Totalitarianism
What is Totalitarianism?
A political system which attempts to control every aspect of personal, economic, and political life.
What is the Treaty of Versailles and when was it signed?
It was the peace settlement signed after World War One had ended in 1918. It was signed on 28th June 1919.
What was the demobilized ex-soldiers called?
Freikorps
What was the Great Depression and when did it happen?
The Great Depression was a worldwide economic downturn triggered by a stock market crash in New York in October 1929
Who took over governing Germany after the Kaiser?
Friedrich Ebert of the Social Democratic Party was in charge of the new government.
What is a dictator?
A political leader who possesses absolute power and wields it in an oppressive or abusive manner. A state of which is ruled by a dictator is called a dictatorship.
Which two powers enforced the harsh punishments on Germany?
France and Britain
What was the name of the communist uprising in Germany in January 1919?
Spartacist uprising
What is hyperinflation?
Hyperinflation was when money became worthless because the government had printed more money. People collected their wages in wheelbarrows but would still struggle to buy clothes and food. Savings became worthless. People blamed the government for their problems.
Why is the period between 1924-1933 called the Golden Age?
Because the main challenges were overcome and economy was improving
What is socialism?
A left-wing to far-left economic philosophy and movement encompassing a range of economic systems characterized by the dominance of social ownership of the means of production as opposed to private ownership.
BRAT - L is the acronym for the TOV conditions. What do they stand for?
Blame, Reparations, Army, Territory, League of Nations
What were the effects of the invasion of the Ruhr?
Passive resistance, strike pay, hyperinflation
Why did the Global Depression hit Germany particularly hard?
Germans were not so much reliant on exports as they were on American loans, which had been propping up the Weimar economy since 1924.
What is the 'November Criminals'
They signed the armistice (ceasefire) on 11th November 1918. This ended WW1 but it meant that Germany had then lost the war and people felt that their new government had ‘given in’ and even ‘stabbed Germany in the back’. What was the nickname for this new government?
List three characteristics of a Totalitarian government.
Includes: control of the media, centralized power, strict cultural rules, limited individual freedoms, planned economies, and mass propaganda.
What did Germany hate about the Treaty of Versailles?
They were angry that they were blamed for the war and had to pay reparations (£6.6 billion). They also lost all their colonies and 70,000 Km2 of land. They also felt vulnerable at having their armed forces cut and the Rhineland demilitarised.
Who proposed the plan for German reparation payments to be spread out over a longer period, and for the USA to lend them 800 million gold Marks in an effort to rebuild their economy.
Charles Dawes
What was the most noticeable effect of the Global Depression?
Unemployment was the most noticeable effect of the Depression. In Germany, the Depression left six million people, more than one-third of the working population, without a job.
What was Hitler charged with after his failed coup?
In the aftermath of the failed “putsch,” or coup d'état, Hitler was convicted of treason and sentenced to five years in prison. He spent less than a year behind bars, during which time he dictated “Mein Kampf."
What was the failed attempt by Adolf Hitler and the NSDAP to seize political control in Bavaria 1923 called?
The Beer Hall putsch
Which territories did Germany lose according to the the TOV?
West Prussia and Upper Silesia- to Poland,
Alsace and Loraine to France
Malmedy to Belgium
Rhineland - demilitarized zone
What was the treaty suggested by Austen Chamberlain, (on border negations between Germany, France and Belgium)?
The Locarno Treaties, in which Germany, France and Belgium promise to respect each other's borders.
Why were Stresemann's actions opposed by some Germans?
They blamed him for compromising with the ex-enemies, agreeing to pay reparations, relying too much on Americans loans and extending reparations for 59 years.
What were the weaknesses of the Weimar Constitution?
The president could use Article (law) 48 to get rid of democracy and rule by himself.
Proportional representation allowed extremist parties, like the Nazis and Communists, a say in government.
Proportional representation meant that no political party had a majority in parliament so the country was run by coalitions.