Germany:1918-1923
LIAM KELLEHER Source Work 1/24/2009 Using the sources and your own knowledge explain the differences between sources A and B over the German revolutionary period 1918-19 Sources A and B differ in their accounts of the German revolutionary period 1918-19, as they are both from different political perspectives. Source A is from Rosa Luxemburg who, along with Karl Liebknecht led the extreme left wing, Spartacus league. The Spartacists had been formed in 1905 as a splint of the SPD party and by 1918 it had a national membership of around 5000 (Layton 2005). On the 1st January 1919 the Spartacists formally founded the KPD party - German Communist Party. They believed that Germany should follow the same route as Communist Russia. The main aim of the Spartacists was to create a soviet republic through workers' and soldiers' councils. This supported power to the poor people, refusing to take part in parliamentary elections, preferring instead to place its faith in the workers' councils (Layton 2005). Historian Lee (1998:9), affirms this by stating that, "The Spartacists wanted close association between Germany and Soviet Russia, together with a transfer of all political powers to the workers' and soldiers' councils..." Although Luxemburg had plans to 'undermine Ebert's government' with a great revolution, Lee (1998) states, the Spartacists didn't have a great deal of control
Why Did Germany Experience Hyperinflation in 1923?
Amanda Belden L6A Dec 2001 WHY DID GERMANY EXPERIENCE HYPERINFLATION IN 1923? In 1923 the Weimar Republic experienced its biggest economic crisis yet, hyperinflation. The crisis was not created because of one event, but due to several, whose consequences escalated as the years went on. The root of the problem lay in the economic hangover of WWI as Germany lost the war and was severely in debt. The Weimar constitution prevented quick decisions to be taken and so the resolves were the 'easy way out' rather than those that would help the republic in the long-term. The invasion of the Ruhr was the last measure for the German economy, and as a result it succumbed to hyperinflation. It was unknown at the time how the decisions taken would affect Germany's economy later on, and so the government acted in the present rather than the future. However, with hindsight, it is possible to outline the lead up to the economic crisis and hyperinflation in Germany. After WWI, the defeated Germany was in a very bad position economically. Inflation had begun during the war itself, as the government of the time funded the war by borrowing and printing more money. The government's expenditure was high and taxation low. It had been assumed that Germany would actually win the war and that peace would lead to economic stability. However, Germany lost the war and
explain the effects of the hyperinflation of 1923 on the people of Germany.
Using Source V and your own knowledge, explain the effects of the hyperinflation of 1923 on the people of Germany. Hyperinflation affected germany and the citizens in a massive way Prices of food and basic supplies rose by the hour. People sitting in found that their second drink could cost twice as much as their first. The source is used to show how valueless paper money was in 1923.Workers were paid up to three times a day. The wages would be collected in a wheelbarrow and taken down to the shops to be spent as quickly as possible, before prices rose any further. Shopkeepers found it almost impossible to make money. Unless they could spend their takings on new supplies immediately, they would be unable to restock their shops with goods. Many shopkeepers shut up, or opened as little as possible. Farmers refused to bring their food to towns as the money they received was worthless by the time they came to spend it. Unions bargained with employers for regular wage increases, but these failed to keep up with rising prices. At first workers believed they were doing well, but this feeling soon disappeared as they struggled to support their families. Those who were reliant on pensions from the government had it bad. The government failed to raise benefits fast enough to keep up with price rises and pensioners struggled to survive. People with investments in bank accounts saw
Why did Germany suffer hyperinflation in 1923?
30/10/07 Why did Germany suffer hyperinflation in 1923? There are various reasons as to why Germany suffered hyperinflation in 1923. Some of these reasons were short term- such as the actual printing of more money by the government, whereas some are more long term, such as the amount of the money the German government put into the war. The Treaty of Versailles seemed to have set in motion the events that caused the hyperinflation in 1923. The reparations that were set in the treaty were very unreasonable, at that time Germany was in no state to pay them, even by 1921 when the final amount was set at £6.6 billion. This amount isn't just representing the damage done at the time, but Germany was being forced to pay for war pensions for widows of those soldiers killed in the war. Another term of the treaty imposed industry loss, via removing the Saar Coalfields. This meant a big loss of economic wealth for Germany, as less raw-material-rich areas meant less income for Germany; and the allies were still expecting Germany to pay the reparations; even whilst removing its main money-making areas. The way the government decided to rectify this was to print more money, leading to hyperinflation. Coupled with the loss of industry is the loss of population. Not only did this mean less people to work in Germany to make it economically strong, but it also meant a loss of income for
How did Germany recover from 1923 onwards?
How did Germany recover from 1923 onwards? A new chancellor, Gustav Stresemann, brought hyperinflation under control and most Germans saw him as a much better leader than Hitler. Stresemann ordered all the old banknotes to be collected in and to be burnt. He issued new notes, called Rentenmarks, which were backed by the land of Germany and not by gold. Stresemann was also able to deal with most of the other problems facing Germany in the 1920s and the country seemed to be recovering from the effects of the First World War. He got German industry going again. He persuaded the French and Belgians to leave the Ruhr. In 1924 he borrowed money from the USA to help Germany pay Reparations, the Dawes Plan. In 1925 he persuaded the French and Belgians to sign the Locarno Pacts and promise to respect Germany's borders. He got Germany admitted to the League of Nations in 1926 and Germany became a permanent Member of the Council. It seemed that Germany had recovered from the humiliation of Versailles and had been accepted by the other countries of Europe once again. In the meantime Hitler had realised that he would have to change his tactics if he were to have any chance of gaining power in Germany. He decided that he must try to gain power by legal means. When Hitler was released from prison, he set up a proper political party with a national organisation. Before, the Nazis
Explain why hyperinflation occurred in Germany in 1923
Explain why hyperinflation occurred in 1923 (8 marks) Target: In this essay, I am aiming to prioritise my reasons, and points; link back to the question; and add additional information as an extension. An important factor causing German hyperinflation in 1923 was the punitive reparations Germany had to pay to France and the other victors, as stated in the Treaty of Versailles. The price was set at £6.6 billion in 1921, and this was thought by the people, and proven, impossible to repay especially with Germany’s financial situation as poor as it was after the war. The money was not only given to pay for the damages caused in the war, but also used to cover the pensions of widows, whose husbands had been killed in the war. In addition, another condition of the Treaty of Versailles was that 12% of Germany’s land was given over to the victors. A large proportion of this land was industrial, one of the main areas being the Saar Coalfields; which caused Germany a great loss in areas naturally rich in raw materials, generating a huge loss in income. As well as the reduction in terms of industry, the confiscation of territory caused a massive reduction in the earning population. This not only meant less workers but also less tax payers; and while the obvious solution would have been to raise taxes to make up for the shortfall in income, the government decided to print
How badly damaged was Democracy in Germany by 1923?
How badly damaged was Democracy in Germany by 1923? In 1919, Germany's national debt was one hundred and forty four thousand million DM, with an additional six hundred thousand million pounds of reparations (not added until 1921, however). This was the credit with which the foetal Weimar government had to play with at it's inception - it had to contend not only with this, but also the threat of revolution, wartime economic blockades until the allied forces decided upon Germany's punishment, and a political system which actually encouraged the parties which openly wished to destroy the government to attempt to gain power (proportional representation). The four years to come were to be no easier for the government - in fact, as Craig put it, they were to be years in which "the normal state was crisis". By the turn of the decade, the threat from the left had been all but dealt with - the leaders of the communist party had been murdered, following the Communist uprising on January 6th, 1919. This had been "overcome" with the infamous Ebert-Groener pact, followed by the Freikorps being let loose on the Communists. In 1921, the second major insurrection attempt was made, this time by the Freikorps that had been set upon the Spartakists. Following an attempt to disband it, the Freikorps took over Berlin. The army refused to fire upon them, showing the true depth of the support
What problems faced the new republic in Germany from 1918 to 1923? Why did it survive?
Laura Towell 3.1 History Essay What problems faced the new republic in Germany from 1918 to 1923? Why did it survive? The Weimar Republic was a democratic government that ran Germany when the Kaiser abdicated in November 1918. However running the country in the turbulent post war times was far from plain sailing, they had to deal with threats from left wing and right wing factions, the burden of the Versailles treaty and hyperinflation. Weimar survived these crises - but why was it able to? By the end of 1923 the worst was over for them. They had overcome all of these different areas of disaster, and having survived such turbulence as they had, it looked as though the Weimar democracy had a chance of taking root. However, there were several reasons for its survival; some of these reasons were indeed due to the strengths of the Weimar democracy, whereas some were due to the weakness of its opposition in allowing it to survive. The extremist force from both the Left and Right failed to attract much support and were both divided and disorganised. And although many of the army and elite were not committed to democracy, they were not yet prepared to overthrow it as they feared this could lead to greater chaos for themselves and their country. President Ebert used article 48, as intended to take firm action against the regime, and
Discuss the fortunes of Germany during the Weimar Republic 1919 - 1923.
Discuss the fortunes of Germany during the Weimar Republic 1919 - 1923, under the following headings: i. Economic Developments ii. Foreign Relations; iii. Cultural Activities. (1983 Exam Question) The German economy collapsed between 1919 and 1923. Four main factors were responsible for this collapse. Firstly, the end of the war dislocated industry geared to the production of war material, while demilitarisation threw millions of ex-soldiers on to an unprepared labour market. Secondly, the reparations demanded by the Treaty of Versailles drained the country of capital which would have been required to restructure the economy; thirdly, the government's attempt to solve currency led to hyper-inflation. Paper money became worthless and so did savings. Those on regular incomes and pensions found themselves unable to make ends meet. Finally, the French occupation of the Ruhr in 1923 precipitated a general strike in that region which deprived German industry elsewhere of vital raw materials and unemployment reached ever higher levels. Within a few months, however, the work of Gustav Stresemann and his colleagues went a long way to reversing this situation. A new currency was introduced and those who had most greedily profited under inflation were penalised - up to a point. The reparations clauses of the Versailles Treaty were renegotiated and the Dawes Plan allowed for
13th November 1923 Daily Mail Hyperinflation shock in Germany
3th November 1923 Daily Mail Hyperinflation shock in Germany The shock of hyperinflation in Germany at the moment is shocking to the people of Germany. The cause of hyperinflation is simple; Inflation is a general rise in the price level. It is also a cost to the economy because of the uncertainty it creates. In Germany the cause of it was Germany had no money so they printed more money, to replace the money they did not have, this caused prices to go up and money became worthless. A pensioner from Munich is one of many suffering from the hyperinflation. When she re-tired she thought her pension was good enough to keep her clothed and with food. But because she has no income and only a pension every month she is losing out. Her saving has become worthless. A middle class shopkeeper from Berlin has savings and a small business, but because of hyperinflation, his business is going bankrupt, and his savings are worthless. He is using his banknotes for fire and heat during this cold winter. A rich businessman from Hamburg is benefiting from the crisis, he is able to buy smaller, bankrupting companies. But as the Inflation gets worse I predict that he will as well become unemployed and poor. People with debts are able to pay off their loans at a fraction of the cost, but as soon as they do pay back the money they owe, they still have to be another of the people that
