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German Revolution of 1918 and Kaiser Wilhelm II resigns
This photo depicts the last German monarch, Kaiser Wilhelm II, abdicating his authority as chancellor. This photo was selected because it illustrates the shift in the German government from a monarchy to a left-winged social democratic government. -
Ebert-Groener Pact
This photo depicts Fredrich Ebert, the first president of Germany in 1918. This photo is significant as Ebert was one who corresponded with Wilhelm Gorner to negotiate loyal armed forces in return for action from the government against leftist uprisings. -
Armistice ending WW I
This photo depicts the celebration of the end of The Great War. This photo was chosen as it depicts the global joy expressed by all nations around the world as shown by the diverse flags in the photo. -
Bavarian Soviet Republic
This photo depicts the flag of the Bavarian Soviet Republic. This picture was chosen as it symbolizes the unrecognized socialist state that resided in Bavaria during the German Revolution. -
Spartacist Revolt
This photo depicts left-wing-minded determined men marching in the streets of Germany. This photo is significant as it illustrates the left-wing uprising that attempted to establish communism in Germany. -
Treaty of Versailles and the results for Germany
This photo depicts a rally against the Treaty of Versailles in 1919. This photo is significant because it demonstrates the outrage after the treaty because of claims that the reparations that Germany would have to pay were unfair. Many of the German people resented the Allies for reducing their military and territory, as well as "forcing" Germany to pay reparations that they couldn't afford. This outrage destroyed German pride and sparked resentment towards other European countries. -
Formation of Weimar Republic/Constitution
This photo depicts the first German democratic parliament. This photo is significant as it illustrates the event in which the Weimar Constitution was established, changing the course of German politics and power. -
Kapp Putsch
This photo depicts a government poster against the Kapp Putsch from March 1920. This photo is significant because it shows that extreme nationalists were not supported by the Weimar government at the time. It was also very powerful because of its ability to rally the people of Germany for a strike that would end the attempted coup. Overall, extremists on either sides of the political spectrum were not always supported by the Weimar Republic's government. -
Ruhr Uprising
This photo depicts four members of the Red Ruhr Army in Dortmund from 1920. This photo is significant because the weapons these men hold to defend themselves show that the Weimar government did not support far-right conservatives or far-left protesters. However, leftist protesters received much more violence in response than the nationalists. Therefore, while the government did not support either extreme, leftists were treated with less sympathy than nationalists and conservatives. -
Rapallo Treaty
This photo shows the Chancellor of Germany and three representatives from the Russian delegation smiling and laughing with each other. This photo is significant because it shows the friendliness between Russia and Germany even as the treaty was still being developed. Soviet Russia and Weimar Germany decided that friendliness and secret military cooperation between them was very important during this time despite their extremely politically different governments. -
Weimar Golden Age
This was a photograph of Gustav Stresemann. Stresemann was the German chancellor in 1923 (the beginning of the Weimar Germany's Golden Age) from August to November, and foreign minister until 1929. The Weimar Golden Age lasted until 1929. -
Occupation of the Ruhr by France and Belgium
This photo depicts a protest against the Ruhr occupation by gymnasts in 1923. The signs read "The Ruhr remains German" (left) and "We will never be servants!" (right). This photo is significant because it shows that this occupation sparked civil unrest that led to more dissatisfaction with the government and support for the far right and far left. This occupation was one of the catalysts that made revolutionary ideas more appealing to Germans during this time. -
Hyperinflation Crisis (the date represents when hyperinflation began rapidly increasing)
This image depicts a chart that shows the value of the German mark during certain points from January 1918 (worth ten marks) to November 1923 (worth 1 Billion marks). This chart is significant because it shows that hyperinflation occurred very suddenly and rapidly from 1922 and especially 1923. This is one of the reasons why the German people sought stability and prosperity from their government and began turning to far-left and far-right political parties after this crisis. -
Introduction of Rentenmark
This is a photograph of Germany's new currency, the Rentenmark, from 1923. The Rentenmark replaced Germany's old currency system, the Reichsmark, because it became worthless due to the hyperinflation in Germany. -
Beer Hall Putsch
This image depicts the Nazi general and leader of the Putsch Erich Ludendorff on the cover of Time in November 1923. This image is significant because it shows the attention that the early Nazi party gained after this event. This explains why Germans became more interested in Hitler and this party as well as why the national spotlight became centered on them. The growing support for more extreme parties leading up to this also contributes to the Nazi's newfound popularity. -
Dawes Plan
This was a photograph from 1924, in Germany, of Charles G. Dawes. He chaired the Dawes committee that resolved the WW1 issue of reparations that Germany had to pay, which was successful, and ended the European diplomacy crisis. -
Locarno Treaty
This was a photograph from October 5th, 1925 during the Locarno Treaty signing. This photograph includes Guastav Stresemann, Aristide Briand, and Austin Chamberlain, who were the men who signed the treaty. These men represented Germany, Italy, and Britain. -
Treaty of Berlin with Soviet Union
This was a photograph from April 24th, 1926 during the Treaty of Berlin with the Soviet Union signing. This photo includes all of the members who signed the treaty, from Germany and the Soviet Union. -
Election of President Von Hindenburg
This photograph was taken on April 8th, 1926. This was a photograph of an election poster (in Berlin) during the second presidential campaign, where Von Hindenburg ran (and won) against Adolf Hitler. -
German entrance into League of Nations
In the photo you can see Stresemann getting congratulated for Germany becoming a welcomed member of the League of Nations. -
Grand Coalition of Weimar Germany
In this picture you can see the members of the first Grand Coalition of Weimer Germany -
Young Plan
In this picture you can see Owen Young, who created the Young Plan which helped relieve Germany of most of their reparations. -
Beginning of Great Depression
In this photo you can see a line of German people who are all unemployed due to the Great Depression in Germany. -
Von Papen's deal with Hitler
In this photo you can see Von Papen, the man who convinced Hindenburg that Hitler should become vice Chancellor of Germany. -
Hitler becomes Chancellor
In this picture you can see a newspaper published a day after Hitler became vice Chancellor, with Hitler in the front cover.