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German Revolution of 1918 and Kaiser Wilhelm II resigns
The German Revolution of 1918 occurred due to social and political unrest following the end of WW1, leading to the Kaiser to resign from office which is symbolized by the photo of the phrase, "The End of an Era", because his abdication signaled the end of the empirical form of government in exchange for a liberal style government with the Weimar Republic's establishment shortly after Kaiser Wilhelm II's resignation. -
Ebert-Groener Pact
The Ebert-Groener Pact was between then chancellor Friedrich Ebert and Army General Wilhelm Groener to allow the government to utilize paramilitary groups called the Freikorps to squash revolts and uprisings. The photo of two men sneakily handing each other something under the table represents the pact because it was a secret deal made from extremely private communications between Ebert and Groener; Ebert got more security and Groener was able to give jobless army veterans Freikorps positions. -
Armistice ending WW I
An armistice was signed between Germany and the allied powers to officially end WW1 (at least between them since other nations were still experiencing conflict). This photo of an angry dove represents this because it is a symbol of fake peace; doves are meant to bring peace but this one is actually angry and unpeaceful just like the armistice was meant to bring peace but failed to bring an end to warfare in every country and left most nations in social and economic crisis. -
Spartacist Revolt
The Spartacist Revolt was a workers strike/seizure of Berlin newspaper/communication buildings by left wing protestors upset with the liberal Weimar. This protest was ended by the Freikorps intervening. A photo of a man poorly plugging a leaking dam represents the revolt because just like the crumbling dam, the weakness and crumbling leadership of Weimar was beginning to be revealed through these destructive revolts (poorly "plugged" or solved by ending the revolt without fixing root issue). -
Bavarian Soviet Republic
The Bavarian Soviet Republic was led by Kurt Eisner and was an unrecognized socialist state in Bavaria. However, as represented by the meme of an "epic fail", the state was overthrown less than a month later by the German Freikorps (ultimately failed, especially since Eisner was assassinated later). -
Treaty of Versailles and the results for Germany
The Treaty of Versailles was signed between Germany and the allied powers in order to blame Germany for WW1, list it's punishments, and demand reparations to rebuild their own post-war economies. The photo of a man will several sharp tools in his back represents the Treaty of Versailles and its harsh demands because Germany was "stabbed in the back" by their European community as the nation was blamed solely for the war despite contributions from all nations involved. -
Formation of Weimar Republic/Constitution
Leaving the old empirical system behind, the comparatively liberal Weimar Republic and constitution were created and granted progressive freedoms like universal suffrage. However, Germany was still experienced a large amount of social/political unrest and viewed the new government as criminals and traitors for signing the Treaty of Versailles. This is represented by a pig with lipstick because just like a dirty pig, Germany was far from perfect but wrapped in promises of democracy. -
Kapp Putsch
The Kapp Putsch was a right wing and Freikorps uprising against the Weimar government with the intent of overthrowing it but ended due to lack of public support. This photo of a woman in despair being pointed to by several people represents the Kapp Putsch because it symbolizes how Weimar was facing unrest and opposition from all sides (the right with the Kapp Putsch and the left with the Spartacist Revolt). -
Red Ruhr Uprising
The Red Ruhr Uprising was a mass strike of workers in the Ruhr region because they wanted the government to allow them to arm against future threats from the right/Freikorps. This satirical comic of the government doing its job represents the Ruhr Uprising because the workers were essentially being abused and scared into submission by the indirectly government affiliated Freikorps (even though the government is "liberal" and meant to protect them). -
Rapallo Treaty
The Rapallo Treaty was signed between Germany and the Russian Soviet Union and ended financial claims between them to strengthen their economic, militaristic, and diplomatic ties. This photo of a bird escaping its cage represents the Treaty because Germany was attempting to escape the cage of international isolation brought upon it by the Treaty of Versailles with better relations with Russia. -
Occupation of the Ruhr by France and Belgium
France and Belgium decided to occupy the Ruhr because Germany wasn't paying their reparations and occupying the Ruhr would allow them to make that money indirectly through industrial means. This photo of kids picking on another kid represents this situation because Belgium and France are essentially kicking Germany when its already down (demanding harsh reparations when Germany is still heavily in debt from war bonds and then occupying the Ruhr because of lack of payments). -
Weimar Golden Age
The Weimar Golden age lasted from 1923 to 1929 and marked a period of greater economic/social stability, security, and living standards. This photo of storm clouds approaching a sunny sky represents the Golden Age because although it was far greater than the period of instability prior (sunny skies) the dark storm that is the Great Depression and then Hitler coming into power was looming. -
Grand Coalition of Weimar Germany
The Great Coalition was a grand coalition in the Weimar Republic formed in 1923 by the four main pro-democratic parties within the Reichstag: SPD, the Centre, a centrist Catholic party, the DDP and the DVP, a center-right party led by Gustav Stresemann. This photo of two strong men clasping hands represents the Grand Coalition as these parties thought they would make the government stronger with their joining, however, it still collapsed mainly due to the Great Depression consequences. -
Hyperinflation Crisis
The Hyperinflation Crisis of 1923 was a period of time where Germany was printing an invalid amount of money to help pay off war debt from war bonds which resulted in extreme hyperinflation and thus high unemployment, hunger, and unrest. This clock pointing at success and failure at the same time represents this crisis because although it had sever aforementioned negative outcomes, several beneficial deals and strategies like the Dawes Plan were created as a result. -
Beer Hall Putsch
The Beer Hall Putsch was an attempt by Hitler and his Nazi party to overthrow the liberal Weimar Republic but was squashed by Munich police and the arrest of several participants, including Hitler. A photo of Terminator saying, "I'll be back, represents this situation because although Hitler was arrested, he eventually came back and fell into presidency/chancellorship. -
Introduction of Rentenmark
The Rentenmark was a new form of German currency introduced to replace the worthless, hyperinflated Reichsmark to stabilize the German economy during the hyperinflation crisis. The photo of a peace sign represents this event because the introduction of this new mark did help to stabilize the German economy and eventually with the aid of other policies, launched Germany into the Golden Age. -
Dawes Plan
The Dawes Plan was an economic deal between Germany, the allied powers, and the US which lowered reparations expected for Germany to pay and the introduction of the new, more stable Reichsmark. A man walking from jumbled to organized string represents the Dawes Plan because this plan was Germany's attempt to go from economic chaos to a state of pre-war stabilization -
Election of President von Hindenburg
Right wing President von Hindenburg was elected in April of 1925 following the death of Friedrich Ebert. A tiny fish with a fake shark fin attached to it represents this event because it's a symbol of false/misleading promise; with a new president, many Germans hoped he would do away with the liberal Weimar government/constitution and bring more peace but instead, he was indirectly one of the factors of Hitler coming into dictatorship following his death. -
Locarno Treaty
The Locarno Treaty was signed between Germany and the allied powers for the collective effort towards peace in Europe. A deceitful man shaking hands in a business deal represents this treaty because although Germany agreed to work towards peace, not even a decade later, Hitler was dictator and brought about more destruction and European disunity. -
Germany enters the League of Nations
Germany was finally let into the LON after being excluded due to being blamed for WW1 in the Treaty of Versailles. This photo of a sign with several lanes merging into one represents this event as it is a symbol of Europe's efforts to join these several different nations into one cohesive group aimed at achieving collective security throughout the continent. -
Treaty of Berlin with Soviet Union
This treaty stated that Germany and the Soviet Union would neutrality in the event of an attack on the other by a third party for five years. This photo of a hand with "help me" written on it represents this event because the treaty represented Germany's cries for help to be freed from international isolation and militaristic/socioeconomic weakness in the post war era by creating a beneficial relationship with the Soviet Union. -
Beginning of Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression between 1929 and 1939 that began after a major fall in stock prices in the United States and eventually affected Germany who relied strongly on American banks/loans. This photo of a house split and arguing itself represents this event because during this time, the golden age ended and Germany was thrust back into a world of constant political violence/chaos and extreme poverty. -
Young Plan
The Young Plan cut Germany's reparations from £6.6 billion to £2 billion and extended the time Reparations would need to be payed. This photo of a storm rolling in on a sunny sky once again represents this event because although the Young Plan was extremely beneficial and apart of the Golden Age, the year of its passing was just before the Great Depression and another period of extreme chaos and instability with the depression and Hitler's rule. -
Von Papen’s deal with Hitler
Franz Von Papen was desperate to regain favor with President Hindenburg and power after his chancellorship failed after 6 months, so he convinced Hitler to ask Hindenburg for chancellorship to be their political puppets (see picture for representation) with Von Papen as his vice chancellor. Eventually after multiple rejections, Hindenburg appointed Hitler as chancellor. -
Hitler becomes Chancellor
On January 30th, 1933, Hindenburg was finally convinced to appoint Hitler as chancellor with the hope he would be a "chancellor in chains" or easy to control. However, this gave Hitler a platform to eventually become president then dictator after Hindenburg's death and his harsh transition into dictatorship is represented by him (the angry man with a stick) threatening/hurting the people (the cowering man)
