-
German Revolution & Kaiser Wilhelm II Abdicates
Triggered by the power of the German army. Sailors led revolts in naval ports of Wilhelmshaven followed soon by the Kiel Mutiny. On November 9th, 1918, the public called for the imperial monarchy to be repealed. On this day, Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicated his throne and fled to Holland leaving it to SPD member Friedrich Ebert. The revolution ended August 11th, 1919, with the adoption of the Weimar Constitution. Image: The newspaper shows the Kaiser's abdication as it was told to the people. -
Ebert-Groener Pact
An agreement signed on November 10th, 1918, between SPD Chancellor Friedrich Ebert and Quartermaster General of the German Army Wilhelm Groener. This agreement assured Ebert that he would have the loyalty of the German military. Image: An image of Wilhelm Groener and his Reichswehr. -
Armistice Ending World War One
Armistice signed on November 11th, 1918, ending World War One between Germany and the Allies. Signed for Germany by Friedrich Ebert, a Jewish man. Started the Dochschluss, also known as the “stab-in-the-back” myth that turned German citizens against Jews and blamed them for losing the war. Image: Shows how the newspapers revealed to the German people that an armistice was signed ending WWI. -
Bavarian Soviet Republic
Also known as the Munich Soviet Republic, the Bavarian Soviet Republic was a workers’ council republic established in April of 1919 after the fall of Kurt Eisner’s People’s State of Bavaria. It was overthrown within one month by the military and Freikorps. Many of these former members joined the Nazis. Image: A map of Germany with Bavaria highlighted, showing the area in which the Bavarian Soviet Republic was created. -
The Spartacist Uprising
The Spartacist Uprising began January 5th, 1919, and lasted 7 days until January 12th. It was led by KPD leaders Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht in hopes of overthrowing the Weimar Republic and establishing a worker’s state. It was put down by the Freikorps. Image: A visual of what the Spartacist Uprising looked like while it was happening. -
Treaty of Versailles & Results for Germany
Signed June 28th, 1919, at the Palace of Versailles in Paris between Germany and the Allies discussing the consequences for the war. It included Article 231, the War Guilt Clause, limited the official army to 100,000 men, and forced Germany to pay reparations. This caused Germans to feel humiliated and lowered morale. Image: A picture of the cover of the Treaty of Versailles. -
Formation of the Weimar Republic/Constitution
Elections were held for the Weimar National Assembly on January 19th, 1919. On August 11th, 1919, Friedrich Ebert, a member of the SPD and President of the Reichstag, signed the new constitution into law. Image: A picture of the Weimar National Assembly and the constitution being created. -
Kapp Putsch
On March 13th, 1920, right-wing nationalists, army officers, and Freikorps marched to Berlin in attempt to overthrow the SPD government. The military refused to put down the Kapp Putsch and it was eventually stopped by SPD workers strikes. Image: An image of what the Kapp Putsch looked like when it was happening. -
(Red) Ruhr Uprising
March 13th, 1920, was the start of the Ruhr Uprising in the Ruhr regions by left-wing workers in response to the Kapp Putsch. It was in support of the general strike. After the Kapp Putsch fell the Reichswehr and the Freikorps were sent to violently put down the revolt. It ended April 12th, 1920, and approximately 1,000 workers were killed. Image: An image of the military during the Ruhr Uprising. -
Rapallo Treaty
A treaty signed on April 16th, 1922, between Germany and the Soviet Union in Rapallo, Italy. The treaty renounced all territorial and economic claims between the two countries and opened communications. Germany was able to make weapons and prepare for war in Russia and thus, got around the terms of the Treaty of Versailles. Image: Image that was in German newspapers when announcing the Treaty of Rapallo. -
Hyperinflation Crisis
Started in 1921 but grew to be mostly in 1923. Caused by the increasing printing of money by the German government to pay the workers. Caused economic instability but was remedied by Gustav Stresemann and the Dawes Plan allowing Germany to enter the Golden Age right after. Image: Dramatically represents how terrible the economic situation was as money was abundant but worthless. -
Weimar Golden Age
1923-1929. This was a time after the resolution of the hyperinflation crisis when the culture and economy of the Weimar Republic flourished. Gustav Stresemann was highly credited for this success since his efforts are what was believed to have been most significant in ending hyperinflation.
Image: This picture depicts urban life during the Golden Age, it was prosperous. -
French & Belgian Occupation of the Ruhr
January 11th, 1923, France and Belgium invaded the Ruhr region. This was provoked by Germany not paying their reparations. France and Belgium figured they would take over the land and thus, use the factories to gain their money that way. The occupation ended August 25th, 1925, with the implementation of the Dawes Plan. Image: An image of the French and Belgian militaries invading the Ruhr. -
Beer Hall Putsch
Hitler attempted to cause a rebellion against the Weimar Republic in Munich. He confronted officials in a beer hall and told them that they should support the march on Berlin, but the officials refused. However, extreme nationalists still participated in the march. The police shut the resistance down and Hitler was arrested and jailed for 5 years, he wrote Mein Kampf while in jail.
Image: This picture shows the beer hall where this attempted putsch started. -
Introduction of Rentenmark
This new currency was introduced by Stresemann in order to resolve the hyperinflation crisis. The Rentenmark was backed by a mortgage on all of Germany’s agricultural and industrial resources in order to prevent extreme inflation from occurring with this currency.
Image: This is what the Rentenmark of 1923 looked like. -
Dawes Plan
This plan resolved the issues with the WWI reparations placed on Germany. Germany’s yearly reparation payments were reduced by this plan, and Germany would gradually pay more as its economy improved. The establishment of this plan was led by Charles G. Dawes.
Picture: this is an image of Charles Dawes, the man who led the establishment of this treaty. -
Election of President von Hindenburg
Hindenburg was elected as president towards the beginning of the Golden Age. Hindenburg succeeded Ebert as president, and with the new president came continued hope for the prosperity of German.
Image: This image shows president Paul von Hindenburg. -
Locarno Treaty
This was a treaty between Germany, Belgium, France, Britain, and Italy. This treaty guaranteed Germany’s western border.
Image: This shows who were the main representatives for each country in agreeing upon the Locarno Treaty. -
Treaty of Berlin with Soviet Union
This treaty was signed April 24th, 1926. It occurred between the Soviet Union and Germany, and in this treaty both countries agreed that if the other were to be attacked, they would remain neutral. This agreement supported the Treaty of Rapallo of 1922 and was set to last 5 years .
Image: shows the signing of this treaty. -
German entrance into League of Nations
Germany entered the League of Nations on September 8th, 1926. The Treaty of Versailles had prevented Germany from joining until this point because Germany had to prove itself to be a “peace-loving” country. Germany stayed in the League of Nations until 1933, when Hitler removed the country from this group.
Image: A newspaper had an article about Germany reentering the League, this shows how important this event was. -
Grand Coalition of Weimar Germany
May 1928-1930. The Grand Coalition lasted two years, longer than any other coalition in this time period. It covered a broad span of the political spectrum with parties from the far left to right. The DDP, Z, BVP, DVP, and SPD where the members of this coalition. A coalition (which lasted only two years) shows the instability present in Weimar even during its Golden Age. Image: This is a picture of Hermann Müller, a member of the SPD, who became the Chancellor of Germany May 1928. -
Beginning of the Great Depression
September 1929. The Wall Street Crash of 1929 resulted in the U.S. demanding that German pay back its loans. Germany was reliant on U.S. loans. Without them the German period of prosperity ended, and Germany was no longer able to make its reparation payments to other countries, which in turn harmed their economies.
Image: Newspaper article regarding the Wall Street Crash, which triggered the depression. -
Young Plan
The Young Plan was established February 11th, 1929. This plan had been proposed by Owen D. Young and it reduced German reparation payments to 121 billion gold marks (almost $29 billion) which could be paid over the span of 58 years.
Image: This is a picture of Owen Young, who proposed this plan. -
Von Papen's deal with Hitler
Von Papen was forced to resign by Hindenburg and was then replaced as chancellor by Von Schleicher, a man who had been a life-long friend of his. In order to regain his power, Von Papen made a deal with Hitler that he could get him the chancellorship position as long as he was then vice chancellor.
Image: a picture of Franz von Papen. -
Hitler becomes Chancellor
In order to convince Hindenburg that Hitler should be chancellor, Von Papen told him that this would make Hitler easier to control. He claimed that Hitler would become a “chancellor in chains”. Despite having previously made efforts to block Hitler from the chancellorship position, after this appeal by Von Papen Hindenburg named Adolf Hitler the Chancellor of Germany.
Image: A picture of Hitler.