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German Revolution of 1918 and Kaiser Wilhelm II resigns
Kaiser Wilhelm II resigned as a consequence of an uncooperative military and the German Revolution, which was a civil conflict at the end of WW1 that led to the fall of the German Federal monarchy. It was replaced by a democratic parliamentary republic, known as the Weimar Republic. The Kaiser fled to Holland as the government power was handed to the Social Democratic Party. Image shows Kaiser Wilhelm II, the last monarch of Germany -
Ebert-Groener Pact
Wilhelm Groener assured Friedrich Ebert the German army’s and government’s loyalty in exchange for Ebert to stop leftist uprisings, create a National Assembly, and an independent army. Image shows Wilhelm Groener who was one of the main parties involved within the Ebert- Groener pact. -
Armistice ending WWI
Signed at Le Francport and ended fighting on all grounds; sea, land, and air. Was last signed by Germany. Armistice made between the Allies and Germany as an agreement to stop fighting, not necessarily to surrender. Image shows a new article that depicts the armistice being signed and a part of the world viewed the agreement. -
Spartacist Revolt
Began as a worker and left-wing uprising that wanted to destroy the Weimar Republic and create a communist state, like that what happened to the Soviet Union. The German army and Freikorps (volunteer military units) defeated the uprising and proved the Spartacist Revolt to be unsuccessful. Image shows the Freikorps in the streets of Berlin ready to fight the revolt. -
Bavarian Soviet Republic
Short lived worker’s council republic established during the German Revolution of 1918-1919. Sought to establish a soviet socialist republic in Bavaria; however, it was overthrown a month later by the Germany army. Map including the borders for the Soviet Republic, putting the event into context in terms of reach and impact. -
Treaty of Versailles and the results for Germany
Treaty written and ratified June 28th, 1919. Germany had no part in the drafting of the treaty, and was forced to abide by its contents. Germany was forced to give up territory to Belgium, Czechoslovakia and Poland, as well as return Alsace-Lorraine to the French. In addition to these territorial losses, Germany had to pay reparations to the allies totaling 132 billion gold marks. Political cartoon shows how Germany felt in terms of the reparations assigned to them under the Treaty of Versailles -
Formation of Weimar Republic/Constitution
Came from a new constitution that was signed by Friedrich Ebert, member of Social Democratic Party and President of the Reichstag. He became president after Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicated from the throne and with signing the new constitution, put an end to the German monarchy. Made way for the first democratic parliamentary in Germany. This end to the monarchy marked the start of the new Weimar Republic. Image shows Friedrich Ebert, the first president of the new democratic parliament of Germany. -
Kapp Putsch
A German Coup that was meant to overthrow the Weimar Republic on March 13th, 1920. This was caused by the republic’s intention to put a stop to two of the brigades. One of the brigades was able to capture Berlin for some time, before being stopped by the Government. Image from the Coup, showing the support for the overthrow of the government and the brigades. -
(Red) Ruhr Uprising
This was a left-wing worker’s revolt in the Ruhr region of Germany in March 19-April 1920. This happened in reaction to the Kapp Putsch uprising (right-wing). Map shows the path taken by the Red Ruhr Army during the uprisings. -
Rapallo Treaty
Signed on April 16th, 1922 between the German Weimar Republic and Russian Soviet Republic where they renounced any territorial/financial claims against one another. Picture shows the German and Russian Delegators who were vital to drafting and ratifying the treaty. -
Hyperinflation Crisis
This hyperinflation crisis began in October of 1923 due to the effects of the war and the increase in government debt. In order to pay the workers who were going on strike, the government decided to print more money. This flood of money led to high levels of inflation and the crisis itself. (this picture represents the large amounts of money that were printed during the hyperinflation crisis in the Weimar Republic of Germany.) -
Occupation of the Ruhr by France and Belgium
This was a period of military occupation of the Ruhr region of Germany by France and Belgium between January 11, 1923, and August 25, 1925. This contributed to German rearmament and the growth of radical right wing movements in Germany. (This is a picture of Belgium occupying the Ruhr in 1923) -
Beer Hall Putsch
The Beer Hall Putsch, also known as the Munich Putsch, began on November 8, 1923, and it was a failed coup by Adolf Hitler and other Kampfbund leaders in Munich, Bavaria. During this time, units of the Munich police force clashed with Nazi stormtroopers as they marched into the city center. (this picture shows all of the police and other people that marched to the city center in Munich.) -
Introduction of Rentenmark
The new currency of Rentenmark was introduced on November 20, 1923. The aim of this new currency was to replace the old Reichsmark which had become worthless due to hyperinflation. This was created by Gustav Stresemann. (This picture shows what the Rentenmark looked like during the time it was introduced.) -
Weimar Golden Age
This was a period beginning in 1924 when the economy boomed and cultural life flourished in Germany. Weimar enjoyed greater stability, economic security and prosperity, as well as improved living standards all the way to 1929. This happened because of Gustav Stresemann and Charles Dawes. (this picture shows the booming culture of Germany and the society at the time during the Weimar Golden Age.) -
Dawes Plan
This was an agreement between the Allies and Germany signed August 16, 1924. The purpose of this plan was to make it easier for Germany to pay reparations. Reparations were reduced to 50 million pounds per year.
this picture is a diagram of how money was being lent between the countries during this plan. -
Election of President von Hindenburg
Paul von Hindenburg was on the right wing and became the second president of Germany. He was elected during the second round of voting on April 26, 1925. Right wing people hoped that he would destroy the Weimar democracy from inside.
this is a picture of von Hindenburg -
Locarno Treaty
Formally signed December 1, 1925. The Locarno Treaty was a series of seven agreements between Germany, France, Belgium, Great Britain, and Italy. In this, they all agreed to grant peace in Western Europe.
this picture shows Stresemann, Chamberlain, and Briand during the negotiations. -
Treaty of Berlin with Soviet Union
The Treaty of Berlin was signed on April 24, 1926 in which both Germany and the Soviet Union pledge to be neutral and pause attacks for five years.
this is a picture of the signing of the treaty. -
German entrance into League of Nations
Germany was admitted to the League of Nations on September 8, 1926 under the Weimar Republic. This boosted confidence in Germany and increased nationalism.
this is a picture of the conference when Germany was getting admitted into the League. -
Grand Coalition of Weimar Germany:
1918-1929 a German unity government called the Grand Coalition was able govern Germany from the moderate center. The Grand Coalition was a political alliance primarily between the SPD, the Catholic Center party and the German Democratic Party. The image is of the Grand Coalition cabinet of Chancellor Hermann Muller. (1928-1930). -
Beginning of Great Depression
The Great Depression began in 1929, as a result of the numerous reparations imposed after they were compelled to accept full responsibility for the damages inflicted by WWI. The Great Depression marked the end of Germany's Golden Age, as unemployment and poverty rates soared between 1929 and 1933.The picture depicts unemployed men queue in Berlin during the Great Depression -
Young Plan
The Young Plan was an attempt by former wartime allies to support the government of Weimar Germany. It was formulated by a new committee, chaired by the American Owen D. Young, which met in Paris on Feb. 11, 1929, to revise the Dawes Plan of 1924. This is an image of Owen Young, the leader of the new committee responsible for formulating the Young Plan. -
Von Papen’s deal with Hitler
Von Papen wanted to regain his power from von Schleicher. He plotted with Hitler to have him ousted. Hindenburg was already frustrated with von Schleicher, so when a new government was proposed with Hitler as Chancellor, von Papen as Vice-Chancellor and a cabinet largely composed of non-Nazis, he asked von Schleicher to resign. This photo depicts Hitler and Von Papen together. -
Hitler becomes Chancellor
With Von Schleicher's government failing and Von Papen promising Hindenburg that he would be a “chancellor in chains”, the president made Adolf Hitler Chancellor of Weimar Germany in Jan 1933, He was the last. Adolf Hitler greets President Paul von Hindenburg at the state opera house. —Federation Nationale des Deportes et Internes Resistants et Patriotes