving and hated both the signing of the armistice and the terms of the Treaty of Versailles and were thus frustrated with the Republic. In January 1919, 50,000 members of the post-WW1 Communist party, the Spartacists rebelled in Berlin. Although the uprisings were crushed by the Freikorps, communists’ workers councils seized power all over Germany and even a Communist People’s government took power in Bavaria.
Picture: demonstration of armed Spartacists in Berlin -
Formation of the Weimar Republic/Constitution
The first elections were held in January 1919. 76 percent of Germans voted for the SPD, the Center party and DDP. The newly elected officials met in the city of Weimar to draw up the constitution and establish the three-party coalition. However, this coalition was short-lived as the parties changed for most future elections. Germans’ dissatisfaction and frustration with the end of WW1 fueled political instability in the Weimar Republic.
Picture: first meeting of the Weimar Republic coalition -
Bavarian Soviet Republic
April 6, 1919 to May 3, 1919
The republic was a production of the German Revolution and was overthrown shortly thereafter by the Germany army and Freikorps. Its collapse would ultimately serve to increase instability and permit for an easier path for Nazis to gain power. This photo depicts the huge range of land that became part of the republic (comprising Bavaria and some additional land near Germany’s west border). -
Treaty of Versailles and the results for Germany
The Treaty of Versailles was an extremely contentious agreement in Germany which many Germans hated and thus resulted in frustration with the Weimar republic and, in turn, fueled political unrest and instability. Specifically, Germans were upset with how the signing and agreement to pay immense reparations made Germany assume all responsibility for the war. Both sides of the political spectrum demonstrated their discontent.
Picture: American political cartoon illustrating Germany's reparations -
Kapp Putsch
The Kapp Putsch was an uprising in Berlin, led by Wolfgang Kapp and composed of Freikorps paramilitary members. Many of Germany’s own armed forces were in support of the uprising, making it difficult for the government to deal with.
Picture: the Kapp Putsch illustrated the elevated political tension in Weimar Germany; sign reads, “Stop! Whoever goes further will be shot at” -
(Red) Ruhr Uprising
March 13, 1920 – Apr 12th, 1920
The Ruhr Uprising was a revolt by left-wing workers and was in support of the Social Democratic party’s call to have a strike against the Kapp Putsch. Workers and Freikorps units fought heavily until the revolt was suppressed in April and is a sign of political instability.
Picture: Map showing the path taken by the "Red Ruhr Army", 17–23 March 1920. -
Hyperinflation Crisis: 1921-23
Germany decided to halt the gold standard for their currency to help with WWI, allowing the currency to diminish in value over time. When the French invaded the Ruhr valley after the war, Germany told the workers to go on strike and the government would pay their wages. Germany began printing more money to pay these people off causing the value of the currency to spiral down. This caused things such as bread to go from a few marks to a few billion marks.
Picture: graph of hyperinflation -
Rapallo Treaty
An agreement between Germany and Russia in which they both renounced all territorial gains against the other from WWI. The governments began working together and created a secret military operation which helped Germany secretly rebuild their military after the Treaty of Versailles.
Picture: Chancellor of Germany Joseph Wirth (second from left) with Leonid Krasin, Georgi Chicherin and Adolph Joffe from the Russian delegation. -
Occupation of the Ruhr by France and Belgium
January 11th, 1923 – August 25th, 1925
Because Germany was unable to meet an ultimatum to pay 132B gold marks to the Allied Powers, France and Belgium occupied the region. The image is from the US newspaper The Chicago Daily Tribune discussing the incident, and shows the international significance that it held.
Picture: Front page of Chicago Daily Tribune, 6 March 1923, announcing French troops killing four resisting Germans -
The Golden Age
Nov. 5 1923 to sometime in 1929
The Weimar Golden Age was a period from 1924 to 1929 in Weimar Germany a couple years after WW1. The Weimar Republic was stable in comparison to previous years with economic stability and security and better social conditions.
Picture: An artistic depiction of urban life during Weimar’s golden period -
Beer Hall Putsch
Nov 8, 1923 – Nov 9, 1923
The Beer Hall Putsch was a failed coup by the Nazi party, with leader Adolf Hitler during the Weimar Republic. About two thousand Nazis marched on the Feldherrnhalle, but were resisted by police, which resulted in 16 Nazi causalities and 4 police causalities.
Picture: Early Nazis at the Marienplatz in Munich during the Beer Hall Putsch -
Introduction of Rentenmark
To combat the hyperinflation caused by the excessive printing of the German mark, he got rid of it and introduced the Rentenmark, which was based on the price of gold and backed by German industrial plants and agricultural land. Furthermore, he set up a new state-owned bank, the Rentenbank, which restricted the supply of the new currency. Therefore, the German people could trust in German currency which also helped gain support for the republic.
Picture: the new Rentenmark -
Von Papen’s deal with Hitler (Von Schleicher replaces Papen as chancellor)
Upset of being replaced by his old friend, Von Schleicher (who had actually helped him become chancellor in the first place), Von Papen held secret talks with Hitler, concluding in a deal between them that he would persuade Hindenburg to make Hitler chancellor and give himself the position of vice chancellor. At the same time, he promised Hindenburg that making Hitler chancellor would make him easier to control as a “chancellor in chains”.
Picture: Von Franz Papen -
Dawes Plan
Originally proposed by Charles G. Dawes, an American banker, this plan was to help Germany repay their war debts. The Dawas plan stated foreign troops had to leave the Ruhr valley, reparations payments would start slow and get larger over time, and the US banks would loan Germany money in the form of Wall Street Bonds.
Picture: movement of U.S. loans/money between U.S., Germany, and France after WW1 -
Election of President von Hindenburg
The first election was held 29 March 1925 but needed a second runoff election on 26 April. This was the first direct election as the previous leader was indirectly elected. Von Hindenburg had a slight association with the right and his two major opponents were Otto Braun and Wilhelm Marx.
Picture: President Paul Von Hindenburg -
Locarno Treaty
These were seven agreements which divided up the borders and territories in Europe. They also stated Germany was not to go to war with any country again. The borders were divided into two groups, the wasters borders were non-negotiable and could not be changed while the eastern borders of Germany were still open to change.
Picture: Negotiating table of the Locarno Treaties -
Treaty of Berlin with Soviet Union
April 24, 1926
The Treaty of Berlin was a treaty signed between Germany and the Soviet Union, who pledged neutrality in the event of an attack on the other by another country for five years. This is important as the treaty reaffirmed the German-Soviet Treaty of Rapallo.
Picture: Signing of the Treaty of Berlin -
German entrance into League of Nations
Under the Weimar Republic, Germany was admitted to the League of Nations through a resolution passed on 8 September 1926. An additional 15 countries joined later, making the largest number of member states 58, between 28 September 1934 and 23 February 1935. This was important as it went against the Treaty of Versailles.
Picture: New York Times newspaper from September 9, 1926 announcing German membership in the League -
Beginning of Great Depression
A large economic depression which started in the United States with the decline and eventual crash of the stock market on October 29, 1929. This caused the entire world economy to rapidly collapse leaving many people without jobs and unable to afford food for their families. It caused the Dawes plan to collapse as Germany was no longer getting money from the US.
Picture: By 1933, unemployment in the USA was at 25 per cent. -
Young Plan
met in Paris on February 11th 1929 and went into effect September 1st, 1930
The Young Plan was a second attempt to renegotiate Germany’s WW1 reparation payments (from the Dawes Plan) and reduced the amount of money due to 121B Reichmarks. However, this short success was rendered meaningless by the Great Depression which shortly followed, and the rise of Hitler to power (who did not care much about meeting any Treaty of Versailles agreements). Pictured is Owen D. Young, who chaired the committee. -
Hitler becomes Chancellor
President Hindenburg made Hitler chancellor on January 30, 1933. Arguably, Von Papan is to blame for Hitler’s rise to power as he was the one who was desperate to regain Hindenburg’s favor after his failure as chancellor. Nonetheless, it can be argued that it wasn’t his fault since it was Hindenburg’s ultimate decision and the weaknesses of the government gave extremists a platform leading to owing the largest party’s leader the position of chancellor.
Picture: Hitler greets Hindenburg