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German Revolution of 1918 and Kaiser Wilhelm II resigns
Civil conflict at the end of WWI that resulted in the end of the German constitutional monarchy. The German public was fed up with the burdens it had suffered during the war and began a revolution against the monarchy. Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicated in November of the same year and went into exile in the Netherlands. Image: This is an image of a mass demonstration marching in Berlin. The sign held by one of the marchers states that they will fight against any illegal seizure of power. -
Formation of Weimar Republic/Constitution
The Weimar Republic was formed by the Social Democratic Party in late 1918. The new constitution was drafted in the city of Weimar, a traditional center of German culture which was removed from the crisis of Berlin. The Weimar Republic governed Germany from 1919 to 1933 before the rise of Nazis. Image: This was the official flag of the Weimar Republic; it is the Weimar symbol placed over today’s German flag. -
Ebert-Groener Pact
This was an agreement between the SPD member Ebert, who was the chancellor at this time, and Groener, who was the master general of the German army. In this pact, Groener assured Ebert of the loyalty of the armed forces while Ebert promised that the government would take action against leftist uprisings. Image: This is an image of Friedrich Ebert, one of the dual authorities of the Ebert-Groener pact. This pact limited revolution in Germany during the time of the Weimar Republic. -
Armistice ending WWI
The armistice ending WWI was signed at Le Francport and ended fighting on land, sea, and air between the Allies and Germany. This was the final armistice ending the war; previous armistices had been signed with Bulgaria, Austria-Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire. Image: This is a photograph that was taken after reaching an agreement for the armistice that ended WWI. It displays the representatives from several countries reaching temporary peace with each other. -
Spartacist Revolt
General strike in Berlin. This was a power struggle between the SPD and the KPD. The revolt was quickly crushed by the firepower of government troops, and Berlin remained largely undisturbed. Image: This is an image of a barricade during the Spartacist Revolt. -
Bavarian Soviet Republic
This was a socialist state formed during the German Revolution that took the form of a workers’ council republic. It was overthrown less than a month after its establishment by the German army and the Freikorps. This collapse helped the Nazi Party rise to power. Image: This is a map of Germany during the revolution. The red area shows the territory claimed by the Bavarian Soviet Republic, while the rest of the area in pink shows the remaining Weimar Republic territory. -
Treaty of Versailles and the results for Germany
Treaty signed between Germany and the Allied Powers and placed blame on Germany for starting WWI. It required Germany to accept responsibility and pay a large amount of reparations that it did not think it could handle. This caused humiliation for Germans. Image: Allies negotiating at the Paris Peace Conference. Significantly, only representatives from Britain, Italy, France, and the U.S. are present; Germany had no say in the terms of the treaty because it was holistically blamed for the war. -
Kapp Putsch
This was an attempted coup against the German government in Berlin with the goal of undoing the German Revolution and overthrowing the Weimar Republic. Nationalist and monarchist factions were in support of the coup, which ended up failing after a few days when the German population joined a general strike. Image: This image displays participating members of the Putsch with swastikas on their helmets. In this photo, they were distributing propaganda leaflets to gain support for their cause. -
Ruhr Uprising
This was a left-wing workers’ revolt in the Ruhr region that rose up in response to the Kapp Putsch. Communists and socialists wanted to win political power through a general strike, but they were brutally crushed by the Freikorps. Image: This image displays the path taken by the Ruhr Army in March 1920 during their uprising. -
Rapallo Treaty
This was an agreement signed between Germany and the Soviet Union. The nations renounced all territorial and financial claims against each other to protect their domestic interests. This occurred after both nations were left in rough condition after WWI. Image: This is an image of German and Russian representatives negotiating the Treaty of Rapallo, which both sides believed would help them regain domestic strength after their WWI defeats. -
Grand Coalition of Weimar Germany
(No specific date found) A coalition formed by the 4 main pro-democratic parties including, SPD, Center party, DDP and DVP. These parties were united with the help of Gustav Stresemann and they were able to assist in resolving the hyperinflation crisis. Image: The grand coalition cabinet from 1928-1930 including members of many democratic parties of Weimar Germany. Was made up of elected officials, mainly from the SPD to prevent extreme right and left ideals. -
Occupation of the Ruhr by France and Belgium
This was a period of military occupation of the Ruhr region by France and Belgium. They did this in response to Germany’s refusal to pay reparations dictated by the Allies in the Treaty of Versailles. Germany responded by sending its industrial workers on strikes. Image: This is an image of French soldiers facing a German civilian in the Ruhr. France and Belgium were angered by Germany’s refusal to cooperate with their treaty. -
Hyperinflation Crisis
While workers in the Ruhr were on a general strike during the occupation, Germany was struggling to pay them and ended up printing more money. The hyperinflation became so severe that one U.S. dollar was worth 4 trillion German marks by the end of 1923. Image: This chart displays the hyperinflation of the Weimar Republic mark from one to a trillion paper marks per gold mark. -
Beer Hall Putsch
Coup coordinated by Hitler and the Nazi party. Hitler wanted to seize power of the Bavarian government by sending stormtroopers to march into the city center. Helped make Hitler more well known and gained Nazi support. Resulted in police force's victory and the Nazi party’s failure. Image: Hitler and members of the Nazi party standing in Munich during the insurrection of the Beer Hall Putsch. The people attending the insurrection consisted primarily of middle age white men and storm troopers -
Introduction of Rentenmark
Purpose was to replace the previous currency that lost value in the hyperinflation crisis. Introduced in small amounts to prevent the hyperinflation crisis from worsening. Trusted by business owners/civilians because the value of one mark was tied to the value of gold, preventing it from rapidly losing value. Image: One trillion old marks could be exchanged for one rentenmark. The new marks were not made out of paper like the previous currency-less likely for them to lose their value. -
Weimar Golden Age
(No particular start date) Beginning of economic stability after hyperinflation crisis. Stresemann helped build security/prosperity and improved Germany's foreign relations. Culture/standards of living improved. Government and politics less stable. Image: Stresemann played a major part in helping Germany’s economy recover from ww1 and the hyperinflation crisis. The golden age was a result of Stresemann’s ability to create a stable currency and improve foreign relations. -
Dawes Plan
Germany would use tax revenue to pay the lowered reparations to France, who would then use that money to pay back war loans to the U.S, and the U.S would lend the money they receive to help build Germany’s economy. This helped Germany benefit from loans from the U.S. Hitler and others criticized it for not eliminating the reparations payments. Image: This image represents the flow of money between Germany, France, and the U.S. Germany benefits the most overall by receiving payments back. -
Election of President von Hindenburg
President von Hindenburg was elected as the second president of the German republic and was the president during the time of Weimar Germany. Hindenburg was elected after two rounds of voting. His policies leaned right but were not as extreme as the nazi party. Image: President Hindenburg had father in the military and his mother grew up middle class. He had been known to favor monarchism; however, he was elected into a democratic system. He was president from 1925-1934. -
Locarno Treaty
Intended to secure borders of European nations after WWI. France agreed to be in a state of peace with Germany. Permanent demilitarization of the Rhineland. Image: The Locarno treaty was intended to create peace among European nations, however the U.S’s reluctance to be involved in the league of nations prevented that from happening. -
Treaty of Berlin with Soviet Union
Germany and The Soviet Union pledge neutrality in the event that one of the nations were attacked. This treaty was created to reaffirm the previous German-Soviet treaty of Rapallo. Image: This image includes both political officers of Germany and the Soviet Union signing the treaty agreeing to stay neutral in the event of attacks on either nation. -
German entrance into League of Nations
Because of the arrangements created in the treaty of Versailles, Germany was not able to enter the league of nations. Resolutions were passed on September 8, 1926 allowing Germany to join the league along with 15 other countries. Image: captured during a league of nations meeting and the signing of the Locarno treaty. Germany was eventually deemed stable enough to join the league however, the Nazi party of Germany declined to join. -
Beginning of Great Depression
The day when the stock market collapsed on wall street in the U.S Germany's economy began to destabilize. It relied on loans from the U.S to assist in their reparations payments. This resulted in financial systems such as the Young plan to fail. Image: A group of people gathered in the streets early after the great depression hit Germany protesting reliance on U.S loans and hoping that a new plan would be reached to prevent the stock market crash from affecting Germany’s newly stable economy. -
Young Plan
Created to settle the reparation payments Germany owed after the Dawes plan. Cut Germany’s reparation payments by 20% and create an extension of 59 years to pay the reparations. Not successful in the long term due to the great depression that came to Germany only a few years later. Image: The plan cut reparation payments by 20% and extended the deadline to pay them by, however, many nationalists and citizens were still upset with it because they didn't was to owe any reparation payments. -
Von Papen's Deal with Hitler
Papen was adamant on returning to power, so he struck a deal with Hitler agreeing to convince President Hindenburg to elect him as chancellor. Papen did not anticipate the repercussions of hitlers leadership to be so severe. Von Papen made the deal to benefit himself without acknowledging the detriments to the nation. Image: Negotiation between Papen and Hitler. -
Hitler becomes Chancellor
Hitler was elected as chancellor after winning multiple elections. President von Hindenburg ultimately elected him to the position. Image: Hitler’s inauguration as chancellor. Hindenburg was initially reluctant to elect Hitler as chancellor, however due to his multiple electoral victories he gave in, believing he could control him. Nazis were gaining popularity in the cabinet with 3 others holding chair positions. Resulted in his eventual creation of his private army, the brown shirts.