-
Sparticist Revolution
German communists attempted to spark a revolution. In January, 1919, the German Communist Party known as "Spartacus League" took over Berlin. The Freikorps, an anti-communism German paramilitary force, made quick work of the Sparticists, and the revolution was foiled after Spaticist leaders, Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht, were killed. The German government is moved to the city of Weimar to avoid the fighting. -
The Weimar Republic is formed
Elections are held, with democratic parties obtaining 80% of the vote. -
Germany Signs the Treaty of Versailles
Germany reluctantly signs the Treaty of Versailles. Germany had to take the blame for starting World War 1, pay 33 billion US dollars in reparation fees, forfeit any overseas territories, and give up much of her land in Europe. Germany's military was restricted to 100,000 men. Submarines and an airforce were forbidden, and the navy was restricted to six battleships. The German population did not take kindly to this disgrace. -
Nazi Party founded
Anton Drexler forms the "German Workers' Party", which later becomes the "National Socialist German Workers' Party", shortened to NSDAP, and shortened further still to "Nazi". The party holds anti-sematic and racist views, promising welfare for people of the "Aryan Race". Adolf Hitler became the 55th member of the party, often speaking publically about the same two issues: The Treaty of Versailles and "The Jewish Question". -
Berlin Kapp Putsch
Wolfgang Kapp leads a Freikorp revolution, attempting to create an authoritarian government. Freikorp troops seized Berlin, and the official German military refused to attack them. The German government for German workers to go on strike, and defeat the putsch. Without a work force, the putsch quickly failed. -
Weimar Response to terrorism and extremists
The Weimar government delt with extremists and terrorists with an iron fist. Fast responses were made, either with military action, or by law. However, the German judiciary system leaned towards the right-wing, treating them more leniantly than the left. This undermined the very point of democracy, and civil liberties. If the judiciary doesn't support a democratic government, how can law and order be maintained? -
Walther Rathenau Assassinated
About two months after signing an agreement, giving away Germany's territorial claims of WW1, Walther Rathenau was shot, and killed. -
Stresemann becomes Chancellor
Gustav Stresemann is appointed Chancellor. He ends German resistance in the French and Belgian occupied regions of the Ruhr. Stresemann believed that cooperation with the Allies and the continued existance of the Republic was the only way to rebuild the German economy. After hyper-inflation reached its peak, Stresemann introduced a new currency, the "Rentenmark". -
Berlin Riots on Hyperinflation
A band of 30,000 Germans protest against hyperinflation. Some falsely blame Jews, believing them to be in control of the economy. -
Munich Beer Hall Putsch
The Nazi Party, lead by Adolf Hitler attempt to spark yet another revolution, this time in Munich. As the Bavarian Prime Minister, Gustav Kahr, gave a speech to a crowd of 3000 in a beer hall in Munich, Nazis stormed the building, and surrounded everyone inside. Kahr was captured, and forced at gunpoint to "support" the Nazi revolution. After the events in the beer hall, Hitler released Kahr, who promptly fled to Berlin and reported what had happened to the Government. -
Beer Hall Putsch Fails
With no real planning, the putsch fails to gain traction. Hitler is arrested, trialed and imprisoned. -
Dawes Plan
An Allied committee was formed to restructure the German economy, and stop hyperinflation. The Ruhr was returned to German control, the reperations fees were lowered, and the Reichsbank submitted to Allied control. Seperately, the US gave Germany a loan for investment into the German economy. -
Friedrich Ebert Dies Before Re-election, Hindenburg becomes President
Friedrich Ebert dies at the age of 54 from appendicitis, and Hindenburg, Germany's greatest war hero, is made president. -
Germany Joins League of Nations
Germany is graciously accepted into the League of Nations. -
The Young Plan
An American economist Owen Young headed another committee to boost the Germany economy. Reparation fees were reduced to 8 billion US dollars, with roughly half a billion dollar payments each year. The loan plan program of the Dawes Plan was also expanded. Germany took a huge risk in accepting US loans. In the event that the US economy crashed, Germany would lose the huge economic boost that the loans provided. This was demonstrated after the Wall Street Crash. When loans dried up, so did the -
Young Plan Part 2
the German economy was left in pieces. Unemployments rates skyrocketed, allowing extremist political parties to gain traction in government. -
US: Wall Street Crash
After a period of global economic prosperity, the Wall Street Crash plunged the world into the Great Depression. As a result of over-confident investors, over-production and a weak agricultural sector, stocks suddenly plunged in value. Investors quickly sold their shares for whatever price they could get. The effects of the crash rippled throughout the world. -
5 Million Unemployed
In 1931, 33.7% of Germans were unemployed. In 1932, the statistic rose to 40%. -
Elections
Elections are held in Germany. The Nazi party seizes 37.27% of the vote. As a coalition with various other parties, the Nazis form a government. The Nazi Party exploited peoples' disatisfaction with foreign nations. The German people did not take kindly to the Wall Street Crash, which left them in the dirt. Germans were still upset over the signing of the Treaty of Versailles, which stemmed the myth that the Jewish population were to blame. The Nazi party exploited this, appealing to peoples' -
Elections Part 2
The Nazi party took advantage of this, and exploited peoples' anger and hatred of everyone who they believed had caused them hardship. -
Hitler named the last Weimar Chancellor
Hitler was named the last Weimar Chancellor, and quickly began work to destroy democracy in Germany. -
Reichstag Fire
The heart of German politics, the Rechstag, was caught in a huge blaze as the result of arsony. Communists and socialists were blamed for the fire, in the hopes that the Nazi party would gain a further majoirty in the next election. Hitler convinced Hindenburg to give him an emergency-powers decree, essentially giving Hitler complete control over Germany. -
Weimar Republic Destroyed: The Enabling Laws are passed
The Enabling Act is passed, allowing Hitler to assume dictorial control over Germany. The Weimar Republic is no more.
