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What was the Weimar Republic?

What was the Weimar Republic?. Setting the Context WWI and the Treaty of Versailles. The Powder Keg of World War I. Militarism Alliances Imperialism Nationalism. Nationalism even on the homefront. Western & Eastern Fronts. Western front particularly deadly

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What was the Weimar Republic?

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  1. What was the Weimar Republic? Setting the Context WWI and the Treaty of Versailles

  2. The Powder Keg of World War I • Militarism • Alliances • Imperialism • Nationalism

  3. Nationalism even on the homefront

  4. Western & Eastern Fronts • Western front particularly deadly • Most of fighting outside of Germany

  5. Trench Warfare: the Stalemate

  6. Casualties of WWI

  7. The end of WWI: 1917-18 • Russia had left the war, but America was entering • German generals, worried about this “new blood,” asked the Kaiser to step down and set up a democracy to win American favor • German generals immediately recommended that the new German leadership sign an armistice (11/11/18)

  8. Treaty of Versailles • Blames Germany • Requires Germany to pay reparations • Makes Germany drastically reduce its military • Disbands German alliances • Puts occupying army in Germany • Sets up League of Nations, but doesn’t let Germany enter it

  9. Leaders knew military losing Changed from monarchy to democracy to please Americans Generals told political leaders to surrender & sign Treaty of Versailles Citizens had believed war propaganda Knew nothing of defeat until Kaiser left Shocked to have lost Even more shocked to hear Treaty terms Deutsche Zeitung denounces treaty! German Support for the Treaty?

  10. The Weimar Republic1919 - 1933 • Elected Reichstag members by political party, not person • Proportional Representation (1%+) • Rule by coalition • 20 governments in 14 years! • Chaos on the streets of Berlin force the government to move Germany’s capital to Weimar

  11. Economic Problems • Reparations of $33 billion • Hyperinflation - 1923 • French forces occupy the Ruhr valley

  12. “Enough is enough” • 1924 - Dawes Plan: American businesses help out • 1926 – Germany joins League of Nations • 1928 – Germany allowed to participate in Olympics • Democratic elections of Weimar Republic starts to take hold

  13. 1929: A Turning Point Year • Stock Market Crash: world wide Depression • American loans pulled back • Unemployment starts to rise again • Gustav Stresemann, German Foreign Minister since 1923, dies

  14. Landowners Major industry owners Army officers University Professors Labor Union leaders Political party leaders LEFT OUT Women Jews (1% of population) Forces/Decision-Makersin the Weimar Republic

  15. Another power: the public, especially crowds in the street

  16. What was living in the Weimar Republic like for ordinary Germans? An exploration on-line

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