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Formation of Weimar Republic/Constitution
The first elections for the new democratic parliamentary republic government in Germany. This resulted with an SPD majority with Friedrich Ebert as the first elected president after the end of WWI. This led to the creation of the constitution which was revised and finally approved on Aug. 11, 1919. The image represents the symbol of the Weimar Republic. -
Ebert-Groener Pact
As the first German elected president, Friedrich Ebert made an agreement with Wilhelm Groener In this agreement, Ebert gained a promise of an army and Groener received the word of not being disbanded or interfered in the Reichswehr, as he was a member. As a result, the Freikorps was established and controversy spread as many socialists viewed this as an act against their values and beliefs. In the image, the new president Ebert is working on his duties as the ruler of Weimar Germany. -
German Revolution of 1918 and Kaiser Wilhelm II Resigns
With the end of the First World War, Germans wanted to replace the federal constitutional monarchy with a democratic parliamentary republic. The series of mutiny and public unrest caused Kaiser Wilhelm II to abdicate after fleeing away from Germany. Additionally, the new government became known as the Weimar Republic with elected officials. The image represents the former ruler of Germany that was replaced soon after the war. -
Armistice ending WWI
After the abdication of the Kaiser and the conclusion of the war, the Allies and the Central Power including Germany went forward with the first step of regaining balance with the armistice. The image demonstrates the spread of the news as it was after an exhausted war that was filled with casualties and difficulties. -
Spartacist Revolt
Extremists from the communist party (KDP) aimed to remove capitalism from Germany. This event took place for over a week in Berlin as the extremists barricaded themselves within buildings. The Friekorps (paramilitary force) prevented the communist’s attempt at a revolution which would have resulted in overthrowing the government. Additionally, the Spartacist leaders Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht, the people depicted in the image, were killed as a result. -
Bavarian Soviet Republic
The Republic was a socialist state that was established to create a worker council. It was created after the People’s State of Bavaria under Kurt Eisner collapsed. The Republic didn’t last long as it was overthrown after a month by Freikorps. The image demonstrates the use of violence which resulted in the death of 606 people and several prisoners. -
Treaty of Versailles and the results for German
After the Treaty of Versailles was signed, the Germans were left to face the consequences due to the war guilt clause which placed the blame of the war on Germany. This is significant because like in the image, there were many disagreements with the Weimar Republic due to the agreement as there was heavy reparations to pay, limited military, and overall discontent as Germans had a different perspective of the war due to propaganda. -
Kapp Putsch
In Berlin, troops from Freikorps marched to take over which succeeded under Wolfgang Kapp for authoritarian government. This was in response to the Weimar Republic that lacked authority which can be noted from the German military’s denial to attack them. However, this failed due to the strike that spread as seen in the image and caused Kapp to flee from the city. -
(Red) Ruhr Uprising
Workers in the Ruhr region of Germany revolted with a strike due to the right-wing Kapp Putsch that took place beforehand, as depicted in the image of a gathering taking place. The Friekorps were used to prevent the uprising from increasing to a larger scale. Additionally, this caused the deaths of over 1,000 workers and prisoners were also executed as a result. -
Rapallo Treaty
After the First World War, the relationship between Germany and Soviet Russia was strengthened as the treaty was created. This renounced the territories and financial claims from previous treaties and established an economic and military agreement secretly as depicted in the image. This is important because it goes against the Treaty of Versailles which banned military advancement beyond limit and this will eventually aid in the start of the Second World War. -
Occupation of the Ruhr by France and Belgium
Due to the fear of nationalism and opposition spreading in Germany regarding the end of the First World War, especially the reparations, French and Belgian officials occupied Ruhr. As seen in the image, they look over by delaying telephone poles, controlling mines and factories. After negotiating with Allies, the French and Belgian troops agreed to leave a year later; however the consequences were already in place as the economy had faced inflation and loss of value in the currency. -
Hyperinflation Crisis
The hyperinflation in Germany originated as a result of many issues that rose after the First World War. With the lack of good trade to pay off the debts and reparations from the war itself, in addition to the increased printing of money during the occupation of French and Belgian troops in the Ruhr region caused the economy to have issues. The excessive printed money, as shown in the image, caused money to lose value and prices to increase for goods. -
Beer Hall Putsch
The Nazis from the NSDAP with Adolf Hitler and other leaders marched to the city of Feldherrnhalle as shown in the image. This resulted as a failure due to the march being stopped by the police and 16 members of the party dying. Additionally, Hitler was supposed to be arrested but escaped as other members were captured. This was beneficial to some extent due to the publicity received by the group. -
Introduction of Rentenmark
The Rentenmark was the currency in which it strived to replace the old Reichsmark that was worth no value in the hyperinflation crisis. This new currency held value to gold which was more valued than the old one and ended hyperinflation. This image is significant because it clearly displays the certification of the Rentenmark. Moreover, this demonstrates how this played a major role in the economy of Germany. -
Weimar Golden Age
In Germany, the hyperinflation crisis came to an end and began the period of stability in its economy and politics where cultural life took over Germany. During this time, factories and jobs were rising and Germany was having an increase in expertise. This picture effectively displays the roaring of culture that spread throughout Weimar Germany. In addition, this signifies how Germany went through a change in order to establish stability. -
Dawes Plan
This was presented due to the lack of ability for German's reparations and chose not pay back. Charles Dawes, an American, resolved the issue by advancing them a lot of cash with the goal that the Germans could remake its exchange and industry. This image here displays the public being satisfied with the money being provided by America as they raise their hands up to show how they were being helped as their reparations were being paid. -
Locarno Treaty
This was a treaty between Germany, Belgium, France, Great Britain, and Italy for a peace agreement among the nations in Europe. Germany consented to this, as it cemented their boundaries in geography that Germany didn't care for with the Versailles Treaty. This political cartoon illustrates how Germany agreed with France and the other nations to be given geographic territories. However, the facial expression in France looks unsure and nervous. -
Election of President von Hindenburg
After the unfortunate event of President Friedrich Ebert’s death, Hindenburg ran for president of Germany in which he was wanted by the right-wing (mostly the DNVP). Hindenburg won the election and came into office May 12. This picture is important because it foreshadows that due to Hindenburg becoming president, he appointed one of the most crucial leaders of all time: Adolf Hitler. -
Treaty of Berlin with Soviet Union
The treaty was signed between Germany, France, Austria-Hungary and many other nations. The treaty affirmed a large portion of the Russian increases from the Ottoman Empire. It additionally perceived the freedom of the true sovereign realms of Romania, Serbia and Montenegro. The map demonstrates how the treaty led to nations being recognized as their own without the idea of them being separated or seen as being a part of Germanys. -
German entrance into League of Nations
Germany joined the other nations in the League and became a member of the council as they were seen as an equal power. Confidence was gained with the foreign powers and moderate Germans in the Republic and Stresemann himself due to the treaty. This section of the newspaper clearly illustrates how Germany being a part of the League of Nations was a major controversial event because other nations saw it as a way for Germany to attain more power. -
Grand Coalition of Weimar Germany
During Weimar Germany, the Grand Coalition consisted of the SPD, Center Party, Liberal Parties, DVP, and more which bonded together in order to keep democracy safe against other radical political parties (KDP and NSDAP). This picture is important because it displays the leaders and members of each of the participating groups in the Grand Coalition. -
Young Plan
Owen Young was an American economist who wanted to boost the economy in which reparation payments were reduced to 8 billion dollars. The advance arrangement program of the Dawes Plan was additionally extended. Germany faced a tremendous challenge in tolerating US advances. If the US economy smashed, Germany would lose the tremendous monetary lift that the credits gave. This was exhibited after the Wall Street Crash -
Beginning of Great Depression
A worldwide economic crisis that ejected in late 1929 and went on for quite a while. It started as an American emergency and it was seriously felt in Germany, where it caused inescapable starvation, employment, and wretchedness. These conditions were instrumental in the ascent to force of Adolf Hitler and the National Socialists (NSDAP). This picture demonstrates the suffrage the individuals in Germany went through during the depression which left them in starvation and unemployment. -
Von Papen’s deal with Hitler
After Papen’s dismissal, he wanted to get back at Von Schleicher. Due to his intention, he persuaded Hindenburg to make Hitler chancellor in which he became and Papen became vice-chancellor as they were appointed on January 30th 1933. This image demonstrates how Hitler and Papen are conversing which displays the relationship they had that led to Hitler coming into power through Papen’s help. -
Hitler becomes Chancellor
At the point when Hitler acknowledged the Chancellorship in January 1933, he was one of just three Nazis in a Cabinet of eleven. Von Papen had guaranteed Hindenburg that he could monitor Hitler. Yet, Hitler immediately developed his political force making himself outright leader of Germany utilizing Article 48. This cartoon underscores how Hitler is seen at the top of the two men, thus displaying the power he attained after becoming chancellor.