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German Revolution of 1918 and Kaiser Wilhelm II Resigns
The German Revolution was a civil conflict in Germany at the end of WWI that resulted in the replacement of the German constitutional monarchy with a democratic republic, known as the Weimar Republic. Due to the German Revolution combined with a naval mutiny, the kaiser resigned on November 28, 1918, in order to preserve order. The picture below is from the German Revolution as Germans were expressing their discomfort with the monarchy. -
Formation of Weimar Republic/Constitution
The city of Weimar was chosen to draft a new Constitution, which was signed on August 11, 1919. The National Assembly met in the town of Weimar, had an election, and formed the Weimar Coalition, which later came to be known as the Weimar Republic. The picture shows where the constitution is being signed and where officials are meeting about the new republic. -
Ebert-Groener Pact
The Ebert-Groener Pact was an agreement between the Social Democrat Friedrich Ebert, and Wilhelm Groener, General of the German Army. They discussed the loyalty of the armed forces. This is a picture of Friedrich Ebert as he was about to sign the agreement. -
Armistice Ending WWI
The armistice signed at Le Francport, France, ended World War I between the Allies and Germany, which also officially ended the fighting of the World War. The picture below is from a news broadcast regarding the armistice that ended WWI. It was a big part of history, so many media outlets covered the story. -
Spartacist Revolt
The Spartacist Revolt was a left-wing uprising, led by the Spartacist League, which wanted to establish a communist state in Germany and destroy the Weimar Republic. This picture highlights a moment from the revolt, which shows how people were acting out against the government. -
Bavarian Soviet Republic
Formally established in April 1919, the republic consisted of a socialist council state within Bavaria during the German Workers’ Revolution (1918-1919). It was only prevalent for a month as it was conquered by the Freikorps & Germany military. Significantly its main purpose was to try and turn Bavaria into a socialist soviet republic. The image illustrates the different motives amongst the socialist council alongside the different representations of classmen. -
Treaty of Versailles & Results for Germany
The Treaty of Versailles was a international peace agreement between European nations involved in WWI. The conference would decide reparations' and diplomatic relations for future foreign involvement. Germany was unofficially decided the blame for the war and obligated to reduce their army to 100K, lost Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Poland and its naval colonies in the Eastern hemisphere.
The political cartoon is symbolic of how overwhelming the financial reparations were for Germany to repay. -
Kapp Putsch
The name of a coup de tat in Berlin against Germany's national government in order to overpower the Weimar Republic & undo the effects of the German Revolution in 1918-1919. Wolfgang Kapp, a Prussian nationalist had organized the coup to oppose the democratic system under President Ebert.
The image demonstrates the mass public support during the march and the rise in oppositional morale. -
Red Ruhr Uprising
The uprising consisted of left wing middle class workers in the Ruhr location of Germany as a means of support for the strike addressed by the SDP (Social Democratic Party). The purpose of the opposition was to suppress the right wing Kapp Putsch and to gain political power in the proletariat.
This image demonstrates the extent of force and aggression during the uprising through their use heavy grade military artillery. -
Dawes Plan
The Dawes Plan was an arrangement that resolved Germany’s reparations from World War I. It was significant in ending a crisis in European diplomacy and the Treaty of Versailles during this time period. This photo is significant because Charles Dawes was the individual who brought up the question of Germany’s reparations, which helped arranged the Dawes Plan. -
Rapallo Treaty
The treaty was a bilateral peace agreement between Russian Soviet Republic and the German republic in which both parties rebuked their economic and territorial claims from eachother. The treaty was mediated by Georgi Chincherin & Rathenau to ensure that both would agree to co operate with the intentions of maintain diplomatic interactions.
The image further elaborates on the details of the peace agreement and how Russia and Germany were able to find common ground through mutual enemies. -
Hyperinflation Crisis
The Weimar government was one of the main reasons as to why the Hyperinflation Crisis of 1923 occurred because of the printing of more money to pay the resisting workers within the Ruhr. The Hyperinflation Crisis saw prices and wages increase. This photo is significant as it displays the piles of banknotes which were awaiting distribution at the Reichsbank during the hyperinflation period, demonstrating the huge amounts of money printed from the government. -
Occupation of the Ruhr by France and Belgium
The military occupation of Germany’s Ruhr region which was enacted by the troops of France and Belgium. This occupation was settled by the Dawes Plan in 1924 which ended the situation in 1925. This photo is significant because it portrays the Belgium and French troops who were occupying the Ruhr region, displaying the perpetrators of the occupation. -
Beer Hall Putsch
Beer Hall Putsch was a failed coup which was attempted by Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party alongside Erich Ludendorff and other Kampfbund leaders in Munich, Bavaria. The purpose of this coup was to seize power of the Bavarian State government. This photo is significance as it demonstrates the Nazi Party in Munich during the Beer Hall Putsch, proving their authority and power as they look down on those in the crowd. -
Introduction of Rentenmark
The Rentenmark was a new currency which was issued by the Rentenbank, the bank that Stresemann created. The purpose of this new mark was to replace the old Reichsmark which was valued as worthless due to the Hyperinflation Crisis in Germany. This photo is significant because it demonstrates how the new mark, known as the Rentenmark, looked like and how it was structured. -
Weimar Golden Age
The Weimar Golden Age was a period of time in which the Weimar Republic enjoyed economic stability and prosperity as well as better living conditions. This era saw the economic boom and cultural life flourish in Germany. This photo is significant as it depicts an artist’s illustrated perspective of life in Germany during the Weimar Golden Age period. -
Election of President von Hindenburg
Elections held in Germany, Paul von Hindenburg was elected as the second president of Germany in the second round of voting, who was the candidate of a broad coalition of the political right. This photo is significant in showing the president elected, Paul von Hindenburg. -
Locarno Treaty
The Locarno Treaty is an agreement in which the Allied powers in World War I and the new states of Central and Eastern Europe wanted to secure the post-war territorial settlement. This photo is significant in showing the negotiation of the Locarno Treaty in Locarno, Switzerland. -
Treaty of Berlin with Soviet Union
The Treaty of Berlin was a treaty under which Germany and the Soviet Union pledged neutrality in the event of an attack on the other by a third party and reaffirmed the German-Soviet Treaty of Rapallo. This photo is significant in showing the signing of the treaty and the emember that were signing. -
German entrance into League of Nations
Germany was approved to be admitted into the League of Nations through a resolution under the Weimar Republic. Being part of the League is significant in showing Germany's conditions after World War I. This photo is significant in showing the other members of the League of Nations. -
Grand coalition of weimar germany
included the Social Democratic Party, SPD, the Catholic Centre Party and the liberal parties Democratic Party, DDP and People's Party, DVP. These parties had conflicting interests that united together for democracy against the extremists political parties such as the KPD and the NSDAP. lasted 2 years This photo is significant as it is a comedic take portraying the united coalition for democracy against the extremists political parties. -
Beginning of great depression
stock markets in America crashed. . Weimar Germany’s economy would also be impacted because of American loans involved in the Dawes Young Plan. America needed their loans back and gave Germany 90 days to begin the payment. Many companies in Germany went bankrupt and millions of workers were laid off. This photo is significant as it shows negative effects of the great depression. People are unemployed and do not have money for food and they are malnourished. -
Young Plan
American industrialist Owen D. Young, it was a revision of the Dawes plan and went into effect september 1, 1930. Germany’s war reparation were reduced to 121 billion Reichsmark which is divided up to be payed annually This photo is significant as it shows different perspectives on the Young Plan such as being against it and the German workers. -
Von papen’s deal with hitler
Von Papen was replaced by Von Schleicher in 1932. Von Papen wanted to regain the power he lost. He made a deal with Hitler saying that he can make Hitler chancellor by negotiating with President Hindenburg only if Hitler made him vice chancellor. This photo is significant in understanding Hitler’s success as it shows him and Von Papen on friendly terms. -
Hitler becomes chancellor
Von Papen convinced President Hindenburg saying that Hitler as chancellor is a good thing because it will allow President Hindenburg to control and keep an eye on him despite his dislike towards Hitler. This photo is extremely important as it shows public support of Hitler, revealing they agree with Hitler and his extremists point of views.