The result lead to the rate of the value of Marks against dollar increasing greatly. When the Treaty of Versailles was signed, the allies demanded for 6.6 billion pounds in reparations for the war. The Germans could not possibly paid this and entered into debt. Progressively this lead to hyperinflation and the Germans printed way to many Marks bringing the value down enormously. One dollar equaled 320 Marks in 1922, then falling to 800 marks per dollar!
From the start there was economic instability because of the cost of World War One and there was widespread disillusion within the German people. The public did not support the Weimar, and the administrative branch of the government, including the Judiciary, also teachers did not back it up either. Mass unemployment, damages to the infrastructure also from World War One, and the demand for reparation payments put lots of pressure on the inexperienced democracy. Not only in Germany, but all over Europe, fundamental and anti-democratic movements gained support. 2.
The treaty created a history of bitterness in German Society. One of the major groups that were bitter about the treaty was the army it created a great level of discontent throughout the ranks. The Weimar Republic was forever associated with the shame of the Treaty. This was a difficulties encountered early on by the Weimar Republic. The reparations that had to be paid were perhaps the most debilitating part of the treaty as it put them through economic hardship and meltdown.
What were the problems facing Germany in late 1918 and 1919? Germany faced numerous problems, every one varying in extremity. The loss of the war was naturally a large problem which created many spin-off issues, such as an unpleasant living environment, a worsening economy and naturally the deflation of the German peoples pride and spirit, due to propaganda they were fed with news that their army was excelling in the war, when in reality the exact opposite was occurring. Germany also was managing many other problems such as economic and socialist problems, unemployment was growing and many were living in poverty, not enough healthcare was being supplied, the country was divided and could not collectively manage a way to move forward, they had fought for 4 years and now needed something else to believe in. Germanys list of problems at this time was only growing.
Throughout these years the Germany government faced difficulties on all fronts. There were major issues economically, with inflation, reparations and the collapse of the currency, but also major political issues were being raised through violent putsches and growth of extreme parties. If the government did not already have enough to deal with, at the end of World War I, Germany had gained a stigma of being a horrible, vicious country and had no real international support. However, by 1929, the Weimar Republic had begun to overcome their major issues, and could return to a time of political stability. The Weimar republic faced an array of economic problems through the ‘years of challenge’.
To what extent did the failings of Nazi economic policy contribute to the defeat of Germany in the Second World War? There were several different factors that all had an impact on the defeat of Germany during the Second World War and the extent of which the failings of the Nazi economic policy contributed can be argued. The meagre state of the economy, through insufficient planning, did put strains on the government and this limited the full potential of the army, the production of weapons and high demand for labour. No doubt, the economy did hinder the progression of the war however I believe that there were more significant factors that contributed to the defeat of Germany. Hitler’s strategy incompetence, the Allied bombings and losing the Battle of The Atlantic were all also important factors in the defeat of Germany.
To What Extent do you Agree with the View that the end of Tsarism was due to the First World War? The Impact of the First World War on Russia and the Tsar was immense. The Russian ‘Steamroller’ suffered disastrous losses at Tannenburg and the Masurian Lakes not to mention the ruinous affect of the war on home Russian soil. The war exacerbated the frustrations of Russian Civilians as the loss of young men working in the country was sorely felt. Food was scarce and prices soared.
They were also in a country plagued by a financial crisis with the majority of the population automatically having hatred for the government. The treaty of Versailles also posed a serious threat to the government with the country left embarrassed by its ruling and the war guilt that Germany faced. The extreme right in particular were a threat to the republic. The actions of the Spartacists in particular concerned the leaders of the SPD as they knew that they could not rely on the support of the army in the face of a revolt. Thus a deal was done with the right wing (the pre 1918 military, judiciary and civil service).
When a significant population of East Germans migrated to the west, the economy was harmed to a greater extent. When the wall was finally completed and employed by the East German Government, it was hated. This led to more censorship and authoritarian methods from Honecker and the East German government. This continued until the Berlin Wall Fell in 1989. During this time, East Germans became fed up with the oppressive policies of the Stazi, the antics of Honecker’s government, and the hated symbol of the Berlin Wall.
The Treaty of Versailles left the Germans feeling guilty, humiliated, and resentful. The German people have a strong sense of national pride and now they were humiliated, they were in ruins. The treaty destroyed their military and made them pay war reparation therefore causing inflation and loss of jobs. Many Germans were bitterly disappointed by the treaty and this disappointment sparked the lasting bitterness that would