-
German Revolution of 1918 and Kaiser Wilhelm II Resigns
Definition: : Having lost the support of the military, and with a revolution underway at home, Kaiser Wilhelm II was forced to abdicate his throne and flee Germany for Holland. Power was handed to a government led by the leader of the left-wing Social Democratic Party, Friedrich Ebert.
Rationale: Newspaper of Wilhelm II is given to show the importance of Wilhelm for the Germans as it was the front page of news articles that aren’t from Germany originally. -
Ebert-Groener Pact
Definition: An agreement between the Social Democrat Friedrich Ebert, at the time the Chancellor of Germany, and Wilhelm Groener, Quartermaster General of the German Army.
Rationale: The picture shown is relevant as it shows the interaction between leaders due to the formation of the Ebert-Groener Pact. -
Armistice ending WWI
Definition: After more than four years of fighting and the loss of millions of lives, the guns on the Western Front fell silent. Although fighting continued elsewhere, the armistice between Germany and the Allies was the first step to ending WWI.
Rationale: This picture shows how important the war ending was as everyone has the newspaper out and are eager to spread this news all over the world. -
Spartacist Revolt
Definition: 100,000 workers went on strike and demonstrated in the center of Berlin. This demonstration was taken over by the Spartacist leadership. Newspaper and communication buildings were seized, demonstrators were armed.
Rationale: This photo is relevant to the timeline as it shows the number of workers participating in the revolt showing its significance. -
Bavarian Soviet Republic
Definition: The Bavarian Soviet Republic, or Munich Soviet Republic, was a short-lived unrecognized socialist state in Bavaria during the German Revolution. took the form of a workers' council republic.
Rationale: This photo is relevant to the timeline as it portrays the nationalism within the people involved in the Bavarian Soviet Republic. -
Treaty of Versailles and the results for Germany
Definition: The Weimar Republic faced one of Germany's greatest economic challenges: hyperinflation. Because of the Treaty of Versailles, Germany's ability to produce revenue-generating coal and iron ore decreased.
Rationale: The picture is relevant to the timeline as it demonstrates the harsh consequence of paying high reparation amounts due to the implications of the Treaty of Versailles upon them. -
Formation of Weimar Republic/Constitution
Definition: Friedrich Ebert, member of the Social Democratic Party/provisional president of the German Reichstag, signs a new constitution, known as the Weimar Constitution, officially creating the first parliamentary democracy in Germany.
Rationale: Picture of the constitution gives an idea of what it looked like and the German symbol at the time they used as their flag for federal coat of arms. -
Kapp Putsch
Definition: Attempt to overthrow the Social Democratic Party (SPD) government, carried out by army officers, Freikorps members and right-wing nationalists.
Rationale: This image is relevant to the timeline as it shows the formation and relationships of the Kapp Putsch in the attempt to overthrow the SPD. -
(Red) Ruhr Uprising
Definition: Ruhr Army defeated the Freikorps and regular army units in the area and started the uprising. The government sent in regular and paramilitary forces, killing an estimated 1,000 workers, and suppressing the revolt. Up to April 12th, 1920.
Rationale: This photo is relevant to the timeline as the uprising shows how civilians were treated almost as army soldiers with strict rulings in the Ruhr Uprising. -
Rapallo Treaty
Definition: The Treaty of Rapallo was an agreement signed between the German Republic and Soviet Russia were both renounced all territorial and financial claims against each other and opened friendly diplomatic relations.
Rationale: This photo is relevant to the timeline as it shows all the officials that agreed to initiate an sign the treaty of Rapallo to renounce certain claims. -
Hyperinflation Crisis
Definition: It caused considerable internal political instability in the country, the occupation of the Ruhr by France and Belgium as well as misery for the general populace. This occurred after Germany missed reparations.
Rationale: This photo is relevant to the timeline as it shows how worthless the money is as the children are able to play with stacks of it. -
Weimar Golden Age
Definition: It is a time when the Weimar Republic enjoyed greater stability, economic security, and prosperity, as well as improved living standards, at least in relation to previous years. Up to 1929.
Rationale: This photo is relevant to the timeline as it provides a sense of how calm everything was and how the Republic experienced a period of stability. -
Occupation of the Ruhr by France and Belgium
Definition: In response to the lack of payment of reparations, France and Belgium invaded the Ruhr. The Ruhr was a region of Germany which contained resources such as factories. Up to August 25th, 1925.
Rationale: This photo is relevant to the timeline as it shows the revolt and the amount of power of France and Belgium had within the revolt. -
Beer Hall Putsch
Definition: Also known as the Munich Putsch, was a failed coup d'état by Nazi Party leader Adolf Hitler, General Quartiermeister Erich Ludendorff and other Kampfbund leaders in Munich, Bavaria. Up to the 9th of November.
Rationale: This photo is relevant to the timeline as it shows the soldiers fighting but failing so they had to get in their trucks and depart. -
Introduction of Rentenmark
Definition: A new currency. It was backed by a mortgage on the entire industrial and agricultural resources of the country. And the process of stabilization was painful for Germany.
Rationale: This photo is relevant to the timeline as it gives an idea of what the new currency was like. -
Dawes Plan
Definition: The Dawes Plan successfully resolved the issue of WWI reparations that Germany had to pay. It ended a crisis in European diplomacy following World War I and the Treaty of Versailles.
Rationale: This photo is relevant to the timeline as it gives a small summary of the Dawes plan in a way that is easy to comprehend what had occurred. -
Election of President von Hindenburg
Definition: After the death of Friedrich Ebert, Hindenburg was elected the republic's second president, despite his professed monarchism.
Rationale: The photo is relevant to the timeline as it shows the new president (Hindenburg) taking control and making new plans and actions. -
Locarno Treaty
Definition: The treaty guaranteed Germany's western frontier, which the bordering states of France, Germany, and Belgium pledged to treat as inviolable. Britain and Italy committed himself to repel armed aggression.
Rationale: This photo is relevant to the timeline as it shows the 3 officials together in discussion of the initiation of the Locarno treaty. -
German entrance into League of Nations
Definition: Germany was not an original member of the League of Nations when it was established in 1920. Joined in 1926 remained a member until Adolf Hitler withdrew the country from the League in 1933.
Rationale: This image is significant to our definition because it shows how prioritized the entrance of Germany into the League of Nations was due to the propaganda and press surfacing it to the public. -
Treaty of Berlin with Soviet Union
Definition: Germany and the Soviet Union pledged neutrality in the event of an attack on the other by a third party for five years. The treaty reaffirmed the German-Soviet Treaty of Rapallo.
Rationale: This image is significant to our definition because it depicts the role of higher powers in government working together to finalize terms of the Treaty of Berlin. -
Grand Coalition of Weimar Germany
Definition: The term "grand coalition" was used for a coalition that included the Social Democratic Party, SPD, the Catholic Centre Party, and the liberal parties Democratic Party, DDP and People's Party, DVP. Up to March 1930.
Rationale: This image is significant to our definition because it portrays the officiality of the grand coalition and parties involved in making coalition decisions. -
Young Plan
Definition: Young, the head of General Electric and a member of the Dawes committee, proposed a plan that reduced the total amount of reparations demanded of Germany to 121 billion gold marks, almost $29 billion, payable over 58 years.
Rationale: This image is significant to our definition because it shows who is at the head of the Young plan while depicting him as a model higher power. -
Beginning of Great Depression
Definition: In all, began after the stock market crash of October 1929, which sent Wall Street into a panic and wiped-out millions of investors. Consumer spending dropped as well. Up to 1939.
Rationale: This image is significant to our definition because it portrays the effect that the depression had on everyone's life, that being to cause a feeling of shock and confusion as to how this event in history can be overcome. -
Von Papen’s deal with Hitler
Definition: Hitler presented to the cabinet an article 48 decree law that had been drafted by Papen in November 1932 allowing the police to take people into "protective custody" without charges.
Rationale: This image is significant to our definition because it shows a connection formed between political figures and how this relationship essentially will further affect the current society of this time frame. -
Hitler becomes Chancellor
Definition: Following several backroom negotiations—industrialists, Hindenburg's son, the former chancellor Franz von Papen, and Hitler—Hindenburg appointed Adolf Hitler as Germany's new chancellor.
Rationale: This image is significant to our definition as it shows authority and power is being passed down to someone who, through the perspective of others, was trusted by society.