German Politics and Treaty of Versailles

Reichstag

• The Reichstag, Germany's parliament, increased in size from 421 members in 1919 to 647 members in 1933.
• Members were elected every four years.
• The Reichstag was a crucial body with the power to create laws.

Reichstrat

• The Reichstrat, a council representing 18 German states, had 55 representatives.
• While it could approve laws prepared by the Chancellor and the Reichstag, the Reichstrat lacked the power to make laws itself.

Treaty of Versailles Terms (1919)

• Germany faced significant territorial losses, including the return of Alsace-Lorraine to France and the creation of the Polish Corridor.
• The German army was severely restricted, limited to 100,000 soldiers and banned from possessing tanks, tons, airplanes, and submarines.
• The Rhineland was declared a demilitarized zone, and Germany was held accountable for the war through the War Guilt clause (Article 231) and was obligated to pay £6.6 billion in reparations.

Violent Attempt At Overthrowing Government: Big Three

• The "Big Three" leaders who imposed the Treaty of Versailles had differing views:
  • George Clemenceau (France) sought harsh punishment for Germany.
  • David Lloyd George (Britain) wanted to finally punish Germany.
  • Woodrow Wilson (USA) advocated for the League of Nations, democracy, disarmament, and peace.

Violent Attempt At Overthrowing Government: Violence In Politics

• Political parties formed their own private armies, often recruiting disillusioned ex-soldiers.
• These private armies, intended for protection, contributed to the escalation of violence in political activity.
• Between 1919 and 1922, there were numerous assassinations, with 376 political murders targeting left-wing and moderate politicians.

Violence In Politics: Freihorps

• The Freihorps, a right-wing paramilitary group with a large number of former soldiers, supported the "Stab in the back" theory blaming the government for the defeat in WWI.
• By March 1919, they had grown to 250,000 members.
• Composed of various groups, the Freihorps acted as a nationalist force.

Violence In Politics: Spartacist Uprising

• Led by Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg, the Spartacists, a communist group, revolted against the government in 1919.
• During the uprising, the army and the Freihorps killed the Spartacist leaders, leading to the uprising's failure.

Kapp Putsch

• The Kapp Putsch was a violent attempt to overthrow the government led by Wolfgang Kapp.
• The Freihorps, motivated by their dissatisfaction with the government and the reduction of their power, played a significant role.
• The rebellion's goal was to seize control of Berlin and install Kapp as Chancellor.
• The Freihorps captured Berlin in 1920.
• However, the Putsch failed due to a general strike in Berlin, which crippled the government functions and allowed the rebellion to collapse.

Crisis 1: Occupation of Ruhr

• Germany's failure to pay reparations led to the French and Belgian invasion and occupation of the Ruhr, Germany's most important industrial region.
• The German population in the Ruhr responded with passive resistance, further crippling Germany's economy.

President

• The President, elected every seven years, acted as the head of state.
• Responsible for day-to-day politics, the army, and choosing the Chancellor.

Chancellor

• The Chancellor, head of the government, was in charge of the cabinet ministers and the Reichstag.
• They held significant power in making important decisions.

Dolchstoss ("Stab in the back") Theory

• The theory blamed Germany's defeat in WWI on the government that signed the Treaty of Versailles, portraying it as a betrayal of the German people.

Causes of Hyperinflation (1923)

• The Weimar government printed an increasing amount of money throughout the 1910s and 1920s, starting during WWI to cover wartime costs.
• The printing of money continued between 1918 and 1922 to address post-war shortages.
• The invasion of the Ruhr and the subsequent strikes forced the government to print even more money, ultimately leading to hyperinflation.

Consequences of Hyperinflation

• The hyperinflation highlighted the weakness of the Weimar government and harmed the German population, rendering their savings and pensions worthless.
• It fueled support for extreme political parties.

Other Factors Contributing to the Crisis (TROPICAL)

• Treaty of Versailles
• Right-wing uprising - Kapp Putsch (1920)
• Occupation of Ruhr (1923)
• Proportional Representation
• Irrational use of Article 48
• Printing excessive amounts of money, leading to hyperinflation (1923)
• Attempted Munich Putsch by Nazi Party (1923)
• Left-wing Spartacist uprising (1919)
• 1918 - Government signs armistice - "November Criminals"