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German Revolution of 1918 and Kaiser Wilhelm II resigns
3rd November 1918 for revolution, a citizens revolution in the German Empire at the end of World War I that caused the replacement of the German federal constitutional monarchy with a democratic parliamentary republic. On 9th November 1918, the Kaiser was forced to abdicate in 1918 and exiled to the Netherlands due to popular opinion. -
Formation of a Weimar Republic/Constitution
November 1918. Formed as a result of the effects of the first world war, a revolution, and the resignation of the Kaiser, and was meant to be a more democratic government. It lasted until 1933, when it was succeeded by Nazi Germany. This is a picture of the Berlin palace taken during rule of Weimar republic, emphasizing the peak of power, and best represents the formation of the Weimar republic. -
Ebert-Groener Pact
An agreement between the socialist chancellor, Friedrich Ebert, and conservative general of German army, Wilhelm Groener, on November 10th, 1918, regarding an alliance of military defense for the government, and saw a more subtle unification between more pragmatic left and right leaning officials. The picture is of Wilhelm Groener, one of the men involved in the development of Ebert-Groener pact, and emphasizes its relevance to the event. -
Armistice Ending WWI
11th November 1918. Agreement which ended fighting on land, sea and air in World War I between Allies and Germany. Previous agreements had been made with the other entente powers. This is a picture of American troops learning of the signing of the armistice. The joy and happiness shows the overall dislike towards the war from the soldiers point of view, showing how it best represents the armistice ending WWI. -
Spartacist Revolt
On January 5th 1919, a communist strike in Berlin, with connection to the November revolt, in response to the loss in WW I, with intent to establish communist government, incited by Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxembourg, who were found dead after the revolt ended on January 12th of that year, because of the German military. This is a picture of the military fighting Spartacist soldiers during the Spartacist revolt in the street, emphasizing the conflict between the Communists and Germany. -
Bavarian Soviet Republic
A short lived socialist republic in Bavaria during the German revolution on April 6th, 1919. Overthrown in under a month by the German army and paramilitary, and was not to as big of an extent as the Spartacist Revolt or Kapp Putsch. This is a picture of when the Bavarian soviet republic was overthrown, only in power for less than a month, emphasizing how it wasn't nearly as successful of a coup as other rebellions. -
Treaty of Versailles and the Results for Germany
The treaty imposed on Germany after they lost the war, and it blamed war on Germany and made Germany liable. Germany ended up loosing territory, citizens, military, colonies, had to admit guilt, and pay 132 billion gold marks. This is a picture of discussion and signing of treaty of Versailles, and is important as it encapsulates the negotiations of the Entente powers. -
(Red) Ruhr Uprising
The Ruhr uprising originally started as a protest against the Kapp Putsch, with demonstrations beginning on March 13th, 1920, but eventually spiraled into a revolution to achieve complete victory for the communists and socialists, and was backed by 50,000 members of the Red Ruhr Army, but because of right leaning troops and the German military, the uprising ended April 12th, 1920.
The picture chosen shows a large extent of Red Soldiers, and reflects the communist attempts to overtake Weimar. -
Kapp Putsch
An attempted conservative coup on German government, with the goal to reverse progress from revolution and overthrow the Weimar republic. The coup, however, failed on March 18th, when a large portion of the population joined a strike started by the government, making the valuable resources useless. This is a picture of the freikorps trying to take control during the Kapp Putsch in Wilhelmplat, emphasizing it's importance to the event. -
The Rapallo Treaty
The Rapallo Treaty, signed on April 16th, 1922, was a treaty dissolving tensions between Russia and Germany, promising each country to refute any financial or territorial burdens against each other, and opened the door for alliance. Russia gave Germany permission to build weapon facilities in its territories, though in secret.
The picture chosen shows the negotiation between the representatives of Germany and Russia, emphasizing the mutual agreement, making it significant for this event. -
Hyperinflation Crisis
To try to get the French to give up the Ruhr, Germany tried to get the workers to go on strike. To actually pay for them, the German government printed out vast amounts of paper marks. Considering that the German practice of printing money was common since the end of WWI, inflation was already a problem, but because this was to an insane extent in 1923, and only began to recover with the introduction of the Rentenmark. The picture is of the paper German mark, representing how worthless it became -
Occupation of the Ruhr By France and Belgium
Due to the fact that Germany was emphasizing they weren’t going to make the reparation payments, France and Belgium invaded the Ruhr on January 11th, 1923. The Ruhr was a demilitarized zone, and incredibly valuable for Germany as it produced many resources. Germany tried to get the support from foreign nations, but the Rhineland wasn’t abdicated until August 25th, 1925. The Picture chosen is important as it shows the large extent of French soldiers wanting to make Germany suffer. -
The Beer Hall Putsch
The Beer Hall Putsch was a coup attempt by the Nazi’s, led by Adolf Hitler, on November 8th, 1923. Unlike previous rebellions, this was not to as big of an extent, and ended the next day. The Nazi’s were caught by the police, and while evading capture at first, Hitler was sentenced to 5 years in prison. However, this brought the public the attention of Hitler. This image shows the perpetrators, and is of great importance as it encapsulates these people were the ones who incited the rebellion. -
Introduction of the Rentenmark
To combat the hyperinflation, Stresemann developed a new currency, the Rentenmark on November 20th, 1923. To be sure this didn’t end up like the regular paper German Mark, the Rentenmark was produced in extremely limited amounts. While a bit slow at first, this allowed for Germany to get back on the gold mark, and introduce Weimar to its golden years. The image chosen is a picture of the Rentenmark, symbolizing the currency that eventually got Weimar out of the inflation crisis. -
Weimar Golden Age
The Weimar Golden Age was a period of time when Weimar was flourishing in its economy and culture. Gustav Stresemann was most responsible, reinventing the Mark and agreeing with the Dawes Plan. Doing this rejuvenated Germany’s economy and rebuilt its success and reputation among other higher countries, and Weimar was able to keep this abundance up until Stresemann’s death in 1929. The image of Stresemann emphasizes his responsibility of bringing life back into Germany and saving Weimar. -
Dawes Plan
The Dawes Plan was an agreement composed by Charles Dawes and agreed upon by Gustav Stresemann on August 16th, 1924 to make low interest American loans available to Germany / German businesses. Taxes from this would go to pay Reparations to the Allies who would then pay off their war debts. This agreement led to the French and Belgians leaving the Ruhr. The image is a depiction of how the plan would work, emphasizing its importance. -
Election of President Von Hindenburgh
After the death of Ebert, Hindenburg was elected president on March 29th, 1925, as part of a Right wing coalition of the DNVP DVP and BVD. Receiving ~48% of the Vote, Hindenburg was a monarchist despite becoming president of the Weimar republic. The image shows a map of which areas Hindenburg won - Mostly catholic - and the Parties aligned with his run, symbolizing his victory. -
German Entrance into the League of Nations
Germany was admitted into the League of Nations in September of 1925, as Germany became less of a pariah state post Locarno as relations normalized with other states. The image shows German Government ministers (Hans Luther and Gustav Stresemann) on the day of admission to the League of Nations shows the Center / Moderate government which used diplomacy and improved foreign relations, emphasizing the importance to the event. -
Locarno Treaty
The Locarno Treaty(s) were agreements between Germany , France, Belgium, Great Britain, and Italy signed on October 5th, 1925. The Treaty normalized relations with the Weimar republic and revised parts of the Treaty of Versailles. It recognized the western borders of Germany but left the eastern borders up for revision. The image shows the leaders of the negotiations Stresemann (Germany) Chamberlin (UK) Briand (France) shows the diplomatic nature and “era” it was made in. -
Treaty of Berlin with the Soviet Union
The Treaty of Berlin was a continuation of the Treaty of Rapallo (Friendly relations between USSR and Germany), made on April 24th, 1926, and guarantied non aggression between Germany and the USSR for 5 years. The image shows German and Soviet Negotiators / Diplomats, and emphasizes the diplomatic nature of Germans relations at the time, showing its relevance. -
Grand Coalition With Weimar Germany
20 may 1928. A coalition between the CDU CSU and SDP along with other moderate pro democracy parties led by the SDP’s Hermann Muller on May 20th, 1928. It lasted 2 years between 1928 and 1930. The image shows Hermann Muller, Chancellor of the Grand Coalition, and a major figure in German politics as leader of the coalition, emphasizing his relevance to the event. -
Young Plan
A plan conceited in August 1929, meant to solve the inability of the German government to pay reparations by reducing them 20% from the Dawes plan’s 50 Billion gold marks. Setting a 2 Billion annual payment (only ⅓ was unconditional) and extended the payments duration, and was finalized in 1930. The image is of Owen Young the plans namesake who represented America in the negotiations and partly designed the plan, and shows diplomatic relations continuation. -
Beginning of the Great Depression
Global stock market crash in October 1929, effecting America especially, and lead to American loans in Germany being recalled. This led to massive unemployment and poverty in Germany. The image shows German workers / Unemployed protesting the economic conditions and Government during the Great Depression, and shows the destabilized political climate. -
Von Papen's Deal With Hitler
On January 9th, 1933, Von Papen made a deal with Hitler and Hindenburg to make Hitler Chancellor and Papen Vice chancellor. Giving the NSDAP control of the Legislature to make a coalition. The image is of Von Papen, who’s political actions led to this deal and was crucial in allowing Hitler to become Chancellor, emphasizing its importance. -
Hitler Becomes Chancellor
On January 30th, 1933, after the Deal with Von Papen and a deal with Industrialists, Hindenburg was ultimately convinced to appoint Hitler as Chancellor. The image shows Hitler shaking hands with Hindenburg as he had been appointed chancellor showing the political alliance which lead to Hitler's rise, symbolizing Hitler's assumption to power.