Weimar Republic 1919 1933 The Treaty of Versailles

Weimar Republic 1919 -1933

The Treaty of Versailles 1918 • Germany 100% war guilt • Pay reparations 132 million marks • Lose territories-Alsace & Lorraine – Including all foreign colonies • Limits on Military both standing army and # of ships they could manage • Many members who would run the Weimer were present at the signing – Including Weimar President Freidrich Ebert (SPD) • Germans were stunned at the harshness of the treaty – Many associated Weimar gov to a weak Germany that signed this treaty anger persisted

How The Weimar was Created • German Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicated the throne • Germany loses WWI to the allies a group of German Representatives signed the Armistice • The Weimar was a Parliamentary Republic was created to replace the Monarchy in 1919 – Reichstag was the legislative branch

The creators • Center Party(Catholics), German Democratic Party (DDP), and the SPD(Socialist) all led the creation of Weimar – From the start these parties would continue to lose support

Format of the Weimar • Reichstag- was the legislative branch – Membership was based on percentage of popular vote (19% of the vote gets 19 % of the Reichstag) • President- head of state who dealt with foreign affairs – 1918– 1925 Friedrich Ebert – 1925 -1934 Paul von Hindenburg • Chancellor- Was chosen by the president and dealt with daily running of the country • Constitution- allowed for taking of civil rights and dictatorial power in times of crisis

Early Opposition • Right (DNVP) wanted old order back in place – NSDAP was a small party which gained strengthfought for a pure German nation • Left KDP( Communist) wanted a workers revolution – Fears of Soviet ties

Hyperinflations • 1923 France and Belgium took over the Ruhr valley and its mines and factories(reparation) – German workers went on strike till • German Government printed massive amounts of money to help striking workers & ease reparations – Peoples life savings were lost as the value of the mark plummeted – 1923 New mark is created with strict financial rules

Period of Prosperity 1924 -1929 • Stability restored • Economy prospers Germans secure loans and business thrives – DAWES Plan- US banks agree to give German Banks Loans • 1925 foreign forces leave Ruhr Valley • 1926 Germany is brought into the League of Nations

The fall of the Weimer 1930 -1933 • The critical event was the American Market Crash of 1929 • This led to the Great Depression – Hurt Germans because of the Dawes Plan- No more American loans. • International trade went down causing – Based off tariffs and taxes generated from trade this hurt German economy

German Gov budget Deficit • German gov could no longer fund social Programs – Increasing Budget deficit • Left- increase taxes • Right- cut social programs – Parties in Reichstag continued to disagree leading a failed Reichstag – This leads to Extremist parties gaining power KDP and NSDP – violence between groups – This led to many Presidential Decrease in attempts to keep country running • 6 million Germans Unemployed

July 1932 Reichstag Election • Hindenburg was Re-Elected but Hitler was 2 nd • NSDAP grew in following and Organization by 1930’s – Broad strategy that appealed to most “GERMANS” • Other Partied too focused • SPD, KPD- Working class Center- Catholics • Election NSDAP won 37. 2% of the vote

Hitler takes Power • With this support Hindenburg persuaded to appoint Hitler Chancellor in 1933 – As chancellor he put immediate pressure on left and moderate parties – Reichstag fire in 1933 • Hitler blames the Communist • Election was held and 44% of Reichstag was Nazi – Using Weimar constitution and Reichstag- laws were passed that allowed Hitler power to pass laws with out parliament or Presidential approval – 1934 Hindenburg Dies Hitler has full Power