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Summary Pearson Edexcel IGCSE History, Germany notes
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Written revision notes for the Germany part of the History GCSE course
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Germany 1918-1945Weimar Crisis years:
Abdication of the Kaiser
Poor conditions as result of war
October Kiel mutiny, the sailors led a mutiny and refused to fight as they would lose
Food blockades led to starvation, heavy ratioing
Talk of revolution inspired by Bolsheviks in Russia, wanted a worker controlled gov
November 1918, German troops forced into massive retreat, and faced the threat of military occupation
The allies made it clear they would not stop until Kaiser abdicated
10th November 1918- Kaiser Abdicated
11th November 1918- a new republic was set up with Friedrich Ebert as Chancellor
Armistice signed; war ended
What happened to Germany?
Kaiser government collapses: Germany left unstable with no leader, a political vacuum, chaos.
Unexpierenced politicians who had no say under the authoritarian rule of Kaiser
39 billion had been spent on a war, more than other powers, Germany was in severe war debt, economic
distress left for new inexperienced gov to deal with
Lost 1.7 billion men, 750,00 civilians many lost family friends, mourning, mass bereavement
Loss of life meant less taxes collected
Germany had been traumatised, before the war Germany had been a strong powerful nation but after they
felt weaker and vulnerable
November criminals (Dolschtoss): the people of Germany felt betrayed by the politicians as they had believed they
were winning the war under the false impression of the Kaiser. Such as Matthais Ertzberger was murdered by two
former Marine officers, one of the me who signed the armistice
Weimar government
A Weimar government was set up in January 1919
Positives:
Liberal: Under the Weimar ever German citizen was guaranteed the freedom of press, religion, speech.
Democratic:
right to vote for all men and women over the age of 20
Reichstag elected every 4-5 years with 600 representatives
Parliament democracy within Reichstag, people voted for representatives
Every vote counted with PR, the proportion of support was directly reflected with number of seats
o Represented working government in government, not one party completely in charge
o Fair and representative of the people of German
Chancellor appointed from majority part in Reichstag
President elected every 9 years
Liberal:
Guaranteed every German citizen freedom speech and religion, press, freedom from arbitrary arrest
Less control by the government, unlike Kaiser’s repressive government
, Could speak out against government
Avoided certain truths being supressed, meant that society was better informed from all aspects
State Parliament:
One different state parliament for each of 18 states
Passed local laws, had own police force
Elected locally
Parliament who cares deeply about the wellbeing of state itself rather than the country’s
Negatives:
Proportional representation:
Difficult for one party to win majority, therefore several parties had to join to form a coalition government
o Can work well, but post-government Germany meant that government was not stable, and country
needed strong ruler (meant people missed authoritarian rule of Kaiser)
o In debt after war, did not need arguments and indecisive
o During crisis e.g., hyperinflation or Great depression, country did not need government who were
falling out with each other
Extremist groups got seats in parliament as even if a small percentage of people voted for them, they still got
to be represented
o 1% = 6 seats
Little uniformity within Reichstag
Obscure parties in Reichstag, such as the Famers Party
o Made government more divided and much harder to get things done
Weak coalitions
Proportional governments meant that representatives were varied in view and struggled to get along well,
therefore they were constant breakdowns, and making decisions was difficult
o 25 governments in 14 years
o Between 1919-1933 not a single party won majority
When faced with serious decision, coalitions fell apart as the members had different views
If could not form a new coalition, elections had to be called again to determine new government
o Constant breakdown made government sow and ineffective
o Took time and could not deal with issues at hand, prolonging the effects of the issue for an extended
period of time- great depression
Article 48
Could be abused by president
Inexperienced politicians
Under the absolutist rule of the Kaiser, politicians did not get much say in affairs, and parliament was more
for show
Treaty of Versailles
Allies not prepared to forgive and forget, Germany too vulnerable to deny terms, could not afford another wat
Terms
Territorial losses
Lost Alsace and Lorraine
Posen and West Prussia- Polish corridor (isolated East Prussia)
, o West Prussia was one of the founding states of Germany, very patriotic feelings towards the state
Port of Danig made city port
o Loss of trade, major port
France temporarily occupies Rhineland
Lost al 11 of colonies and any Empire
10% of industry
15% of agricultural land e.g. Posen
13% of territory
Reparations
$33 billion
Already lost $39 bill in warfare, and currently in debt
Loss income and taxation from lost territory- at dis adv
o As well as industry
Disarming
Army reduced to 100,000
For protection only, not enough arms to start war
War guilt
Article 231- had to accept all war blame
o Included death of men within their country- 1.7 million dead
Effects
Social
War guilt clause
Did not expect to be punished as guilty party with highest deaths
East Prussia isolated from rest of Germany
Loss of population and national identity
Economic
In severe debt already, fiscal and finical position more fragile
Must overcome debt and pay reparations
Unstable economy led to conditions for hyperinflation to arise
Political
Due to the humiliation of the treaty resentment towards government increased
Added to Dolschtoss myth
Resentment towards Weimar government
Murder of Matthais Erzburger
Kapp Putsch
Opposition to Weimar government
There were many political murders in the time between 1919-23, such as the murder of Matthais Erzburger, who
signed the treaty of Versailles
Spartacist uprising
Inspired by successful Boleshevik revolution in 1917
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