Weimar Republic

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Weimar Republic
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Germany During World War I

• During WWI, Germany suffers
• Blockade
• Chaos
• Influenza outbreak
• Communism grows in popularity

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November, 1918

• After a last attempt to end the war, Germany is
  forced to admit defeat
• Begin negotiations for peace
• Agree to surrender on November 11, 1918
• Kaiser Wilhelm II forced to abdicate the throne
  (Nov 9)
• Plans for a new government begin

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Germany surrenders

• German people are shocked by loss of the war
• Most feel they had been cheated by crooked
  politicians had negotiated the surrender
• Stab in the Back

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Weimar Republic

• Germanys government created after WWI is known
  as the Weimar Republic
• Takes time to develop
• As plans for govt. continue, German society is
  still torn apart
• Freikorps- para-military group used to restore
  order
• Use violent tactics
• Put down Communist uprisings

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Weimar Republic

• By March, 1919, the Freikorps had restored order
• Germans still waiting for a peace treaty to
  officially end the war
• Blockade continues until treaty is signed

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Peace???

• Germans sign Treaty of Versailles on June 28,
  1919.
• Shocked by harsh penalties
• Feel betrayed
• Believed the treaty would negotiate a fair peace
  BUT
• Germany receives harsh punishments they believed
  were unfair

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Social Problems in Germany

• Following the war, Germany deals with several
  social problems
• Labor shortages
• Food and housing shortages
• Disease epidemics (flu, TB, etc)
• Loss of lives in the war, millions dead

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Economic Problems in Germany

• German economy also in trouble
• Reparations
• Government prints more money to pay for the war
• Result MASSIVE inflation.
• German currency becomes virtually worthless
• November, 1923- ONE U.S. dollar was worth the
  equivalent of 4.2 trillion Marks (German
  Currency)

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Weimar Constitution

• Weimar Constitution created a Republic
• Type of democracy in which officials are elected
  and speak on behalf of the citizens
• Very similar to the U.S. Constitution
• 3 Branches of Government
• Protection of Individual Freedoms

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Weimar Constitution

• Legislative Branch
• Power to make laws given to a bicameral
  legislature
• Reichstrat (upper house)
• Represents the interests of the states (lander)
• Reichstag (lower house)
• Represents the will of the citizens

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Reichstag
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Weimar Constitution

• Executive Branch
• Executive power given to a President
• Serves 7 year term
• Elected by popular vote
• President appoints a Chancellor
• President also assisted by Ministers in various
  departments

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Weimar Constitution

• Article 48gives president power to suspend the
  constitution and utilize military to restore
  order in times of crisis
• Reichstag must support the President for this
  clause to be used!
• However, President has power to dissolve
  Parliament and call for new elections.

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Weimar Constitution

• Judicial Branch
• Supreme Court created to uphold rights of the
  people
• Personal Freedoms
• Freedom of speech, petition, assembly, press
• Freedom of religion guaranteed
• All citizens are equal in the eyes of the law
• All nationalities, races, and genders are equal
• Constitution also institutes compulsory education
  laws

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Successes of Weimar Republic

• Weimar Republic did achieve great cultural things
• Golden Age for Intellectual and artistic
  development
• Cultural development
• Arts
• Literature
• Film
• Womens equality, etc.

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Failures of the Weimar Republic

• Weimar Republic was very weak
• Created in chaos
• No one truly supports it
• Politicians who create the government are blamed
  for Germanys defeat
• Economic Problems
• Communism grows in popularity
• Assassinations common
• Revolts common

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Rise of Nazis
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Opportunity for Nazis

• National Socialist German Workers Party aka Nazis
  see times of crisis as opportunity
• Begin to formulate plans to launch a coup to
  overthrow the government
• Hitler learns of a meeting to take place at a
  local beer hall

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Beer Hall Putsch

• November 8, 1923
• Hitler gathers SA and enter beer hall
• Declares that a revolution has begun and tells
  crowd that troops were marching to overtake the
  government
• People in beer hall believe him and flee without
  resistance

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Beer Hall Putsch

• Next day, Hitler and 3,000 SA attempt to attack
  govt. headquarters in Munich
• Hitler and Nazis defeated, he flees
• Later arrested and put on trial for treason

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Hitler on Trial

• Hitler sees the trial as yet another opportunity
• Gain recognition
• Trial lasts 24 days, Hitler represents himself
• Judge and jury lenient with him
• Even give him standing ovations after he speaks

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Hitler on Trial

• Appeals to national pride of Germans
• Does admit to being responsible for the attempted
  revolution
• Sentenced to five years in prison
• Will only serve 8 months

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Hitler in Prison

• Treated like honored guest
• Private room with a view
• Door rarely locked
• Frequent visitors, gifts delivered to cell
• Secretary Rudolf Hess allowed to join him in
  prison
• Dictates his auto-biography while in prison

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Hitlers Life

• Hitlers life and beliefs are discussed in his
  book Mein Kampf
• Mein Kampf (My Struggle) was published in two
  volumes
• Published in 1925, 1927, 1930
• English translation published in 1931
• Makes him a millionaire