Germany

Crises 1

• Invasion of the Ruhr by the French - seizing of materials and industrial area.
• The French were determined to make Germany pay as it was too poor to pay repairations.
• German workers refused to work for the French.
• Damaged Germany financially by losing products produced in the Ruhr.

Crises 2

• German government printed more money due to their inability to pay for the passive resistance.
• Hyperinflation - value goes down, prices go up.

Crises 3

• Hitler attempted to take over Bavarian government as he believed the end of passive resistance was a betrayal.
• The Beer Hall Putsch.

The Kapp Putsch

• 1920
• Uprising by Freikorps who were angry at the government for accepting the Treaty of Versailles.
• Freikorps try to seize power.
• Led by Woldgang Kapp.
• Weak government: army won't attack former comrades.
• Left wing workers go on strike, Kapp Putsch collapses.
• Those involved in the Kapp Putsch were not punished as Stresemann needed to maintain right wing support for his party to remain in power.

The Munich Putsch

• 1923
• The first attempt by Hitler and the Nazis to take power.
• Hyperinflation was causing problems for many people.
• Hitler saw an opportunity to sieze power for his party.
• They captured the Bavarian PM and marched into Munich.
• After the police refused to join the Nazis, the Putsch collapsed.

B-L-A-R-E

• Blame for the war - humiliating them.
• Lost land.
• Reduction in the size of their army.
• Repairation costs.
• Loss of Empire.

Weimar Republic

• Hugely democratic.
• Proportional representation.
• Always a coalition government, therefore, always compromise.
• Regular collapse.
• Constant new election.

Threats 1919-1923

• Spartacists
• Kapp Putsch
• Humiliation at acceptance of Treaty
• Impact of Treaty

Successful

• Reduced impact of repairations through negociation.
• Reformed banks by ending Hyperinflation.
• Economic boom using American loans.
• International acceptance as equal to other countries.
• Joined League of Nations, restoring pride.

Unsuccessful

• Rejected nationalists by rejecting idea of revenge.
• Accepted Treaty terms.
• No long term solution for money crisis.
• Germany was dependent on American money.
• Troubles for Germany after American money disaster 1929.