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German Revolution of 1918 and Kaiser Wilhelm II Resigns
This is a newspaper clipping that shows the Kaiser abdicating while also showing Germans revolting on the bottom. The duality of this newspaper is significant in showing the cause and effects of the war on Germany. -
Armistice ending WWI
This drawing is of the armistice signing that called for Germany's surrender and a cease-fire on the Western Front. This image significantly depicts the different countries participation while also highlighting the safety leaders were offered despite their men dying in the trenches. Regardless, this is a significant moment as it brought together countries after 4 years of brutal war. -
Spartacist Revolt
This is the symbol of the Spartacus League and is significant because the Spartacists were the ones who ran the revolution that attempted to make Germany Communist. This symbol is inspired by the communist symbol further depicting their beliefs and goals within Germany. -
Bavarian Soviet Republic
This image is the flag of the Bavarian Soviet Republic. This is significant as it represents the legitimacy of the Republic in its goals despite not being recognized by the German government -
Treaty of Versailles and the results for Germany
This is a political cartoon showing how Germany was threatened to sign the peace treaty otherwise armies would be sent. Additionally it depicts how Germany was forced to accept blame for the war and pay for all damages - further hurting its economy and reputation. -
Formation of Weimar Republic/Constitution
This photo captures the Reichstag building, a key component of the new Weimar Republic. This acted as a parliamentary body that gave parties proportional representation in Germany's democracy. However, the Reichstag is significant as it shows the instability in the new government due to its frequent changing. -
Ebert-Groener Pact
This image depicts the exchange between the President and the Army officials resulting in the Ebert-Groener Pact. This is significant as it depicts the beginning of government and Freikorp collaboration in bringing down the left. -
(Red) Ruhr Uprising
This photo depicts members of the German army (top) with dead participants in the Ruhr Uprising (bottom), which helps to show the brutality with which the rebels were met. -
Kapp Putsch
This photo shows the Freikorps attempting to seize the Germany government and get rid of the new Republic. From this photo, the amount of participation implies the widespread hatred for the new government and the measures that were taken against it - despite their coup being defeated. -
Rapallo Treaty
This picture shows a German news heading around the time of Locarno, and shows how significant of an event the signing was for the people of Germany by how much space the event takes up on the cover page of the paper. -
Occupation of the Ruhr by France and Belgium
This political cartoon depicts a French soldier seemingly attempting to sit on the Ruhr Valley, symbolizing France's oppression over the German industry, and being 'poked' by the factories, symbolizing German workers' passive resistance. -
Hyperinflation Crisis
This graph shows the value of Germany's currency, the Mark, relative to USD over the course of 1922-1923, which clearly shows how drastic the problem was at the time. -
Grand Coalition of Weimar Germany
Photo shows the political leaders of each significant political affiliation or party which joined the Grand Coalition during this time. The photo was chosen as it shows that despite harshly differing ideologies, the groups were able to come together and form a somewhat successful coalition that was able to work and collaborate together. -
Introduction of the Rentenmark
This picture denotes a picture of a Rentenmark, and it a representative image as it truly characterizes the bill as being its own currency. -
Beer Hall Putsch
This picture shows Hitler and other prominent SA figures marching in a manner very reminiscent to Mussolini's March on Rome; however, this attempted coup would be far less successful. -
Dawes Plan
This graphic organizer depicts the fundamental principal of the Dawes Plan's most important provision: U.S. loans to Germany to help sustain them while they paid off their reparations from WWI. -
Weimar Golden Age
This photo of German people dancing and celebrating shows the life of many under the Golden Age of Weimar and draws parallels to the U.S.' "Roaring 20s", helping to visualize the period. -
Election of President von Hindenburg
This photo displays an election poster for Von Hindenburg that was used to aid in his successful election. This was chosen as it shows how, in order to win his election, he was portrayed in a very stoic and powerful manner within his election campaign which prompted individuals to vote for him and to believe in his strength as a ruler. -
Locarno Treaty
This photograph clearly depicts the "Spirit of Locarno": a group of mildly dissatisfied old men all hating each other at least a little bit and plotting behind each other's backs to preserve their country's self-interests, even at the expense of European peace. -
Treaty of Berlin with Soviet Union
The photo depicts the powerful political figures of both Germany as well as the USSR during the date of their agreements on the mutual support treaty. Photo is significant as it shows both parties with smiling faces and comfortable expressions to display the positive attitude towards the treaty and its larger implications. -
German entrance into League of Nations
Photo displays an American newspaper informing on the newest League of Nations development in which Germany was voted to be allowed to join via unanimous decision. This was chosen as it displays the massive significance of the news not only to German politicians who now have international ties and an international voice, but to other countries such as the US who will be greatly affected by such global developments. -
Young Plan
Photo depicts an anti-Young's plan poster which scheduled for a meeting against the new financial progress. This photo is extremely important and significant by showing that despite the apparent good nature of the plan for the government and citizens of Germany, there was still mass amounts of political division that caused for some opposition, thus showing differences in perspective. -
Beginning of Great Depression
This political poster created by Hans Schweitzer was made to appeal to unemployed Germans that had themselves or their families devastated by the Great Depression, offering them a savior of sorts. This specific propaganda was chosen as it displays the influence and rise of Nazism during this time as well as how easily Hitler was able to capitalize on the very harsh depression. -
Von Papen’s deal with Hitler
This piece of anti-Bolshevik propaganda was used in an insulting manner to Von Papen's policies during his time as Chancellor and instead promotes the rise and power of Adolf Hitler. This was chosen as it shows the strange nature of the agreement between von Papen and Hitler. Despite being political enemies that rivaled each other, they used each other mtually go get spots of power. -
Hitler becomes Chancellor
This photo shows Hitler after his election in which he is being celebrated by the supportive citizens of Weimar Germany. This is especially significant and was chosen as it shows how much influence Hitler had gained through purely political means over the years, despite having extremists policies he is still very popular and will have mass amounts of control in the future.
