1. Germany from 1919 to 1934 The Weimar Republic
President Ebert – first president of the Weimar Republic.
Germany from 1919 to 1934
The Weimar Republic

2. The end of an empire
Kaiser Wilhelm II was monarch of the German Empire who ruled with a parliament i.e.
(a constitutional monarchy).

3. After the war Germany became a republic
President Ebert became the first democratically elected president
Many political parties competed for votes
Riots and unrest were prominent in the early 1920s due to social and economic needs of the people e.g. unemployment, food shortages, housing, inflation, etc.
Due to unrest the seat of govt moved to the city of Weimar instead of Berlin.

4. Some of the parties that featured were
The Socialist Democrats
The Communist Party
The Nationalists
The German Workers Party (Hitler became the leader in 1921) and others…..
All made promises to the people to gain votes.

5. Aims of Hitler Lebensraum/ Living space Anti- Semitic – hatred of Jews
Eastern Europe – invade, expand and conquer the Slavs
Unite all Germans outside the borders
Build up the economy again
Socialism – State should help all Germans who were suffering
Un-do T of V
Lebensraum/
Find living space for Germans
Nationalism –Germany should be proud, united and strong

6. Life in Weimar
Democracy: elections, secret ballot, political parties, constitution, human rights.
New system for Germans who were used to a semi-autocratic system (hereditary emperor and an elected parliament)
But too many parties and the voting results showed that voters were torn between liberal, moderate and conservative parties.

7. Posters – propaganda for various causes

8. Economic problems
Joblessness was rife but also hyperinflation as currency devalued. Housing and food shortages made people frustrated.

9. Devaluation and hardship
Year Month Marks needed to buy one US dollar
April
  December
November
July
  August ,000
  October ,000
  December ,000
January ,000
  April ,000
  July ,000
  August ,621,000
  September ,860,000
  October ,260,000,000
  November ,193,600,000,000
  December ,200,000,000,000

10. Culture and society
Painted during the period of Weimar rule: What does each painting portray about society?

11. What view of society is represented here?

12. Freedom of expression: themes, colours and form.

13. Let’s sum up:
Germans gained more freedom and many rights under the Weimar Republic
The country had a liberal constitution (many rights) that was based on democracy
BUT it was a relatively new system which meant that the Germans needed to be prepared for the changes that were introduced…..

14. What was education and schools like in the Weimar Republic?
In classrooms pupils were encouraged to be obedient and to respect authority.
Schools changed very little after WWI and were traditional and conservative.
No criticism of courses or subject matter allowed.
Albert Speer (Nazi) recalled learning about the “God-given order of things”.

15. CASS Task 1
Question
Describe/ explain effects/ influence (how)
WHAT WAS THE IMPACT OF EDUCATION ON PUPILS IN WEIMAR GERMANY?
schooling
teaching
learning and thinking
Prim and secondary
Germany

16. The collapse of democracy in Weimar…. WHY?
Economy improved
Loans from the USA
But flaws in economy as they relied on credit and imports rather than the manufacturing sector
Consequences
Support for Moderate parties
Nazi Party few votes
All seemed well on the surface.

17. Chain reaction 1929 Great Depression in USA
Loans (Dawes and Young Plan) ended and Germany stopped repaying the war debt
Economic troubles spread to Weimar Rep too
Germany after 1929
Shortage of jobs – massive unemployment
Increased urbanisation
Radical parties gained support
More unrest and instability
Support for Nazis grew steadily
Promoted NAZISM as an ideology (combination of socialism and nationalism)
Outlawed radical parties as dangerous
Promoted the idea of law and order
Encouraged the Germans to support a more centralised system of control.

18. Election results in Germany
Federal election results of the Nazi Party
Date Votes % Nazi Seats Background
in Reichstag (parlt)
May ,918, Hitler in prison
Dec , Hitler released
May ,  
Sept ,409, After the financial crisis
July ,745,
Nov ,737,
March ,277, After Hitler had
become Chancellor
Nazis still no majority

19. How did Hitler take control?
The President von Hindenburg appointed Hitler as Chancellor – this gave him more power and he began to consolidate and centralise his control.
The Reichstag building caught fire in 1933 and Hitler immediately blamed the Communist Party for this incident and banned the Communist Party from the Reichstag (this party was the biggest opposition party to the Nazis).
Hitler used propaganda to win votes and passed two decrees that took way the right to privacy and property.
On 23 March 1934 Hitler passed the ENABLING ACT that gave him emergency powers; anyone thought to be an ‘enemy of the State’ could be prosecuted.

20. By 1934
The Weimar Government ceased to exist and in the place of the liberal democracy there a new form of government was introduced that was:
Totalitarian (one ruler, one empire, one nation) and
Autocratic (power centralised in the party; no opposition was allowed.