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German Revolution of 1918 and Kaiser Wilhelm II resigns
A social/civil conflict at the end of WWI which replaced monarchy and with democratic parliamentary - after losing support from the military, Kaiser Wilhelm II was forced to resign and flee. Revolution ended August 11th in 1919. This is a picture of a newspaper headline which discusses the abdication of Kaiser Wilhelm II and the German Revolution that continued. This picture was chosen because the big, bold text will give a large label on the timeline. -
Formation of Weimar Republic/Constitution
Following WWI, the formation of the first parliamentary-style democratic government was established in Weimar Germany with policies such as proportional representation. The picture is of the Reichstag Building during WWI. This picture is sufficient because it is the house of the parliament in Weimar Germany where all decisions regarding national policy were made. -
Ebert-Groener Pact
On the day following his installation as Chancellor of Germany, Friedrich Ebert and the Quartermaster of the German army had a pact which involved the loyalty of the German army in taking action against leftist action. A handshake is symbolic of an agreement or pact between Ebert and Groener coming to terms, thus, making it an adequate symbol for the Ebert-Groener Pact altogether. -
Armistice ending WWI
A mutual agreement by all involved nations to stop all warfare/fighting – NOT a surrender by either side – effectively terminated WWI; this was the quickest way to end all carnage and battling. This is a picture of a newspaper headline which discusses the news of the armistice which concluded all fighting in Europe. This picture was chosen because the front-page headline highlights the large impact of this event on the world. -
Spartacist Revolt
The event where over 100,000 Germans were told to abandon their jobs and go on a strike. This demonstration was then taken over by Spartacist Leadership, which caused the newspapers and other communicative buildings and establishments to shut down. The strike lasted from the 5th to the 12th of January in 1919. This image shows the strike that the workers were on in Berlin, Germany during the Spartacist Revolt. This is adequate as it shows what happened during the Spartacist Revolt. -
Bavarian Soviet Republic
A short-lived, unrecognized socialist state in Bavaria during the German Revolution of 1918–1919 which took the form of a workers' council republic and was established in April 1919 after the demise of Kurt Eisner's People's State of Bavaria and sought to establish a socialist soviet republic in Bavaria. It ended on the 3rd of May in 1919. The red areas of the map shows the state of Bavaria in Munich, thus making it an acceptable picture to symbolize this short-lived event. -
Treaty of Versailles and the results for Germany
The Treaty of Versailles was a post-war peace settlement that designated Germany and Central Powers as guilty, imposing harsh terms including reparations and restrictions upon Germany. Germany also suffered from political and economic instability due to the harsh terms alongside internal issues. This political cartoon accurately represents the Treaty of Versailles and its relations to Germany as it showed how Germany had to accept the blame and take on reparations to pay for the damage. -
Kapp Putsch
The Kapp Putsch was an attempted coup against the Social Democratic Party (SPD) government by the Freikorps in hopes of establishing a new government. This was caused by the government's attempt to demobilize the Freikorps and eventually collapsed on March 18th due to a lack of public support and a general strike by labor unions. This image is significant as it shows how people were gathered in protest and in unity. The flag also presents the message that the Freikorps wanted to take over. -
(Red) Ruhr Uprising
The Ruhr Uprising was a workers’ rising led by Communists in reaction to the Kapp Putsch. The uprising involved clashes between workers and the Freikorps and was ultimately suppressed by the efforts of the Freikorps on the 12th of April in 1920. This picture presents the uprising as it shows how many people were gathered in protest and the effort that it took to make the message clear is also shown in the picture as it took a large effort by the Freikorps to take down. -
Rapallo Treaty
The Treaty of Rapallo was a treaty between Soviet Russia and Germany which canceled financial burdens on both sides, strengthened political and economic ties, and allowed Germany to begin to regain military power. This image represents the Treaty as it shows an agreement being made between nations and so a promising future for Germany as the country gained more flexibility with power and the economy. -
Hyperinflation Crisis
With the occupation of the Ruhr by the French and Belgian troops, Germany began to print more money to print for the workers going for passive resistance. This added onto the already forming inflation, with prices rising to make money nearly worthless until the Rentenmark (a new currency) was invented. This picture is significant as it showed just how much money it took to even buy a loaf of bread during the hyperinflation as there is an entire wheelbarrow filled with money. -
Weimar Golden Age
A period of time in Germany between 1923 and 1929 in which Germany’s culture and economy started booming after the aftermath of WWI and the Hyperinflation Crisis of 1923. This period was mainly caused by the policies of Foreign Minister Gustav Stresemann. This picture is meant to represent the magnitude of the changing environment and boom of culture in Germany as representation and expression changed significantly like their art. -
Occupation of the Ruhr by France and Belgium
Provoked by Germany’s inability to pay war reparations, French and Belgian troops occupied the Ruhr, leading to social and economic turmoil through inflation and unemployment. France and Belgium eventually retreated from the Ruhr on August 25th in 1925. This picture shows the French marching into the Ruhr with horses, accurately presenting the situation as it shows that the French had more power over the workers to take over the industrial site. -
Beer Hall Putsch
Also known as the Munich Putsch, the Beer Hall Putsch was an attempted coup by the Nazi Party, under the lead of Adolf Hitler, because of the current environment in Germany during the Hyperinflation Crisis. After it failed, Adolf Hitler was sentenced to prison for 5 years. Only lasted until the 9th of November in 1923. This picture represents the anger many currently had towards the Weimar Government as there were a significant number of people who participated in the Munich Putsch. -
Introduction of Rentenmark
A new currency made by Foreign Minister Gustav Stresemann to fix the increased inflation in Germany during the Hyperinflation Crisis. This caused some stability in Germany and is seen as one of the causes of the Weimar Golden Age. This picture represents the change seen in Germany because of the Rentenmark. During the Hyperinflation Crisis, money was useless and was often used to light fires. This represents how Germany finally had a stable currency that wasn’t worthless. -
Dawes Plan
A plan meant to resolve the reparation problems brought up from the Treaty of Versailles. In this plan, Germany agreed to pay reparations, had its payment period extended, and were given loans from the US, all leading to the evacuation of the Ruhr. This picture represents the anger caused from the Dawes plan despite its significant contributions to Germany's economy. Many were angry at the reparations that were put onto Germany and became even angrier when the government agreed to pay them. -
Election of President Von Hindenburg
In the presidential election on March 29th, 1925, Paul von Hindenburg was elected as President. Hindenburg did not have a direct political party affiliation but was against the rise of communism and extremist parties, often being supported by the middle. This picture represents the political divide in Germany during Paul von Hindenburg's election as many were divided for who to vote for, and because of proportional representation, this caused a lack of policies being passed and agreed upon. -
Locarno Treaty
A series of treaties which settled disputes caused by the borders set by the Treaty of Versailles in which Germany had to agree on some of the land it lost. This led to allowing Germany to join the League of Nations in 1926. This picture is significant as it shows Germany sitting at an equal level with other major countries, representing how Germany was becoming a major power in the world again after the results of WWI as they were sitting equally with other countries. -
Treaty of Berlin with Soviet Union
Germany and the Soviet Union signed for neutrality in the event of an attack by a third party for the next 5 years. This treaty also reaffirmed - due to the Soviet Union’s fear of Germany improving relations with the UK and France - that the Weimar Republic government understands the agreement made by the Rapallo Treaty. This picture represents the Treaty as the leaders of Germany and Soviet Union are happy and peaceful in this picture, settling the pact between the countries. -
German entrance into League of Nations
With Gustav Stresemann’s careful approach towards the Locarno Treaty, his efforts allowed Germany a seat in the League of Nations. All members of the League were in strong favor of Germany joining, offering the nation a permanent seat in the League. This picture represents the announcement that was made once Germany was allowed onto the League of Nations. It shows that the news was spread and clearly important globally, that eventually Germany was let onto the League. -
Grand Coalition of Weimar Germany
From the election in 1928, four of the top six parties formed a coalition made up of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), Catholic Center Party (Z), German People’s Party (DVP), and German Democratic Party (DDP). This “Grand Coalition” was then disbanded in the following 1930 election. This picture demonstrates the Grand Coalition as there are different leaders sitting together, just like how the different parties joined, even though they were from different parts of the political spectrum. -
Beginning of Great Depression
With the Wall Street Crash in 1929, the entire world went into Depression, with Germany suffering the worst consequences. Unemployment and poverty rocketed in Weimar Germany as Germany previously relied too much on US loans. These effects were eventually lowered by 1933. This political cartoon represents the Great Depression as many people became unemployed and went to poverty, similar to the beggar shown in this picture who is asking for money (apples) due to being unemployed. -
Young Plan
This plan, under chairman Owen D. Young, lowered the reparations Germany owed to 121 billion gold marks. This was allowed to be paid over a span of 58 years with another loan from foreign nations of $300 million. Foreign supervision and occupation of troops was also ordered to stop. This political cartoon accurately presents the Young Plan as it was a loophole for Germany to make the reparation payments and taxes easier to accomplish and maintain. -
Von Papen's deal with Hitler
Franz Von Papen, the vice chancellor, began to persuade president Hindenburg to appoint Hitler for chancellorship. Von Papen believed that it would be easier to restrain the Nazis, growing through the NSDAP party, if they were put into power; however, he was mistaken. This picture of Hitler and Von Papen together accurately represents their deal as it shows them closely related and walking side by side in respect of each other. -
Hitler becomes Chancellor
Previous Chancellor, Franz Von Papen, convinced President Hindenburg to make Adolf Hitler the Chancellor in order to attempt to stabilize and control the NSDAP (Nazi) party. The strategy was for Franz Von Papen to be vice-chancellor and in turn tone down Hitler’s violent policies. This picture shows Hitler becoming Chancellor and everyone raising their hands to honor him. This is significant to the event as it shows Hitler's support for gaining chancellorship.
