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German Revolution of 1918 and the Resignation of Kaiser Wilhelm II
The German Revolution of 1918 replaces the constitutional monarchy with a democratic parliamentary republic. Kaiser Wilhelm II resigns in November of 1918 and is replaced by Germany's first president, Friedrich Ebert. The picture depicts an artistic rendition of the 1918 German Revolution -
Formation of the Weimar Republic and the Weimar Consitution
The Weimar Republic (formally known as the German Reich or the Deutsches Reich) was established on November 9th, 1918. It was founded as a constitutional, parliamentary republic. The republic included some benefits (a bill of rights, elections), but also had some key weaknesses (Article 48). The photo below shows the official emblem of the republic. -
Ebert-Groener Pact
The Ebert Groener Pact took place on November 10th, 1918, after Chancellor Friedrich Ebert took power. Ebert made a deal with the Quartermaster General of the German Army and leader of the Freikorps, Wilhelm Groener. The deal was that the military would cooperate with the new government in return for the government not intervening in the military's affairs. The photo below shows Ebert, one of the key figures in the deal. -
Armistice Ending WW1
On November 11, 1918, the Allies sign an armistice with their lasting remaining opponent, Germany, which ends the fighting of WW1. German citizens were not made aware of the armistice and thought for a long time that Germany had won the war, not signed an armistice and then "lost." The picture shows a military officials together after the armistice was agreed upon. -
Spartacist Revolt
During early January of 1919, left-wing political groups protested in Berlin with the intention of making Germany go socialist/communist. This protest was quickly put down by the Freikorps and formally ended on January 12th that same year. The photo below shows the Spartacist revolt. -
Bavarian Soviet Republic
The Bavarian Soviet Republic (also known as the Munich Soviet Republic) was a workers' council republic mainly occupied by left-wing citizens, who wanted to mimic a Bolshevik revolution in Germany. This unrecognized republic was overthrown by the Freikorps on May 3, 1919. The picture below shows an artistic rendition of German soviets marching off to start their new state within a state. -
Treaty of Versailles and Germany's Reaction
The Treaty of Versailles was 1 of several peace treaties from the Paris Peace Agreements that specifically pertained to Germany. Despite Germany's calling of it being a "diktat," the terms were less harsh than other historical treaties, and explicitly stated that Germany would not pay more than it was economically able to. The photo shows a hard copy of the Treaty of Versailles. -
The Ruhr (Red) Uprising
On March 13th of 1920, Socialist Democratic protestors revolted in the Ruhr region of Germany. They wanted a more socialist government similar to what had been achieved in Russia. The German government send the Freikorps to put down the revolt and had resolved it by April 12th. The photo below shows SD party members in the street. -
The Kapp Putsch
The Kapp Putsch was a military uprising from Germany's far right and military factions that started on March 13th, 1920. Ehrhardt, a leader of the Freikorps, took over Berlin and managed to overthrow the parliamentary government. However, the uprising fell apart by the 18th when the disjointed protestors refused to cooperate with each other. The picture below shows Ehrhardt entering Berlin with his forces. -
Rapallo Treaty
By the Treaty of Versaille's terms, Germany was required to heavily demilitarize and not possess the large, powerful army it had during the war. However, on April 16th, 1922, chancellor Joseph Wirth and Russian Foreign Minister Georgi Chicherin renounced all territorial and financial issues with each other. It also included that Germany would be allowed to develop, test, and store weaponry in Russian territory, thus avoiding TOV's limitations. The photo below shows the two making the deal. -
The 1923 Hyperinflation Crisis
As a result of war debt and the need to pay workers in the French-occupied Ruhr Valley, the Weimar government began printing more money. This caused the German mark to hyperinflate rapidly, leading to strikes and protests. It was eventually resolved by the government manually re-valuing the currency, as well as by the Young and Dawes plans. The picture below shows newly printed money awaiting distribution at a bank. -
Occupation of the Ruhr by France and Belgium.
After Germany failed to deliver a reparations payment to France in 1922, French and Belgian forces occupied Germany's industrial sector in the Ruhr Valley from 1923 to 1925. The Germany government offered to pay German workers in the Ruhr in return for their non-cooperation with French and Belgian employers. France and Belgium pulled out in 1925 after criticism from Britain and Germany. The photo below shows a French soldier intimating a German citizen in the Ruhr. -
Beer Hall Putsch
Also known as the Munich Putsch, the Beer Hall Putsch was a failed coup by the NSDAP in Munich, Barvaria, from November 8-9 in 1923. It ended with the arrest of the NSDAP's leader, Adolf Hitler, and was put down by police. The photo below shows Nazis in Munich during the Munich Putsch -
Introduction of Rentenmark
The Rentenmark was a temporary currency used for banknotes in 1923 equivalent to 1 billion inflated marks, which was used to help with the hyperinflation at the time. It was eventually replaced in 1924 with the re-valued Reichsmark. The photo below shows a Rentenmark. -
The Weimar Golden Age
The Golden Age of Weimar Germany took place from 1924 to 1929/1930 as a result of economic prosperity following the resolution of the 1923 hyperinflation crisis. Germany saw cultural growth in the arts similar to the United States' "Roaring Twenties." This came to an end, however, with the rise of the NSDAP in 1930. The picture below shows art made depicting German society during its golden age. -
The Dawes Plan
The Dawes Plan was a financial plan to resolve the issue of war reparation payments. It was created by the Dawes Committee, led by Charles G. Dawes, an American banker, and signed under the Foreign Secretary of Germany, Gustav Stresemann on August 16th, 1924. The US would lend money to Germany, who would use it to pay off France, who would then pay back its own war loans to the U.S. The photo below shows the flow of money as outlined in the plan. -
Lorcano Treaty
The Lorcano treaty guaranteed the borders of Germany's western frontier. More importantly, it obliged Britain and Italy to help settle any aggression or disputes that happened across the new border. Historians generally agree that these treaties were a failure to prevent further European conflict. The photograph below show negotiations for the Lorcano Treaties. -
Germany's Entrance into the League of Nations
After not having been allowed to join in the past, Germany is let into the League in 1926 after negotiations began with the Lorcano Trraty in 1925. Germany remained a member until Adolf Hitler withdrew the country from the League in 1933. The photo below shows a newspaper announcing Germany's entrance into the League. -
Treaty of Berlin with the Soviet Union
The Treaty of Berlin was signed on April 24, 1926, in which Germany and Russia, under control of the Soviet Union, agreed to neutrality in future conflicts from outside parties on either country for the next 5 years. The photo below shows the treaty being written. -
Grand Coalition of Weimar Germany
During 1923, and between 1928 to 1930, the Grand Coalition was a government coalition between Germany's most popular parties: It broke apart in 1930 when the SPD resigned. The photo below shows members of the coalition in 1928. -
Beginning of the Great Depression
After a major fall in stock prices in the United States, the world fell into economic depression from 1929 to 1930. It become world-wide and reached Europe on October 29th, 1929, known as Black Tuesday. The photo below shows American citizens struggling during the Great Depression. -
The Young Plan
The Young Plan was put into effect on September 1st, 1930. It reduced the amount due from Germany to 121,000,000,000 Reichsmarks in 59 annuities, which should have made it easier for Germany to finish its reparation payments. However, enforcement of this plan stopped with the Great Depression of the 1930s. It was headed by American industrialist Owen Young. The picture below shows Owen Young. -
Election of President von Hindenburg
Hindenburg runs for his second term as president in 1932. He has backing from the central and center-moderate left-wing. He wins a majority in the election. He eventually makes Hitler chancellor in 1933. The photo below is of Hindenburg. -
Von Papen's Deal with Hitler
As the NSDAP rose to power in 1930, then-current chancellor of Germany Von Papen persuades President Hindenburg to make Hitler chancellor. He told Hitler he would make him chancellor if Papen could be his vice-chancellor, and he told Hindenburg that it would be easier to contorl Hitler and the NSDAP party if Hitler were made chancellor. The photo below shows Papen and Hitler talking together. -
Hitler Becomes Chancellor
At Von Papen's recommendation, President Hindenburg becomes Chancellor of Germany on January 30th, 1933 using his emergency powers as granted in Article 48 of the Weimar Constitution. The photo below shows Hitler and Hindenburg shaking hands as Hitler is made chancellor.
