Cambridge IGCSE History Past Paper: Weimar Republic (1918-1945) PDF

Head to www.savemyexams.com for more awesome resources Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE History Your notes Was the Weimar Republic Doomed From the Start? Contents Germany After the End of the First World War The Impact of the Trea...

Head to www.savemyexams.com for more awesome resources Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE History Your notes Was the Weimar Republic Doomed From the Start? Contents Germany After the End of the First World War The Impact of the Treaty of Versailles on the Republic Did the Republic Recover After 1923? What were the Achievements of the Weimar Period? Page 1 of 41 © 2015-2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. · Revision Notes, Topic Questions, Past Papers  Head to www.savemyexams.com for more awesome resources Germany After the End of the First World War Your notes The First World War and the Creation of Weimar Germany - Timeline & Summary In 1918, Germany was under a dictatorship of the Kaiser - the German word for ‘King’. Kaiser Wilhelm II ruled Germany from 1888 and pushed the country to increase its economic and military power. He refused to give the people of Germany rights and freedoms. By November 1918, the situation in Germany was unrecoverable for the Kaiser. His abdication and exile to the Netherlands allowed a new state to emerge. Germany became known as the Weimar Republic. The Weimar Republic, under the chancellorship of Friedrich Ebert, pursued several policies. The first action of the Republic was to sign an armistice to end the First World War. The German public resented admitting defeat to the Allies. The subsequent treaty to formally end the war created mass anger against the Weimar government. The Weimar government introduced reforms that the German people had never experienced before. The government created universal suffrage and produced a new German Constitution. While the Weimar Page 2 of 41 © 2015-2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. · Revision Notes, Topic Questions, Past Papers  Head to www.savemyexams.com for more awesome resources Constitution aimed to bring democracy to the people, it had many flaws. In particular, the choice to use proportional representation in elections created a weak coalition government. To pass necessary laws, the government had to abuse its emergency powers. The Weimar Constitution would later lead to negative Your notes public opinion and multiple opportunities for the system of government to be exploited. Effects of the First World War in Germany Between 1914 and 1918, two million German soldiers died and four million more were wounded Hitler was one of these wounded soldiers. He was temporarily blinded by a mustard gas attack in October 1918 Germany’s debt trebled from 50 billion marks in 1914 to 150 billion marks in 1918 The German people were near starvation The British Navy had blockaded German naval ports. No food from overseas could enter the country The Events of the Revolution of 1918 In 1918, Germany experienced a wave of civil unrest In October 1918, the German navy mutinied in the ports of Kiel and Hamburg Munich, the capital of the German state of Bavaria, experienced a general strike of workers on 7th November. They announced they were a separate Communist state In Hanover, soldiers joined workers and rioted on the streets In Berlin, the capital of Germany, there were mass protests on the streets Without the support of the capital city, the Kaiser lost control of the whole country Many towns had set up councils of workers and soldiers. These were to replace the Kaiser’s official local authorities On 9th November 1918, the Kaiser’s military advisers told him he must abdicate to stop the civil unrest Max von Baden, who the Kaiser had appointed to be Chancellor on 3rd October, announced the Kaiser’s abdication without his consent or knowledge The next day (10th November), the Kaiser escaped from Germany by train and arrived in the Netherlands The Establishment of the Weimar Republic The Social Democratic Party (SPD) aimed to bring Germany under control after the Kaiser abdicated Page 3 of 41 © 2015-2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. · Revision Notes, Topic Questions, Past Papers  Head to www.savemyexams.com for more awesome resources Max von Baden resigned as Chancellor of Germany and offered the position to Friedrich Ebert, the leader of the SPD. Ebert accepted the role Your notes On 10th November, Ebert attempted to save Germany from Communism He worked with General Groener and the army to suppress the Communist rioters He dismissed the old Reichstag and created a Council of People’s Representatives This consisted of six politicians who would govern Germany until elections could be held Ebert’s measures succeeded in the short term The Council of People’s Representatives, along with the army, was able to regain control of Germany Germany avoided becoming a Communist state Ebert’s methods would have long-term consequences His use of force would continue throughout the early years of the Weimar Republic The Weimar government lacked genuine control over Germany Examiner Tips and Tricks Some students confuse the Council of People’s Representatives with the National Assembly. Try to remember that Ebert chose the Council of People’s Representatives, not the people of Germany. The National Assembly were formed as a result of elections in January 1919. Elections and the National Assembly The first nine months of the Weimar Republic were critical to increase people’s confidence in the new government The civil servants under the Kaiser’s government continued their work They collaborated with the army and the new workers' councils Ebert continued his alliance with General Groener to keep the Weimar government in power In return, Ebert promised not to reform the army Businesses kept their land and property. The state would not nationalise their businesses This helped Germany’s economy recover and won the support of big business owners like Hugo Stinnes Page 4 of 41 © 2015-2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. · Revision Notes, Topic Questions, Past Papers  Head to www.savemyexams.com for more awesome resources Ebert promised more worker rights to gain the approval of trade unions An example of this was guaranteeing an eight-hour working day Your notes Ebert announced there would be elections to choose a National Assembly. The assembly would be responsible for writing the German Constitution Under the Kaiser, Germany did not have a written constitution The Kaiser created and changed laws as he pleased A constitution would signify the start of democracy The constitution would hold the new government and the German people accountable On 19th January 1919, Germany elected their new government The SPD won 40% of the vote and the Centre Party gained 20% of the vote These were both moderate parties 82% of enfranchised people voted In February 1919, Friedrich Ebert was elected as Germany’s first president From November 1918 to July 1919, the Republic had not consolidated their power Extreme political parties did not support the new Republic. They continued to demonstrate and riot across Germany The SPD had gained 40% of the vote but lacked a majority. They would have to rule in a coalition government with other parties The Weimar Constitution The National Assembly met in February 1919 to write the constitution They met in the town of Weimar because of the unrest in Berlin. This is where the term ‘Weimar Republic’ comes from The constitution took six months to complete. It was passed by 262 votes to 75 The constitution outlined each elected official's power and responsibilities in the Weimar government Page 5 of 41 © 2015-2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. · Revision Notes, Topic Questions, Past Papers  Head to www.savemyexams.com for more awesome resources Your notes Page 6 of 41 © 2015-2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. · Revision Notes, Topic Questions, Past Papers  Head to www.savemyexams.com for more awesome resources Your notes A diagram showing the electoral structure of the Weimar Constitution The Weimar Constitution - Strengths and Weaknesses Strengths Weaknesses The people gained more rights such as voting An increase in elections weakened the public’s enthusiasm for voting. During the 1920s and 1930s, fewer people voted in elections Proportional representation ensured the Reichstag The use of proportional representation meant no represented smaller parties. One seat was single party won a majority in the Reichstag. equivalent to 60,000 votes There were nine coalition governments between 1919 and 1923 alone. This meant policies lacked vision and took longer to pass The system was designed to stop someone from Article 48 meant the chancellor could ask the taking ultimate power. For example, the president president to pass emergency laws without the chose the chancellor but the public elected the support of the Reichstag. Ebert used Article 48 president every seven years 63 times between 1923 and 1924. The abuse of the article continued into the 1930s The Reichstag and the Reichsrat worked together. The new constitution did not subdue the The Länder (local governments) retained power over extremist political parties. They continued to schools and the police. The Reichsrat could violently attack the Weimar Republic. The challenge laws unless two-thirds of the Reichstag government relied on force to maintain power voted against the Reichsrat’s intervention Worked Example What were the main features of the Weimar Constitution? 4 marks Answers: Page 7 of 41 © 2015-2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. · Revision Notes, Topic Questions, Past Papers  Head to www.savemyexams.com for more awesome resources There was an elected president who appointed the chancellor (1). The Reichstag was elected every four years (1). The Reichstag was elected by proportional representation (1). Both men and women over the age of 21 could vote (1). Your notes Examiner Tips and Tricks This style of question does not require you to explain your answer. The Cambridge IGCSE gives you a point for each relevant piece of information that you write. Therefore, do not spend any additional time trying to describe or explain each reason. Page 8 of 41 © 2015-2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. · Revision Notes, Topic Questions, Past Papers  Head to www.savemyexams.com for more awesome resources The Impact of the Treaty of Versailles on the Republic Your notes Germany’s Reaction to the Treaty of Versailles - Summary The Treaty of Versailles is often referred to as one of the most hated treaties in history. This is because every country that signed the agreement was deeply unhappy with the outcome. The ‘Big Three’ of Britain, France and the USA met at the Palace of Versailles in January 1919 with different intentions. With so much difference in opinion, it is clear why the final agreement dissatisfied every contributor and became a controversial treaty. The Allies banned Germany from attending the peace talks in January 1919. While the Weimar Republic had little choice but to sign the treaty, its terms brought anger to the German public. The public’s hatred towards the Treaty of Versailles lasted into the 1930s. Hitler utilised this anger as a way to win the support of the people. The Terms of the Treaty of Versailles The Military Terms of the Treaty of Versailles Article Description of term Impact on Germany number 42 The Rhineland (an area in Western Germany that Germany was not allowed to have bordered France) became demilitarised. Allied soldiers in the Rhineland. This made them troops were stationed there until 1930 vulnerable to an invasion from France 160 Germany’s army was restricted to 100,000 men Many ex-soldiers became unemployed 181 Germany’s navy was restricted to six Germany became weaker. They could battleships and could not produce submarines not develop the military technology that other countries had 198 Germany was not allowed to have an air force The Territorial Terms of the Treaty of Versailles Article Description of term Impact on Germany number 45 France was given the area of the Saar, with its Germany lost 15% of their coal coalfields, for 15 years resources. This affected their economy Page 9 of 41 © 2015-2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. · Revision Notes, Topic Questions, Past Papers  Head to www.savemyexams.com for more awesome resources 51 Alsace-Lorraine became a part of France again Germany did not have a buffer between themselves and France anymore Your notes 80 Anschluss (the union between Germany and Austria was a part of Germany’s cultural Austria) was forbidden identity. Many Austrians considered themselves to be German 87 Germany lost Posen and West Prussia, which The ‘Polish Corridor’ divided Germany allowed the Allies to create a ‘Polish Corridor’. into two. Roughly one million Germans This gave Poland access to the sea were under Polish rule 199 France and Britain ruled all 11 of Germany’s Germany’s reputation as a global power colonies in Africa and the Far East as mandates was destroyed. They had fewer items to trade with other countries The Political and Economic Terms of the Treaty of Versailles Article Description of term Impact on Germany number 1-26 Germany could not join the League of Nations Germany felt excluded from world politics. They were more likely to resort to violence to resolve disputes 231 The ‘War Guilt’ Clause. Germany had to agree This clause created the most anger that they started the First World War. The clause among the German population. They felt made Germany accept responsibility for the it was unfair to take all of the blame for the deaths and destruction during wartime atrocities caused by the First World War 232 Germany would have to pay the Allies This amount would be enough to bankrupt reparations as a condition of their surrender. Germany, especially, as the territorial The amount was set at 132 billion gold marks terms reduced their ability to trade (£6.6 billion) Why was the Treaty of Versailles Unpopular in Germany? Many Germans argued that the Weimar government should not have signed the treaty The Allies had not defeated the German Army in battle Page 10 of 41 © 2015-2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. · Revision Notes, Topic Questions, Past Papers  Head to www.savemyexams.com for more awesome resources They believed that German politicians committed a ‘dolchstoss’ - or a ‘stab in the back’ Many Germans felt that the Weimar government had lied to them about the reality of surrendering Your notes to the Allies The politicians who signed the Treaty of Versailles were called ‘November Criminals’. This was because November was the month the government signed the armistice Many Germans compared the acceptance of the treaty to committing a crime against the German state The terms of the Treaty of Versailles destroyed Germany’s economy The Allies theorised that, by imposing large reparations, Germany would be unable to finance another war Germany had already been financially ruined by the First World War. This made the Weimar government seem weak From the outset, Germany could not pay its reparations bill. By 1923, this created problems Many Germans felt humiliated and weaker than the rest of Europe Many extremist political groups gained wider support when they campaigned that they would ignore the Treaty of Versailles if elected Hitler made the destruction of the Treaty of Versailles one of the main points in the Nazi Party’s manifesto What Does Left and Right in Politics Mean? Germany was experiencing political chaos in 1918 due to the number of new political parties that emerged The political parties of Weimar Germany represented a range of left-wing and right-wing ideas What Does Left-Wing Mean? A person who has left-wing opinions believes that: The people should run the country rather than one person or political group. Extreme left-wing groups believe that the country should not have a government at all Capitalism only harms the country. The rich get richer and the poor become poorer. An extreme left-wing party would ban people from owning businesses or property A person can work their way up in society through hard work. Someone with an extreme left- wing opinion would not believe in the idea of class. They would see everyone as equal, no matter what job they did or how educated they were Page 11 of 41 © 2015-2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. · Revision Notes, Topic Questions, Past Papers  Head to www.savemyexams.com for more awesome resources Their nation is not better than any other country. They believe in global collaboration to create the best policies The most extreme version of the left-wing is Communism Your notes What Does Right-Wing Mean? A person who has right-wing opinions believes that: The country should have strong armed forces and an autocratic leader Businesses should be able to make lots of money and pay less in taxes. They value the concept of capitalism The family unit is important. They believe in upholding traditional values A person should have a strong pride in their country. They would make decisions based on the interests of the country rather than what’s best for an individual or group They have a strong sense of national identity. Someone with extreme right-wing beliefs does not like immigrants or people of a different ethnicity or religion to them The most extreme version of the right-wing is called Fascism The Main Political Parties in the Weimar Republic Abbreviation Name in Politically left or Support base English right? SPD Social Moderate left The workers and the middle classes Democrats DDP Democrats Moderate left The more educated middle classes ZP Centre Party Centre (neither left Originally the party of the Catholic Church, or right) supported by conservatives DVP People’s Party Moderate right The upper middle classes DNVP National Party Right Wealthy landowners and big businesses KPD Communist Extreme left The workers and some middle classes Party NSDAP Nazi Party Extreme right Little support until the mid-to-late 1920s Page 12 of 41 © 2015-2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. · Revision Notes, Topic Questions, Past Papers  Head to www.savemyexams.com for more awesome resources Spectrum of Weimar Germany's Political Parties Your notes A diagram displaying the Weimar political parties on a spectrum of left-wing to right-wing Examiner Tips and Tricks It is important to use the phrases ‘extreme’ and ‘moderate’ when describing where a political belief fits on this spectrum. It shows the examiner that you understand the variations of political left and right. In Weimar Germany, the SPD and the KPD were both left-wing parties. However, the KPD was more extreme-left in their beliefs than the SPD, who held the most seats in the Reichstag in 1919. You can also have parties that are neither left nor right as they have a mixture of both ideologies. These are called ‘Centre’ or ‘Moderate’ parties. An example in Weimar Germany was the Zentrum (which translates in English to the Centre Party). It held right-wing beliefs on the constitution but left-wing beliefs about social reform. The Spartacist Uprising The Spartacist Uprising was a left-wing challenge to the Weimar Republic The Spartacist League was a German Communist group The KPD supported their cause Spartacist comes from the name Spartacus, the leader of a slave revolt in Ancient Rome Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht led the Spartacists The Weimar government Sacked Emil Eichhorn, Berlin’s police chief Eichhorn was popular among the workers Luxemburg and Liebknecht used this to begin the uprising on 4th January 1919 By 6th January, Berlin was in chaos Page 13 of 41 © 2015-2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. · Revision Notes, Topic Questions, Past Papers  Head to www.savemyexams.com for more awesome resources Luxemburg and Liebknecht had encouraged the workers to go on a general strike Over 100,000 workers protested on the streets Your notes The Spartacists had taken control of the government’s newspaper and various telegraph offices across Berlin Chancellor Ebert did not know what to do The First World War had weakened the Reichswehr There were too many protestors on the streets Ebert turned to another organisation to defeat the Spartacist Uprising He ordered the Reichswehr to organise Freikorps units to fight the Spartacist Uprising The Freikorps held extreme right-wing opinions and hated Communists The Spartacist Uprising ended on 13th January 1919 The Freikorps and Reichswehr were fighting mainly unarmed Communist workers On 16th January, both Luxemburg and Liebknecht were brutally killed by the Freikorps Kapp Putsch The Kapp Putsch was a right-wing challenge to the Weimar Republic Learn more about the events of the Kapp Putsch The Occupation of the Ruhr The Weimar Republic was struggling to pay the reparations from the Treaty of Versailles As a result, the French and Belgian armies occupied the Ruhr region of Germany Learn more about the occupation of the Ruhr Economic Crisis and Hyperinflation in Weimar Germany The Occupation of the Ruhr caused an extreme economic depression in Germany in 1923 Hyperinflation is when prices rise rapidly and become out of control Learn more about the hyperinflation crisis of 1923 Page 14 of 41 © 2015-2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. · Revision Notes, Topic Questions, Past Papers  Head to www.savemyexams.com for more awesome resources Worked Example Why did the Treaty of Versailles lead to instability in the Weimar Republic? Your notes 6 marks Partial answer: One reason why the Treaty of Versailles led to instability was because of how unpopular it was in Germany (1). The Treaty of Versailles restricted the army to 100,000 men, with no air force and a small navy of 6 battleships (1). This created instability because many ex-soldiers were left unemployed and angry. They formed the Freikorps, an armed right-wing group. They attempted to overthrow the government in 1920 in the Kapp Putsch. Their uprising caused significant instability. The government only maintained control because the workers did not support the Freikorps’ aim to bring back the Kaiser (1). Examiner Tips and Tricks In Paper One, ‘explain why’ questions are worth either six or ten marks. For full marks for this question, an examiner is looking for two fully explained reasons why the Treaty of Versailles caused instability. Use the PEE structure in your answer: P - Make a point about the question E - Use evidence that supports the point that you have made E - Explain why this evidence caused instability in the Weimar Republic. Avoid repeating the point again. Explain how this factor created a serious threat to the government Page 15 of 41 © 2015-2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. · Revision Notes, Topic Questions, Past Papers  Head to www.savemyexams.com for more awesome resources Did the Republic Recover After 1923? Your notes How Important was Stresemann to the Recovery of the Weimar Republic? - Summary When President Ebert chose Gustav Stresemann as chancellor in August 1923, the German economy had crashed. The French invasion of the Ruhr had caused hyperinflation and the German currency, the mark, was worthless. Stresemann was chancellor from August to November 1923. He made many decisions in an attempt to save Germany's economy. He brought inflation under control by implementing a new currency, the Rentenmark. Stresemann negotiated the Dawes (1924) and Young (1929) plans. This reduced Germany's reparations payments to the Allies. By November 1923, Stresemann had lost his position as chancellor. The coalition government broke down when the SPD decided they no longer wanted to work with Stresemann’s party, the DVP. The next chancellor, Wilhelm Marx from the Centre Party, formed a coalition with the DVP and the DDP. Stresemann was appointed foreign minister by Marx. As foreign minister, Stresemann pursued several treaties like Locarno and Kellogg-Briand. He aimed to build better relations with Europe and restore Germany’s reputation as a world power. Stresemann succeeded in his ambitions. In 1926, the League of Nations accepted Germany as a permanent member. In the same year, Stresemann won the Nobel Peace Prize. Stresemann died in office on 3rd October 1929. Historians debate the success of Gustav Stresemann’s policies on the recovery of the Weimar Republic. Some historians argue that Stresemann saved the Republic. They state that his policies facilitated a ‘Golden Age' from 1923 to 1929. Between 1924 and 1929, the public’s support of moderate parties increased. Other historians highlight that Stresemann only delayed the failure of the Republic. The Dawes and Young plans meant that Germany was reliant on American economic success. If the USA’s economy failed, it would trigger a depression in Germany. The Wall Street Crash in the USA in 1929 ultimately caused the downfall of the Weimar Republic. Page 16 of 41 © 2015-2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. · Revision Notes, Topic Questions, Past Papers  Head to www.savemyexams.com for more awesome resources Your notes Page 17 of 41 © 2015-2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. · Revision Notes, Topic Questions, Past Papers  Head to www.savemyexams.com for more awesome resources The front page of the German satirical magazine Simplicissimus in 1923. It shows Gustav Stresemann as a guardian angel of the German Michel. The caption reads: "He looks to the right, he looks to the left - he will save me!" Your notes “Stresemann did German democracy a disservice. Stresemann’s Republic was kept going by foreign success and the dose of success had constantly to be increased. Far from consolidating the Republic, Stresemann gave the Germans a taste for blood which the enemies of the Republic could more easily satisfy” An extract from The Course of Germany History by A. J. P. Taylor. It was published in 1945 Economic Achievements of Gustav Stresemann Who was Gustav Stresemann? Gustav Stresemann became chancellor in August 1923 Page 18 of 41 © 2015-2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. · Revision Notes, Topic Questions, Past Papers  Head to www.savemyexams.com for more awesome resources Stresemann was a nationalist Initially, he did not like the Weimar Republic Your notes After the assassination of Rathenau, Germany’s foreign minister, Stresemann’s opinion of the government changed He established the DVP (People’s Party), a moderate right political group As chancellor, Stresemann had three aims for Germany: Bring inflation under control Regain Europe’s respect Minimise the support for extremist parties The Creation of the Rentenmark Germany’s currency, the mark, was beyond saving: The largest note was 100,000,000,000,000 (100 trillion) marks The government believed there were 400.3 billion trillion marks in circulation In November 1923, Stresemann created a new currency called the Rentenmark One Rentenmark was the equivalent of a trillion marks Stresemann established a new state-owned bank called the Rentenbank The German public brought marks into the Rentenbank to transfer them into Rentenmarks The Rentenmark was a gold standard currency This means that the value of the Rentenmark matched the price of gold European countries trusted gold standard currencies In August 1924, the government created the Reichsbank to control the Rentenmark The government renamed the Rentenmark the Reichsmark The new currency allowed German businesses to trade with foreign countries Dawes Plan The agreement of the Dawes Plan helped Germany to economically recover Page 19 of 41 © 2015-2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. · Revision Notes, Topic Questions, Past Papers  Head to www.savemyexams.com for more awesome resources Your notes An illustration showing the various reactions to the Dawes Plan in Weimar Germany Young Plan The Young Plan further improved Germany's economic position Page 20 of 41 © 2015-2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. · Revision Notes, Topic Questions, Past Papers  Head to www.savemyexams.com for more awesome resources Your notes A diagram showing a comparison between the Dawes and Young Plans Examiner Tips and Tricks Students often get confused between the Dawes and Young plans. There are many similarities between the two plans. However, the Young Plan built upon the success of the Dawes Plan. Use the diagram above to help you identify specific features from each plan. Successes Weaknesses Stresemann ended the passive Germany’s economy was dependent on the US economy. In resistance in the Ruhr which increased 1929, Stresemann stated that Germany was “dancing on a Page 21 of 41 © 2015-2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. · Revision Notes, Topic Questions, Past Papers  Head to www.savemyexams.com for more awesome resources Germany’s production capability volcano”. If the USA recalled the loans or experienced a depression, the ‘volcano’ would erupt and destroy the stability of Weimar Germany Your notes The Rentenmark meant that businesses Rich and poor remained divided. Farmers particularly could trade again with other countries struggled with low prices The Young Plan lowered reparation Unemployment remained at one million payments, which helped recover the economy. This increased the Allies’ confidence in Germany’s ability to pay the reparations bill The Dawes Plan brought foreign investment into German industry. This eased tensions between Germany and the Allies Foreign Policy Achievements of Gustav Stresemann Page 22 of 41 © 2015-2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. · Revision Notes, Topic Questions, Past Papers  Head to www.savemyexams.com for more awesome resources Your notes The Locarno Treaties The Locarno Treaties helped Germany's relationship with other countries Germany Joins the League of Nations The League of Nations was a forum where countries could discuss problems before resorting to armed conflict Wilson, the American President, played a leading role in the creation of the League of Nations. It was based on his 14 Points The Treaty of Versailles established the League The League did not formally meet until 10th January 1920 For a country to join the League of Nations as a permanent member, it had to receive two- thirds of the members’ votes A country could leave the League if it gave two years' notice Page 23 of 41 © 2015-2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. · Revision Notes, Topic Questions, Past Papers  Head to www.savemyexams.com for more awesome resources Due to Clemenceau’s anger, the Treaty of Versailles banned Germany from joining the League of Nations Your notes As a result of the Locarno Treaties, the League of Nations met with Stresemann to discuss membership In September 1926, Stresemann obtained German membership of the League The League permitted Germany to sit on the League of Nations Council The Impacts of Joining the League of Nations Positive impacts Negative impacts Boosted German citizens’ Some people did not want anything to do with the League of confidence in the Weimar Republic Nations. It was associated with the hated Treaty of Versailles Gained support for moderate Created anger among extremist parties parties The Kellogg-Briand Pact, 1928 French foreign minister Aristide Briand met with US Secretary of State Frank B. Kellogg to discuss further steps towards world peace The USA was not in the League of Nations due to focusing on their own affairs Some US politicians were idealists and wanted world peace On 27th August 1928, they assembled Germany and 61 other countries to sign the Kellogg-Briand Pact The Kellogg-Briand Pact stated that war should never be used as a means for resolving disputes between countries Impacts of the Kellogg-Briand Pact on Germany Positive impacts Negative impacts Boosted German citizens’ confidence in the The Kellogg-Briand Pact did not remove the military Weimar Republic restrictions imposed by the Treaty of Versailles. This angered extremist parties The world saw Germany as a respectable and Many Germans thought other countries would move trustworthy state. They could enter into treaties towards disarmament. Disappointingly, the pact did Page 24 of 41 © 2015-2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. · Revision Notes, Topic Questions, Past Papers  Head to www.savemyexams.com for more awesome resources as an equal to the other signatories not promise this Your notes Impact on the Reichstag When Stresemann became chancellor in August 1923, he aimed to reduce support for extremist parties His success in financial and political affairs achieved this aim A graph showing the election results for the main political parties in Germany from 1924-1928 By October 1929, the political atmosphere in Germany had radically changed There were no political assassinations between 1924 and 1929 Page 25 of 41 © 2015-2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. · Revision Notes, Topic Questions, Past Papers  Head to www.savemyexams.com for more awesome resources There were six coalition governments in the period of 1924-1929. This was much fewer than pre- 1924 Your notes Friedrich Ebert died in 1925 Throughout his presidency, Ebert could not detach his reputation from the Treaty of Versailles Paul von Hindenburg replaced Ebert as president Hindenburg was the army chief of staff under the Kaiser He was elected president at 77 years old He had strong conservative, nationalist views The right-wing middle class respected Hindenburg and, as a result, increased their support of the Weimar Republic On 3rd October 1929, Stresemann died in office of a heart attack The Republic lost one of the most capable ministers it had The Wall Street Crash occurred at the end of October Successes Weaknesses The French and Belgian soldiers left the Ruhr in 1925. This was not enough for nationalists. They Stresemann’s approach helped created a stronger believed that the Allies got away with relationship between Germany and France unacceptable actions Politics in Germany stabilised. Moderate parties Extremist parties still had 13% of the vote. received more votes. In 1925, Paul von Hindenburg was Hindenburg was a right-wing nationalist who elected president. This increased confidence in the initially did not support the Weimar Republic Weimar Republic The Locarno Treaties, the Young Plan and Germany’s Nationalists criticised these actions. They entrance into the League showed that countries were unhappy that the German government accepted Germany back into European affairs continued to follow the Treaty of Versailles Worked Example Why were Stresemann’s policies important for Germany? 6 marks Page 26 of 41 © 2015-2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. · Revision Notes, Topic Questions, Past Papers  Head to www.savemyexams.com for more awesome resources Partial answer: Stresemann’s policies were important for Germany because they helped Germany recover from Your notes hyperinflation (1). The occupation of the Ruhr caused the Weimar Republic to print more money. This caused a hyperinflation crisis. In 1923, Stresemann introduced a new currency called the Rentenmark (1). The Rentenmark was incredibly important for Germany. It allowed the country to have a valuable currency respected by foreign markets. This allowed Germany to trade, helping German industries to recover (1). Examiner Tips and Tricks Ensure you write two paragraphs in PEE format about why Stresemann’s policies helped Germany to recover. Other points you could include are: The end of passive resistance in the Ruhr The reduction of reparations due to the Dawes and Young plans Securing investment from the USA Helping Germany to recover its international reputation Page 27 of 41 © 2015-2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. · Revision Notes, Topic Questions, Past Papers  Head to www.savemyexams.com for more awesome resources What were the Achievements of the Weimar Period? Your notes Was 1924-1929 a ‘Golden Age’ for the Weimar Republic? - Summary Historians debate the extent to which the lives of citizens improved under the Weimar Republic. Weimar Germany in the 1920s experienced a ‘cultural explosion’. The Weimar government gave grants to artists and cultural organisations like theatres and libraries. The government supported, rather than censored, new approaches to the arts. New technologies such as radio and film provided German artists with new mediums to explore. The experimental nature of Weimar culture upset many right-wing and extremist groups. The arts of the Weimar Republic clashed with these groups’ traditional values. The establishment of the Weimar Republic marked the beginning of the German welfare state. A welfare state is the concept that the government supports and improves the well-being of its citizens. While the government succeeded in some areas, there was a divide between the industrial and agricultural working classes. Workers in towns and cities benefitted the most from the reforms. High debt, low prices and increasing taxes damaged the standard of living in farming communities. By 1929, the income of agricultural workers was 44% below the national average. Weimar Germany became one of the most advanced societies for women’s rights. The Weimar Constitution created universal suffrage. This was rare for European countries. The right to vote and opportunity to work led to the development of the ‘New Woman’ of the 1920s. A ‘New Woman’ was independent, career-minded and reluctant to become a wife or mother. They enjoyed freedoms that women of previous centuries had never experienced before. Germany’s progressive approach to women’s rights created many enemies within the Weimar Republic. The right-wing vilified the ‘New Woman’ for destroying the traditional family unit. Extremist parties like the Nazi Party campaigned to return women to their traditional role of wives and mothers. The 'Golden Age' of the Weimar Republic Weimar Art Expressionism in Weimar Germany used grotesque or exaggerated figures in violent scenes This aimed to make the audience uncomfortable. In doing so, the artist hoped people would begin to question the society in which they lived Otto Dix was a famous New Objectivist artist in Weimar Germany. One of his paintings highlighted the issues war veterans had once they returned to Germany George Grosz painted ‘Grey Day’, which used expressionism to represent the boredom of day-to- day life Page 28 of 41 © 2015-2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. · Revision Notes, Topic Questions, Past Papers  Head to www.savemyexams.com for more awesome resources Weimar art horrified the conservative upper classes and the extreme right-wing Traditionally, the more educated upper classes controlled and produced Germany’s cultural Your notes output. In the Weimar Republic, the upper classes no longer held this power The meanings of the artworks were unclear. The pictures had many interpretations These pieces could have undermined the authority of the upper classes Many artists had strong left-wing beliefs. This challenged the traditional ways of life valued by the right The right panel of Otto Dix’s work ‘Metropolis’ from 1927 Page 29 of 41 © 2015-2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. · Revision Notes, Topic Questions, Past Papers  Head to www.savemyexams.com for more awesome resources Your notes Page 30 of 41 © 2015-2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. · Revision Notes, Topic Questions, Past Papers  Head to www.savemyexams.com for more awesome resources Your notes Grey Day’ by George Grosz, 1921 Weimar Architecture In 1919, a new form of design called ‘Bauhaus’ emerged Walter Gropius founded the movement in Weimar Germany in 1919. He aimed to create a unified style that connected all types of art forms The Bauhaus design school existed in three German cities between 1919 and 1933, Weimar, Berlin and Dessau Lecturers at Bauhaus College included the artist Paul Klee and the sculptor Oskar Schlemmer ‘Bauhaus’ architecture uses geometric shapes to create practical buildings. The movement saw the beauty of technology and the use of familiar materials in different ways. For example, they constructed entire buildings using only concrete The ‘Bauhaus’ movement inspired Weimar architects such as Erich Mendelsohn He designed the Einstein Tower, an observatory in Potsdam, to look like a rocket Page 31 of 41 © 2015-2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. · Revision Notes, Topic Questions, Past Papers  Head to www.savemyexams.com for more awesome resources A photograph of Einstein Tower Your notes Weimar Cinema The popularity of cinema exploded in the 1920s By 1929, there were roughly 500 cinemas across Germany Germany began to compete with American film production The expressionist film The Cabinet of Doctor Caligari (1920) was one of the first horror films. The director, Robert Wiene, created the first ‘plot twist’ ending in cinema history F. W. Murnau directed the film Nosferatu (1922) It was the world’s first vampire film Many films today use the tension methods Murnau created while filming Nosferatu The Weimar government funded Metropolis (1926) through an organisation called UFA It cost 5 million Reichsmarks Fritz Lang created a modernist science-fiction film that centred on the impact of technology on 20th-century life It was unsuccessful at the time but has influenced many modern-day films such as Star Wars Germany produced its first talking film, or 'talkie' in 1930 The capability to play films with sound was available in 3,800 German cinemas by 1932 Page 32 of 41 © 2015-2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. · Revision Notes, Topic Questions, Past Papers  Head to www.savemyexams.com for more awesome resources Your notes A scene from The Cabinet of Doctor Caligari (1920) Page 33 of 41 © 2015-2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. · Revision Notes, Topic Questions, Past Papers  Head to www.savemyexams.com for more awesome resources Your notes A scene from Nosferatu (1922) Page 34 of 41 © 2015-2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. · Revision Notes, Topic Questions, Past Papers  Head to www.savemyexams.com for more awesome resources Your notes Page 35 of 41 © 2015-2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. · Revision Notes, Topic Questions, Past Papers  Head to www.savemyexams.com for more awesome resources Your notes Maria from Metropolis (1926) Weimar Nightlife Weimar Germany had a thriving nightlife. Common activities in cities like Berlin included Watching cabaret Going to the theatre Dancing in nightclubs These activities encouraged liberal behaviour Women and men drank, smoked and had sex Page 36 of 41 © 2015-2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. · Revision Notes, Topic Questions, Past Papers  Head to www.savemyexams.com for more awesome resources Young Germans were very open about their sexuality Gay communities formed in big cities Your notes Changes to Living Standards To improve standards of living, the Weimar government: Passed the Unemployment Insurance Act in 1927 This money funded insurance that covered unemployment and sickness 16.4 million workers had 3% of their wages diverted to the government If an insured German did not have a job or was unable to work due to poor health, the scheme paid them 60 Reichsmarks per week Created better working conditions They lowered the hours in a working week from 50 in 1925 to 46 in 1927 Workers’ ‘real’ wages rose 25% from 1925 to 1928. This measurement considers the cost of living and inflation to calculate the actual value of a worker's wages Focused on housing The Länder utilised foreign loans to fund building projects The government introduced a rent tax of 15% to create building associations Private companies created 37,000 new homes from 1925 to 1929. In the same period, building associations constructed 64,000 homes Passed the Reich Pension Law Over 1.3 million people (widows and ex-soldiers) received a war-related pension Weimar Germany spent roughly 40% of its GDP on this scheme Changes to Women The Weimar Republic focused on improving the life of women The Weimar Constitution placed women’s right to vote into law All women over the age of 21 could vote in elections. This was the same access to voting that German men had Article 109 stated that marriage was an equal legal partnership between men and women German women were active in politics Page 37 of 41 © 2015-2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. · Revision Notes, Topic Questions, Past Papers  Head to www.savemyexams.com for more awesome resources Elections usually had a 90% turnout of women voters In 1920, there were 111 women elected as party representatives in the Reichstag Your notes The Weimar government had good intentions to improve women’s employment Progress in women’s employment Regression in women’s employment By 1918, the percentage of women with By 1925, the employment rate of women had fallen employment was 75% to 36%. This was roughly the same as before the First World War Article 109 in the Weimar Constitution gave Many employers ignored Article 109 and chose male women the right to access all professions on an candidates over women equal standing to men Women in employment were paid 33% less than men doing the equivalent job The retail sector employed lots of women on a As soon as a woman became married, society part-time basis expected her to leave her job to focus on the household and become a mother There was an increase in women employed as Women struggled to reach high-respected teachers and doctors professions. For example, Germany only had 36 female judges in 1933 The right to vote and increased working opportunities allowed women the freedom to express themselves These ‘New Women’ could: Buy more revealing clothes Cut their hair short Wear more makeup Smoke cigarettes and drink alcohol Be focused more on their careers than on becoming wives and mothers Companies used the image of the ‘New Woman’ to sell their products This was a tactic used by cosmetic companies Page 38 of 41 © 2015-2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. · Revision Notes, Topic Questions, Past Papers  Head to www.savemyexams.com for more awesome resources Your notes A German film poster from 1925 entitled Three Waiting Maids. It shows the ideal version of the ‘New Woman’ Criticism of the 'Golden Age' Extremists used people’s hatred of the ‘New Woman’ to increase support for their ideals Hitler blamed the ‘New Woman’ for increasing unemployment rates among the working class He campaigned against the ‘New Woman’ and encouraged a return to women’s traditional role in the household Trade unions had a negative reaction to the presence of women in the workplace Men dominated the trade unions They believed that equality for women in the workplace would negatively affect male workers They resented ‘double earners’. This term referred to households where the husband and wife both worked Page 39 of 41 © 2015-2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. · Revision Notes, Topic Questions, Past Papers  Head to www.savemyexams.com for more awesome resources Your notes Illustration showing the contrasting reactions to the 'New Woman' Many extremist parties opposed Weimar culture Extreme left-wing parties like the KPD saw the government's funding of culture as a waste of money. They believed it took resources away from the people who needed financial help, for example, the workers Page 40 of 41 © 2015-2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. · Revision Notes, Topic Questions, Past Papers  Head to www.savemyexams.com for more awesome resources Extreme right-wing parties like the NSDAP believed that Weimar culture was destroying German traditions. They argued that Weimar culture was responsible for the moral decline of German society Your notes The Wandervögel movement protested against the progression of Weimar society They wanted a return to traditional values Worked Example Describe cultural developments in Weimar Germany 4 marks Answers: Weimar government gave grants to artists, which allowed the arts to grow (1). New painting styles emerged like that of George Grosz (1). In architecture, the Bauhaus style used geometric shapes to create practical buildings (1). The Weimar government funded cinema projects such as the film Metropolis (1). Examiner Tips and Tricks This style of question does not require you to explain your answer. The Cambridge IGCSE gives you a point for each relevant piece of information that you write in your answer. Therefore, do not spend any additional time trying to describe or explain each reason. You should aim to complete the question in four minutes, one minute per point. This will give you one minute to read through your answer. Page 41 of 41 © 2015-2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. · Revision Notes, Topic Questions, Past Papers