German Politics and Treaty of Versailles

Study Notes

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"

Description

Explore the structure of the Reichstag and Reichstrat in pre-World War II Germany, including their roles in law-making. Examine the terms of the Treaty of Versailles and its impact on Germany, such as territorial losses and military restrictions. Test your knowledge on these crucial historical events.

German Politics and Treaty of Versailles

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Questions and Answers

Who were the leaders of the Spartacist Uprising?

What was one of the main reasons political activity became violent during 1919-1922?

What theory did the Freihorps support?

What was the outcome of the Spartacist Uprising?

What was the composition of the Freihorps?

What power did the President have during an emergency according to Article 48?

How many members did the Reichstag have in 1933?

What was one of the key military restrictions imposed on Germany by the Treaty of Versailles?

What was the function of the Reichstrat?

Which clause in the Treaty of Versailles indicated Germany's acceptance of blame for World War I?