Unit 2A Germany 1918-1939

Unit 2A Germany 1918-1939

1. French invasion of the Ruhr

   • Germans protested against reparations saying price was too high
     • First instalment £50million paid in 1921
       • 1922 nothing was paid Ebert announced nothing would be paid for foreseeable future
         • Weren't accepted by France- January 1923 French and Belgian troops entered the Ruhr.
   • The troops began to take what was owed to them.
     • Took key industrial goods (Ruhr key industrial area Germany)
       • Contained 80% of Germanys iron and coal output contained many factories

2. Reparations announcement

   • Germany was responsible for the war stated by the war guilt clause
   • Allies could claim reparations (compensation for damage that the war caused)
     • 1921 commission set the figure at £6600 million
       • Germany also lost much of her rolling stock and merchant navy
         • Reparations bill caused outrage in Germany
           • Headed massive bill while at the same time their ability to pay had been seriously restricted.
             • Treaty took- 10% German industry- 15% of agricultural land- 16% coal industry-48% Iron industry

3. Political Violence

   • constant theme in early years of the Weimar republic
     • Political assassinations frequent
     • Most notable came in the Summer of 1922 with the murder of Walter Rathenau (foreign minister)
       • Estimated Freikorps was responsible for 356 assassinations during this period

4. Spartacist Revolt 1919

   • Communist political party led by Rosa Luxembourg and Karl Liebknecht
     • argued against Ebert's plan (Ebert was the first President of the Weimar Republic)
       • Democratic Germany- they wanted a Germany ruled by workers councils (called Soviets)
         • Launched bid for power in January 1919 joined by sailors and soldiers
           • Set up soviets in many towns across Germany
             • Many soldiers were against the communists and had formed themselves into vigilante groups called FRIEKORPS
               • Ebert made agreement with FRIEKORPS to crush the spartacists.
                 • Both heavily armed high casualties
                   • FRIEKORPT worked Luxembourg and Liebknect were murdered
                     • Kurt Eisner (ally of Liebknect) February 1919 murdered by opponents
                       • Communists reacted by declaring a communist republic
   • Ebert used FREIKORPS to crush communists May 1919
     • Communists attempted to seize power in the Ruhr 1920
       • Again Ebert used FREIKORPS and communists were crushed
       • 2000 casualties
   • Many people in Germany approved Ebert's ruthless approach towards communists
     • People feared that Germany would go the same way as Russia

5. The Kapp Putsch March 1920

   • Communists many right-wing groups wanted to destroy the Weimar republic
     • Army most important group, that hated the Treaty of Versallies
       • March 1920 Dr Wolfgang Kapp led 5000 members of the FREIKORPS into Berlin
         • The Kapp Putsch (Putsch meaning rebellion)
           • Army refused to fire on the FREIKORPS.
             • Looked like Ebert's Government would fall.
               • He was saved by the workers of Berlin.
                 • Declared general strike in Berlin which brought the city to a stand still-no transport, power or water
                   • After a few days Kapp realised that he could not succeed and fled the country

6. Assassination of Rathenau

   • June 24th 1922.
     • three- right wing students shot dead Walter Rathenau
       • Newly appointed foreign minister who was Jewish

7. Munich Putsch of 1923

   • By 1923 Hitler felt strong enough to seize power in Germany.
     • Believed people would welcome his brand of strong leadership
       • On the 8th November Gustav Kahr (Bavarian PM) was holding a meeting in a Munich Beer hall.
         • Hitler arrived with around 600 supporters
           • Forced Kahr at gunpoint, to support his takeover and March on Berlin the Next day
             • 3000 Nazis marched into the centre of Munich.
               • It soon became clear that Kahr would not support Hitler
                 • Was a mistake on Hitlers part by letting Kahr go after he had made his promise of support
                   • 100 policemen were blocking the route of the Nazis in a street.
                     • Hitler pushed to the ground after shots were fired
                       • Hitlers shoulder was dislocated
                         • Eye witness claims Hitler lost his nerve fled to an awaiting car.
                           • Ludendorff continued on to the next square where he was arrested- Hitler arrested two days late.
                             • Putsch ended in failure.
                               • Along with other leading Nazis Hitler was put on trial in February 1924

8. Hyperinflation

   • The German economy had ground to a halt, Government had no resources to buy goods in from abroad.
     • Make up for this shortfall the Government simply started to print money.
       • In 1923 they had 300 paper mills and 200 print shops simply printing money.
         • This however, led to hyperinflation people realised that the money was worthless and so demanded higher prices.
           • That soon led to massive increases in prices.
             • Money became so worthless that children were given bundles of banknote to play with
               • Or people used it as fuel as it was cheaper to burn this than use it to buy coal or wood

9. The Reichstag Fire 27th February 1933

   • 27th February 1933, the Reichstag building in Berlin was burned down.
     • A Dutch communist (Marius Van Der Lubbe)
       • He was found at the scene and he was arrested.
         • Put on trial and found guilty of starting the fire
           • Many suggestions that the Nazis started the fire themselves this is not important
             • They were able to use this to target the communists, who were their biggest threat in the upcoming elections
               • Hitler accused the communists of plotting against Germany
                 • 400 communists were arrested on the night of the fire
                   • The next day and emergency decree was passed which allowed the police to search houses, confiscate property and detain people without a trail.
                     • These powers were used to target the Communists