How was the Weimar effected by the Treaty of Versailles?

The the early 1920's Weimar faced SIX key threats.

1) Treaty of Versailles
2) Economic ruin
3) Threat from the left - Spartacists
4) Threat from the right - Kapp Putsch
5) Hyperinflation Crisis 1923
6) Munich Putsch Nov 1923

TREATY OF VERSAILLES - 5 L's

ECONOMIC RUIN
Reparation payments
Nation income down by 1/3 from 1913
Virtually bankrupt
All these would lead to huge problems for the people and encourage people to support the extremist groups.

SPARTACISTS
Led by Liebknecht and Luxemburg
Similar to Bolsheviks in Russia
Wanted workers councils (Soviets)
Early 1919 set up Soviets in many towns
Ebert with support of friekorps (ex soldiers)put down the revolt
Leaders executed.
However another one followed in May 1919.
Again Friekrops used and around 2600 communists killed across Germany
Ebert and Weimar feared a revolution similar to Russia
Communists never forgot how they were treated




KAPP PUTSCH 1920
Had supported the Kaiser
Liked a strong army
Hated the Treaty and wanted a strong empire
Many Friekorps led by Dr Wolfgang Kapp marched on Berlin 1920
Stopped by General strike of all workers which brought the capital to a stop e.g. no transport, power, water.
Rebels dispersed
Kapp captured but died awaiting trial.
Other leaders went unpunished by courts/judges - sympathy with the right.

HYPERINFLATION CRISIS 1923
1921 1st Reparations payment of £50 million paid
1922 Weimar failed to pay 2nd reparations payment - economic problems - some believed they could pay -see cartoon.




France and Belgium invaded Ruhr area to seize goods/coal
Strike called
Weimar printed more money to deal with economic problems caused from strike
More money made its value decline
Prices increased as money became worthless
Hyperinflation
many suffered - especially thsoe with savings - 1921 anough in the bank account to buy a house by 1923 buy just a loaf of bread.
Wages paid daily rather than weekly.
Burning money rather than buying fuel.
Children playing with money.
Huge damage economically and politically to the Weimar.




The situation was resolved by Stresemann.
Ended strike in Ruhr.
Recalled all German Marks and burnt them and replaced by the Rentenmark.
Gained loans from USA under the Dawes Plan 1924.
Renegotiaited reparations payments.

MUNICH PUTSCH NOV 1923 - See Rise of Nazis