Post World War I Germany

2 Crisis and Conflict: Impact of World War I Copyright 2006 Millions of dead, wounded or homeless people Millions of dead, wounded or homeless people Four empires broke up Four empires broke up Self- determination became popular Self- determination became popular New nation- states were set up New nation- states were set up New boundaries created problems New boundaries created problems World economy damaged World economy damaged What was the world like after World War I? Changes to society Changes to society

3 Crisis and Conflict: Impact of World War I Copyright 2006 Homeless people: There were numerous displaced refugees who had lost almost everything. What does this picture tell you about the impact of World War I?

4 Crisis and Conflict: Impact of World War I Copyright 2006 Destroyed infrastructure: A lengthy restoration was required and the economy was damaged.

5 Crisis and Conflict: Impact of World War I Copyright 2006 Changes to position of women in society: They expected equal rights, equal opportunities.

6 Crisis and Conflict: Impact of World War I Copyright 2006 Unemployment: Many jobs were displaced by the war.

7 Crisis and Conflict: Impact of World War I Copyright 2006 Summary Germany Austria-Hungary Ottoman Turkey Britain France Serbia Russia (until 1917) Italy (from May 1915) USA (fought as an Associated Power from 1917) Major countries involved Central Powers Allied Powers Back to main summary

Germany Weimar Republic formed in 1918 Treaty of Versailles Effects of Reparations

German Hyperinflation, 1922

Leftist Agitation in Germany

“Hands Off the Ruhr”

Germany Adolf Hitler ( ) Joins National Socialist German Workers Party (Nazi) in 1920

Leader(s) – Adolf Hitler Austrian born World War I veteran Member of the National Socialist Workers’ Party Led the Brownshirts Staged the “Beer Hall Putsch” – failed Wrote Mein Kampf Blamed Jews & Communists for losing war Appealed to German’s sense of history Becomes Chancellor in 1933 Attacks Jews Takes title of der Führer Restores Germany’s military might Ignored Versailles Treaty Organizes Nazi youth movement

Important Events 1919 – Germans elect an assembly which establishes a democratic republic called the Weimar Republic 1923 – Ruhr Valley occupied by French troops & Beer Hall Putsch 1929 – Great Depression in Germany 1933 – Hitler becomes chancellor & Reichstag fire 1934 – Purge of the Brownshirts 1935 – Nuremburg Laws enacted 1936 – Hitler and Mussolini sign the Berlin-Rome Axis 1938 – Kristallnacht Austria is annexed – “One blood demands one Reich” 1938 – Hitler demands and receives the Sudetenland of Czechoslovakia (appeasement) at the Munich Conference

People Blamed Weimar leaders for signing the Versailles Treaty Widespread opposition to Weimar Leaders Brownshirts – private army of veterans and street thugs Hitler appealed to workers and industrialists Political parties banned by Nazis Labor unions taken over by Nazis Churches controlled and clergy silenced Jews – stripped of citizenship and right to hold office; barred from schools and destroyed business

Diplomacy France - occupies the industrial Ruhr Valley U.S. – provides loans to Germany – helps free Germany of debt Adolf Hitler supports General Francisco Franco of the Spanish Nationalists in the Spanish Civil War ( ) he wanted Spanish iron ore and magnesium; prevent spread of communism; test new weapons and military tactics (blitzkrieg)

Economy Allies set reparations at $35 billion 1922 – Germany says it can not pay (industrial Ruhr Valley is occupied) Inflation soared Savings of Germans wiped out Mid-1920s – France reaches compromise with Germany U.S provides loans – Germany has 5-year period of prosperity Great Depression (begins in 1929) – unemployment, etc.

Military Treaty of Versailles limited the size of the Germany army Hitler sought to restore Germany’s military might German factories begin turning out guns, ammunition, airplanes, tanks, etc. Government stresses importance of a strong military