Modern History HSC Notes

Dot Point 1 Weimar Republic

- Emergence of the democratic republic and the Impact of the treaty of Versailles

Summary
- Weimar Republic emerged as the Imperial army was facing defeat and the Navy was
on the brink of mutiny
- Germany precedent of the Treaty of Versailles was to form a democracy, something
they have never done before
- Democratic government was founded in Weimar

Political events post war
- Russian counterparts encouraged revolutionary factions in Germany such the sailors
of Kiel deciding to mutiny rather than join a suicidal attack on British Naval Blockade.
- Germany forced into democracy
- Ebert Groener Pact A secret agreement made by Ebert and General Groener
(Ludendorfs Successor) It said Ebert would appose any communist revolutionary
movements. Groener agreed to maintain military discipline and show support.
- German people had no idea of difficulties of war and felt betrayed.

Immediate Problems Of The Weimar Republic
- Left Wing Push Jan 1919, a putsch (uprising) was brought on by the Spartacists
Communists (KPD) led by Karl Liebnecht and Rosa Luxemburg. The gov used the
friedkorps (ex-army), to break up the uprising. Liebnecht and Luxemburg were both
arrested and assassinated. Between March and May 1920, a 50,000 strong Red Army
(Communists) operated in the Ruhr industrial region but was repressed and nothing
achieved. Most of the units were killed and it was said that these prisoners
attempted to escape. Ebert then issued a Decree, which was backdated to authorize
the murders of these people.
- Weimar Republic 19
th
Jan- Elections held. Moderate parties gained the majority of
votes, showing the peoples approval of the new Democratic republic.
6
th
Feb The Assembly met at Weimar for the first time. A coalition of centre parties
formed government. Philip Schneiderman became the first chancellor and Ebert
became president.
- Weimar Constitution Created July 1919, It provided for elections every four years
by men and women over the age of 20. The election of a president every 7 years,
with the president to choose a chancellor from the Reichstag who would select
others to be ministers. It offered the German people many new freedoms including
freedom of speech, equality before the law, social welfare system and the vote for all
citizens over 20. Despite this old ruling elite remained unchanged and hostile towards
it
- Problems With The Constitution Legal and constitutional loopholes were
manipulated by politicians such as Hitler.
- Emergency Decrees Article 48 allowed for the President to rule by an emergency
decree and article 25 to dismiss the Reichstag, which was used by Hitler in 1933 to
destroy the Weimar Republic.

- Proportional Representation - Number of representatives in parliament was directly
proportional to the number of votes gained in an election. Allowed small parties to
have power and be represented, however, also meant no government Majority could
be formed and the only way to form government was via coalitions
compromise/intrigue. Extremely Democratic however its success depended on the
willingness of elected politicians to work in harmony.




Sourced From History Of Nerds


Emergence of the Democratic Republic and the Impact of the Treaty of Versailles
German Government Before WWI

Before World War One, the German government was a constitutional monarchy, with a
bicameral parliament (made up of the Reichstag and the Bundesrat). Ultimately, the Kaiser
held power, and the parliament was only able to slow or amend his laws. By 1916, the
constitutional monarchy had effectively become a military dictatorship under the German
High Command (led by General Paul von Hindenburg and Eric von Ludendorff), as part of the
total war.











The Establishment of a Democratic Government

By September 1919, the German High Command had realised that the war was lost, and
established a more democratic government. This was done so that the Allies might be more
lenient in forming a peace treaty, particularly as democracy was essential under US
President Wilson's Fourteen Points, and the Germans felt that a peace arranged by the US
would be better for Germany than one arranged by one of the European powers. Prince Max
of Baden was appointed Chancellor of the new government, and immediately sued for
peace.

When news of the request for an armistice reached the German military and public, there
was mutiny, particularly in Kiel and other northern German cities. The Kaiser lost control of
the military and the Reichstag, and the Reichstag, and General Groener, who had taken over
from Hindenburg, recommended that the Kaiser abdicate. He abdicated on 9 November,
1918, and this was followed by the resignation of Max of Baden. Baden appointed Frederick
Ebert, leader of the Socialdemocratic Partei Deutschland (SPD) as Chancellor of the interim
government, which would write the new constitution. Phillip Scheidemann, deputy leader of
the SPD, proclaimed a democratic republic before the constitution had been finalised, much
to the frustration of Ebert. The first elections were held on January 19, 1919, and the first
sitting of the Reichstag took place on Febraury 6, in Weimar, near Berlin. For this reason, the
German Republic of 1919-1933 is often referred to as the Weimar Repubic.

The End of the War and the Formation of the Treaty of Versailles

President Wilson notified the Germans on November 6, 1918, that the Allies were willing to
grant an armistice. A group of Germans travelled to France, led by Matthias Erzberger, and
met the Allies in Field Marshall Foch's personal carriage. Germany was given 72 hours to sign
the armistice, and despite some suggested alterations, they were forced to accept the terms
of the Allies. The armistice was signed at 11 am on November 11, 1918.

Like the armistice, the Treaty of Versailles was made by the Allies (at the Paris Peace
Conference), without a representative from Germany (except to sign it). As a result, the
Treaty was very harsh on Germany. Its terms included:
The Germans army was reduced to 100 000
Germany was forbidden to manufacture heavy military equipment or chemical weapons
Germany was forbidden to develop an air force
The German navy was reduced to coastal patrol ships
Alsace and Lorraine were returned to France
The Saar Basin (a coal-producing area) was placed under international control for 15 years
The Rhineland was demilitarised
Germany lost all overseas colonies
Union between Germany and Austria was forbidden
Eastern German territories were lost to Poland
Germany was forced to accept guilt for the war
Germany was to pay reparations, set at 132 billion gold marks